Winner: HLM Architects

HLM has launched a diversity and socioeconomic insight survey to understand what action the business should take and measure the impact. The practice has also invested in a new recruitment platform to maximise engagement with the widest range of prospective applicants. HLM’s focus on improving female representation has resulted in 47% of its workforce and 60% of its trust board being female. Four out of five of the firm’s studios are led by women and 14% of staff are from ethnic minorities.

The firm has also restructured its Lifestyle benefits package to focus on four key areas: financial, physical, emotional and social. Standout benefits include £1,400 of healthcare costs cashback, a life-coach bot, an electric car scheme and retail rewards. HLM has trained eight additional mental health first-aiders, signposts mental wellbeing resources monthly through LinkedIn Learning, and holds quarterly workshops through the HLM Academy. Monthly board meetings include a wellbeing report highlighting trends and actions taken.

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