Travers Smith wins Diversity Award at Pensions Age Awards 2021

Travers Smith LLP is delighted to have won the Diversity Award at the Pensions Age Awards 2021.

The Pensions Age Awards, which are now in their eighth year, aim to reward both the pension schemes and providers across the UK that have proved themselves worthy of recognition during increasingly challenging times. Open to any UK pension scheme or organisation which provides pension schemes in the UK, the Diversity Award goes to the organisation that has shown a true understanding of the importance of diversity in today's climate, either in the way it has shaped its business, its product offering or otherwise.

This award is a significant achievement and endorses the scale of Travers Smith's investment in creating a market-leading diversity and inclusion programme. The firm's Pensions Sector practice, under the leadership of Daniel Gerring, has made a major contribution to this work – promoting diversity and inclusion in our own business and in our wider communities. The Pensions team has also worked extensively alongside clients, a variety of industry groups and others, to promote diversity in the wider pensions industry sector.

Key highlights include:

• Sponsoring and co-authoring, with the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association, the Diversity and Inclusion: Made Simple Guide, a first for the pensions industry and the PLSA’s most-downloaded guide last year.
• Partners Daniel Gerring and Andy Lewis were instrumental in founding O:pen, the first cross-industry network for LGBTQ+ professionals and their allies in pensions.
• For a fifth consecutive year Daniel Gerring being ranked in OUTstanding's worldwide 100 LGBTQ+ Executives List, placed at number 14 on this prestigious list and the highest ranked private practice lawyer.
• Travers Smith securing 12th place in Stonewall's Top 100 Employers List in 2020 and for the first time being listed as a Top Trans Employer. We are one of the highest ranked employers in the pensions industry to be included in this much-coveted list.
• Developing a BAME allyship initiative, and accompanying booklet, to help accelerate BAME inclusion at the firm and the wider business community. The tips featured in the booklet are based on principles outlined in industry and government reports on BAME inclusion, including the McGregor-Smith Review on Race in the Workplace.
• Our innovative mentoring scheme, which we deliver in partnership with LGBTQ+ charity Just Like Us (JLU), giving LGBTQ+ graduates skills, confidence and support as they transition from university life to employment. We support JLU in a number of ways – including Pensions Partner Andy Lewis leading our pro bono legal support and Head of Pensions Daniel Gerring serving as Chair of JLU's board of trustees.

Partner and Head of Pensions Daniel Gerring commented:

"I am extremely proud of our team for wining this award. Creating a diverse and inclusive culture is a key business priority for Travers Smith. We believe only the highest-performing teams, which maximise the power of different opinions, perspectives and cultural references, will succeed in the marketplace. Our focus on diversity and inclusiveness is integral to how we serve our clients, develop our people and play a leadership role in our communities. There is still a lot of work to be done but I am delighted both people within the firm and the wider industry are engaging with our diversity and inclusion programme and working to make a real change in society."

Travers Smith's Managing Partner Edmund Reed said: "We are very proud of our Pensions Sector Practice for winning this award, which is a great testament to the leading role they play within the firm's broader work on diversity and inclusion."