Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to supporting, promoting, and celebrating equality, diversity, and inclusion within our firm and in the IP profession.
D Young & Co is an equal opportunities employer. Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Policy applies to all employees and partners, as well as other individuals performing functions in relation to the firm such as agency workers and contractors. We are committed to the implementation and maintenance of employment and general working practices that ensure no member of staff or partner is treated less favourably on the grounds of sex, marital status (including Civil Partner), sexual orientation, age, disability, race, gender reassignment, religion or belief.
We also have an anti-bullying and anti-harassment policy that provides our staff and partners with guidance on treating everyone with dignity and respect. We endeavour to make reasonable adjustments where appropriate to ensure there is a level playing field for all.
Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion officer is partner Nicholas Malden.
Recruitment
We seek to cast our recruitment net as wide as possible and recognise that fostering a professional working environment that is rich in diversity and free from discrimination is the key to creativity and productivity.
Diversity and inclusion is an important consideration when determining how and where we advertise our vacancies and careers events. For example in 2019 candidates from a wide range of different UK universities participated in our popular Easter internship programme (for students interested in a career as a patent attorney in electro-mechanical technologies). We also regularly send our attorneys to speak at university open days and events to encourage science and engineering graduates from all backgrounds to pursue careers in IP.
Mental Health First Aid Scheme
As part of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion pledge to build trust and safe spaces throughout our organisation, we are proud to have implemented a mental health first aid scheme at the firm. We recognise that individual wellbeing, both physical and mental, can go through good and bad patches and this can have an impact on life both outside and inside work. We want to foster a culture in which our people feel able to talk openly to their supervisor and trust that they will be supported. Mental health first aiders provide an additional point of contact for us to talk about mental health wellbeing. Through Mental Health First Aid England, we have trained twelve partners and employees across the firm. This group has been given the knowledge and skills to spot the signs that someone is having a difficult time, to listen empathetically, and to signpost individuals to further resources that may be helpful. We see this as a proactive step in enabling each of us to bring our whole self to work.
Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives & Events
Further information about our recent EDI events and initiatives including organisations we are partnering with (the British Science Association, In2Science, EqualEngineerings, IPInclusive, Women in IP and IP Ability) and events promoting diverse talent that we have participated in.