Stronger Together in Leeds
Racial Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

Annual Mentoring Event

On a sunny evening in Leeds, professionals gathered at Grant Thornton UK impressive new offices for the annual Stronger Together mentoring celebration.

Stronger Together continues to stand out as a unique network, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and faiths, united by a shared commitment to lifting others. In an increasingly divided world, the importance of connection, allyship and collective progress has never been clearer.

The event provided an opportunity to meet the latest cohort of mentees and explore key topics influencing career progression, including leadership accountability, removing barriers to cultural authenticity in the workplace, and tackling bias and imposter phenomenon.

BDO LLP joins Stronger Together

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP is the latest professional services firm to join the Stronger Together network. 

Dan Brookes, Tax Partner at BDO in Leeds, will join Stronger Together’s Executive Committee to focus on the strategic direction of the network and its key objectives of retention and attraction of minority ethnic talent in the Leeds professional services sector.

Natalie Jones, Financial Services Advisory Manager, will join the Stronger Together Junior Committee, working with a peer group from member firms to organise inspiring events, reverse mentor more senior colleagues, deliver training, run insight days for Leeds City Academy and represent Stronger Together at networking events. 

Dan Brookes said:

“We’re thrilled to be joining Stronger Together, working collaboratively with other like-minded firms in building a more inclusive professional services sector. At BDO, we have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion by encouraging people to ‘Be Yourself’. We believe that by bringing together our people and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture, we can truly help each other succeed in line with our core purpose as a firm. This aligns with the objectives of Stronger Together and our membership will support our existing EDI activities in Leeds.’’

Stronger Together Launch Event at Leeds Civic Hall

The network was launched at a high profile event at Leeds Civic Hall, hosted by Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council.

Panel members shared their personal stories around how they have overcome challenges in their career journey, while the goals and objectives of the network were also discussed.

Winning team at Legal 500 Awards

We’re delighted to win the Diversity, Inclusion & Equality category at The Northern Powerhouse Legal 500 Awards

Described by the judges as ”an ambitious initiative aimed at boosting diversity in professional services.”

It’s a great accolade to win such a prestigious award against such strong competition only a year after launching the network and really demonstrates the collaboration between the firms.

Stronger Together sponsor Black Legacy Awards

Stronger Together  sponsored the Business of the Year category which celebrates the extra ordinary workings of a business that showcases resilience, entrepreneurial qualities, endorses a can-do attitude and breaks boundaries. Fowler and Powell were the worthy winners.

The Legacy Awards Ceremony in Leeds recognises historic and present-day achievements from and for those within ethnic communities and acknowledges those who have worked with and for Black Communities across the Leeds City Region

Mentor of the Year winner

Congratulations to Arif Ahmad Pervinder Kaur Steven Blacker who won  the Mentor of the Year category on behalf of Stronger Together at TheBusinessDesk.com Northern Leadership Awards.

The awards,  were created to celebrate inspirational leaders and role models, and to recognise the traits and achievements of modern leaders.

Lubna Shuja

Lubna Shuja, the President of the The Law Society of England and Wales was the guest speaker at our Stronger Together networking event. Colleagues from six law firms and four accountancy firms in the Leeds city region attended.

Lubna is the first Asian, first Muslim and only the 7th female president to hold the role.

Originally from Bradford and raised in a working class family with no connections to the legal professions, Lubna shared her journey from junior solicitor to setting up her own practice and the challenges she’s faced along the way.

Lubna talked about the importance of allyship, the benefits of a diverse workforce and her aspiration for law to be seen as an attractive profession for everyone, regardless of our heritage or backgrounds.

Lubna’s advice to the network included challenging yourself to step outside your comfort zone, following your own path, take every opportunity that presents itself and the importance of networking which can take place in our everyday spaces.

Grant Thornton joins Stronger Together

Grant Thornton is the latest professional services firm to join Stronger Together.

Dan Dickinson, Practice Leader at Grant Thornton, will join Stronger Together’s
Executive Committee to focus on the strategic direction of the network and its key
objectives of retention and attraction of minority ethnic talent in the Leeds
professional services sector.

Several of Dan’s colleagues will also join the Stronger Together Junior Committee,
working with a peer group from member firms to organise inspiring events, reverse
mentor more senior colleagues, deliver training, run insight days for Leeds City
Academy and represent Stronger Together at networking events.

Arif Ahmad, Co-Founder of Stronger Together and Partner at PwC said:

“We’re delighted to welcome Grant Thornton to Stronger Together. By working
together on this agenda and expanding the reach of the network, I’m excited by
what we can collectively achieve by sharing our stories, expertise and networks.

“The focus on improving racial diversity, representation, progression and retention
requires a different approach and for us all to work together. Having a succinct
strategy around how to make racial diversity more effective has huge benefits for
individuals, businesses and our collective success as a society.

“Grant Thornton will play a key role in driving forward our objective of encouraging
more people from ethnic minority communities to be attracted to, and retained in,
the professions in our region.

“We also plan to open up our career development series to other professional
services firms in the region to enable them to benefit from the learnings we’re
sharing in the network, keeping inclusivity at the heart of everything we do.”

Dan Dickinson, Practice Leader at Grant Thornton in Leeds, said:

“We’re thrilled to join Stronger Together. What they’ve achieved from a standing
start in just over two years is very impressive and marks a real step change in
collaboration amongst the region’s professional services sector. in Leeds not just
now but in years to come. By collaborating, we can create what I hope will be a
pivotal moment in time for racial diversity, inclusion and equality within professional
services.

“By sharing our stories, expertise and network and engaging in these important
conversations, we will become more inclusive together. They will also complement
Grant Thornton’s diversity and inclusion efforts already established in Leeds.”

Stronger Together hosts Interfaith discussion

To coincide with UN Interfaith Harmony week, over 100 people attended a Stronger Together network discussion, hearing from a distinguished panel of speakers who discussed what their faith meant to them and how it has impacted their professional careers.

Hosted by Sarah Day (tag) and expertly moderated by Srishti Menon, we collectively explored the role of faith in the workplace with the aim of fostering a culture of peace, harmony, open dialogue and mutual respect. 

Thanks to Pavitar Bhullar, Sarah Day, Sohail Ali, Lynette Jacobs, James Coultate-Cowie for sharing your stories so openly and honestly. It was a powerful discussion to listen and learn from and feedback was overwhelmingly positive, describing the panel as ‘positive’, ‘moving’ and ‘uplifting’.

 A common thread was how faith was their moral compass and enabled them to be the best version of themselves, giving a huge sense of perspective despite the challenges of a career in professional services. As well as the importance of allyship, having a safe space, bravery and being the change you want to see, all sparked lots of interesting conversations around what adjustments we as individuals as well as our firms can make to enable people to bring their whole selves to work and be the best versions of themselves.

 Thanks to DLA for hosting in their new offices and Aliya Waid and Uzair Patel  and the team for organising.  

Stronger Together Iftar

During the holy month #Ramadan, fasting Muslims around the world break their fast with a meal at sunset, known as “Iftar”. Traditionally this involves gathering with family, friends or members of the community.

In light of this holy month, last night, members of our Executive Committee and Junior Committee got together for #Iftar meal at MyLahore Restaurants, Leeds.

Hamza Shabir, a Manager at PwC and member of the Stronger Together JCo, who organised the Iftar said:

“Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, increased devotion, and acts of charity. It is a beautiful time of community, appreciation and gratitude and it was great to break our fast and come together with Stronger Together colleagues in spirit of this. We were also joined by a number of ally colleagues who came along to demonstrate their support to practicing Muslims and learn more about the holy month.”