Linklaters

Linklaters has received two community investment accolades within a week, providing further evidence of the firm’s growing reputation in this field.

Linklaters’ education programme ‘Linking Work with Learning’ was awarded a ‘highly commended’ ranking at the Business in the Community’s Awards for Excellence, held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on Monday 5 July.

The scheme, which was launched in November 2007, is a ground-breaking volunteering initiative between the firm and every primary and secondary school in Hackney. It is designed to develop the employability skills and raise the aspirations of students across the borough.

Hackney's level of education provision has been officially recognised as the most improved in the country and the BitC judges recognised the contribution made by Linklaters. Fiona Rawes, BitC's Education Director, said: "The rigour of your approach to ascertaining and responding to need in Hackney was universally applauded".

Linklaters has also become the first Magic Circle law firm to hold Volunteering England's 'Investing in Volunteers' standard. In making the award, on Tuesday 6 July, Volunteering England highlighted the quality and consistency of the firm's volunteering programme, reporting that "there is a clear and well-understood commitment to community investment and, in particular, employee volunteering across the firm".

"The involvement of our people is key to the success of our programmes, so we are delighted to have won both these awards - they are a fantastic achievement and reflect the efforts of more than 400 of our people in London who volunteer their time every year."

She added:

"We can be proud that Linklaters is the only law firm in the UK - and one of only three UK companies in total - to hold both this accreditation and the wider CommunityMark standard for excellence in community investment."