What's been happening?
It has been a busy year for us here at LCP successfully navigating the challenge of moving everyone to home working, whilst at the same time, continuing to deliver on our LCP CARES promise of providing exceptional service to our clients. Our people-focused culture has been prominent throughout with everyone in the LCP community rallying around to support colleagues and teammates in finding new ways of working both with each other and with our clients. We’ve found fun and creative ways to lift our spirits, keep us in all good health and keep our friendly culture alive - from firmwide quizzes and art competitions, to webinars on wellbeing and physical team challenges like our “Around the world in 80 days” challenge. Our community groups and networks have continued to play a key role in life at LCP. We’ve summarised some of our highlights below:
LCP CARES
LCP CARES is a central part of our culture at LCP and fundamental to the way we work, both with each other, our clients and the wider community. Our clients have told us that it’s our people, approach and culture that matters most to them, and we agree – exceptional service begins internally. That’s why we’re determined that everyone at LCP has the opportunity to fulfil their potential and make a difference, no matter what their role. We promote a people-first inclusive workplace where all forms of diversity are valued. We’re also proud to hold our annual LCP CARES Awards, our peer-to-peer recognition for colleagues who have gone above and beyond to deliver exceptional service – this year we've invited our clients to nominate too. We've heard from 37 of you about the great service you've received from someone at LCP during 2020.
Contributing to the wellbeing, prosperity and health of the wider community is also something that we take seriously. As a result:
- We work to reduce our environmental impact
- We donate at least £150k per year to charity via the LCP Foundation
- We liaise with and support local charities
- We proactively support and participate in the issues that matter to us and our people
“LCP CARES speaks not just to the service we provide to our clients, but also to our culture and who we want to be a firm. We believe that everyone at LCP can make a difference and this ethos ensures our clients receive the best possible service - both now and as we continue to grow.”
“Our people are our greatest asset, and I’m proud to have been Head of People during a year when our people policies have necessarily been front and centre of day-to-day life, making sure that we continue to be an inclusive, supportive, people-focused firm.”
Supporting diversity is the right thing to do, and it’s also the smart thing to do. Nurturing a people-first, inclusive and diverse workplace, creates an environment where everyone can thrive, supports innovation and results in more effective decision making. It ultimately supports us to provide our clients with the best possible service.
This is why D&I is a central theme and is at the core of our People Principles, driving how we work and making sure we recruit and retain the best people.
We’re proud of how far we’ve come on our D&I journey, but also recognise that we are not done yet, and continue to learn and improve.
Our Diversity and Inclusion Steering group co-ordinates our approach to D&I and four thriving, people-led networks who work together to lead a whole range of initiatives and events – we have picked out some recent highlights for you below.
Diversity and inclusion at LCP
Our Partner Champion campaign
We are now in the second year of our D&I Partner Champion campaign - a visible, individual commitment by our senior leaders to challenge the barriers to diversity and inclusion at LCP. Partner Champions are paired with one of our D&I Networks or take on an intersectional role and are committed to championing their area as a visible advocate and ally, increasing their D&I knowledge and understanding and supporting internal and external initiatives and events. Over the first two years of this programme, almost two-thirds of our partners and principals have either become a Partner Champion or are directly involved in leading the D&I group or one of our four networks.
Jon Forsyth, LCP
"Being a Partner Champion has really opened my eyes to the challenges and barriers faced by different communities and has helped me become a more effective ally and supporter."
Lockdown mini videos
Whilst working remotely over 2020, our networks enjoyed collaborating to produce over 25 short videos as part of an educational video series. These videos starred a range of people from the networks themselves as well as a number of Partner Champions. Topics included likeability bias (and how it disproportionately impacts women), a definition of neurodiversity, institutionalised racism and gender identities.
What is Likeability Bias? - Lizzie Potter, LCP
Our Women’s Network
Initiatives include mentoring, networking, training, career support and a very well attended programme of internal and external events – we have hosted over 1,000 of our clients and external contacts at over 12 events now. We’ve received exceptional feedback for our events and our network is continuing to look at virtual events to keep the conversation going.
During lockdown, we relaunched a mentoring programme to bring together groups of women across the business and senior leaders to share experiences and advice. In addition to this, we hosted another “An audience with…” event to bring panellists from across LCP together for a Q&A about their experiences on topics from work-life balance to being a senior female in a male-dominated industry.
We’ve now held three women’s talent academies - a unique undergraduate mentorship programme giving undergraduates access to a network of women working within investment consulting. This helps students to prepare for the transition from a student to a professional.
Find out about LCP’s Women’s Talent Academy – seeking to improve gender diversity in the investment industry
Our LGBT+ Network
In 2019 we had a milestone D&I first, marching at London Pride. 35 LCP employees, dressed in the network’s rainbow-coloured t-shirts, marched in support of the LGBT+ community. Not to be slowed down by a global pandemic, for Pride Month 2020 we hosted a number of virtual events, including a Rainbow Day fundraiser.
Also not afraid to tackle difficult topics, our LGBT+ Network regularly facilitates conversations on a range of topics, including in July 2020 an internal discussion on transphobia and feminism.
LCP partners Cat Drummond, Tom Porter, Ken Willis and Luke Hothersall have all been named in the Top 100 Executive Allies and in LGBT Great’s flagship Project 1000 campaign published in June 2020. LGBT Great aims to shine a light on LGBT+ representation and allies within the investment and savings industry.
We’re also very excited and supportive of the establishment and the very recent launch of O:Pen, the new pensions industry LGBT+ Network - a number from LCP are on its committee.
Our Multicultural Network
Our Multicultural Network is committed to supporting a race-inclusive culture at LCP and highlighting how our backgrounds can make work more innovative and interesting.
Celebrating black excellence at LCP for Black History Month
The Multicultural Network had a very busy 2020 and led several initiatives and programmes. Some highlights include: • An external event with David Olusoga in October for Black History Month • A six-week long race education programme, including knowledge and resource sharing and discussion groups • Facilitating an internal virtual TEDTalk and discussion on Black Lives Matter which saw a significant proportion of the firm attend
Our Wellbeing Network
LCP’s Wellbeing Network is committed to helping those who work at LCP lead healthier and happier lives in an environment that is accessible to all.
The Wellbeing Network has been involved in a number of recent initiatives including: • A panel session on international men’s day, focusing on the experiences of our men at LCP • A campaign to promote open, honest and supportive discussion of mental health issues and release of a wellbeing app, Unmind, to the firm
• More than 10% of our people are now qualified Mental Health First Aiders • Input into making our new Winchester office accessible for those with disabilities and neurodiverse conditions • Awareness raising sessions on neurodiversity, kindness and imposter syndrome • Weekly yoga and exercise classes and regular fitness challenges, as well as healthier snack and drink options in the office
Keep in touch
