Member Article

Ward Hadaway receives national award for sustainability best practice

Top 100 law firm Ward Hadaway has been recognised with a national award for its work in improving the sustainability of its early talent recruitment processes.

The team walked away with the Sustainability in Early Talent Recruitment Award 2022, at the targetjobs Awards, judged by industry professionals, seeing off the likes of PwC, L’Oréal and Johnson Matthey Plc.

Speaking of the award win, Caroline Jones, Recruitment and Emerging Talent Manager, said; “We are delighted to receive this national award and to receive professional recognition from recruitment experts for our work towards reducing our environmental impact in early talent recruitment.

“We have reviewed our entire early talent recruitment processes from a sustainability perspective and our whole team have worked collaboratively and looked to innovate, challenge, and improve the way that we recruit and manage early talent within the firm. We have focussed on better and more efficient use of technology, reducing travel, and cutting out single use plastic and printed training materials.”

Matt Cormack, Partner and Training Principal said; “We know that commitment to sustainability is, quite rightly, a key focus for our current and future trainees and apprentices, and we hope that they will be proud of the steps that we have taken as a firm and of our plans for the future.

“We look forward to seeing future applicants go through our new process, which we are confident strikes the right balance between sustainability and giving candidates a great experience and insight into Ward Hadaway and its culture. We will continue to ask candidates for feedback on our processes, to ensure that we are offering the best possible experience of the firm. “We are of course delighted to have won this award, particularly with the strength of the shortlist. However, what is most pleasing is the development we have made in this area, having recently joined the Sustainable Recruitment Alliance, and partnered with universities on sustainability themed initiatives for their students.

Matt continued; “We want to implement real hands-on change and develop critical thinking amongst the next generation of lawyers, as well as through our supply chain, our clients and all our recruits. Only through education, reflection and action can we make a lasting difference and as a responsible business, this is what we set out to achieve.”

Ward Hadaway employs around 15 graduates each year across its offices in the North of England, with a deadline of 30 June for 2022 applicants. To find out more about joining Ward Hadaway as a Trainee or Apprentice and our upcoming insight event on 31 May. More information is on the website.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Rachel McBryde .