Birkett Long is a leading solicitors' firm with a team of specialist lawyers, financial advisers, patent attorneys and HR experts who offer clients a full range of independent advice.

With its people at its heart, the firm invests heavily in the development of employees and will support career progression and personal aspirations. This ensures engagement and commitment from the individual and the best service for clients.

With improving the service in mind, staff are encouraged to share ideas and make suggestions while managers promote a sense of involvement and ownership through regular team meetings. Birkett Long operates a highly-positive praise culture.

That extends to encouraging staff to be part of the wider community. Birkett Long has a long-standing 'events and fundraising' committee which arranges regular social activities for employees and their families and coordinates fundraising for employee-nominated charities. More than £250,000 has been raised over the past decade but practical, as well as financial support, is offered.

Senior managers believe small gestures go a long way in maintaining morale. At the Christmas lockdown, locally-sourced food and drink hampers, with a card offering an extra day's holiday or a gift voucher, were hand-delivered by partners to employees' home addresses as a thank you for hard work during a difficult year.