BRC joins forces with Leading law firm RPC to promote diversity and inclusion

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has partnered with RPC, an international law firm with market-leading retail and equality practices to bolster the organisation's Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Charter.

RPC, a preeminent advisor to the UK's leading retailers and consumer brands, will serve as the exclusive resident expert in employment law and lead the discussion on such issues as recruitment, progression, and inclusivity.

Members of BRC's HR Community will benefit from a series of D&I roundtables covering data and reporting, employment practices, audit practices and promoting inclusive culture and values, as a way of helping retailers to address inequality and barriers to progression. 

Launched in March 2021, the BRC's D&I Charter aims to support retailers in taking decisive action in reducing inequality in their workforce and now includes 60 signatories, including many of the biggest and most well-known retailers in the UK.

Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:

“We are delighted that RPC has joined us as we continue on a journey to make retail a Diversity and Inclusion leader. We are proud of our industry, but we recognise that we have a long way to go. RPC’s employment expertise will be a vital asset for our members, helping them to better their businesses and create equal opportunities for all. Together, we can make tangible change and I am excited to see what the future holds for retail with greater diversity and inclusion.”

Simon Edwards, Retail Partner at RPC, said:  

"We are delighted to deepen our existing relationship with the BRC and its members – the BRC is a powerful voice for our thriving retail sector and this partnership is a natural evolution of our commitment to the retail market."

Kelly Thomson, Partner, RPC Employment, Engagement and Equality Practice and co-host of acclaimed weekly equality podcast, The Fix, said:

“The retail sector is in the privileged position of being able to contribute to greater equality both through the consumer lens and within its own workforces. It has perhaps never been more important for retailers to continue to build inclusive cultures and doing this will put them in a great position to harness the benefits of diversity. This will be essential to foster the innovation needed to meet the challenges of the future. We love working with organisations committed to making a difference so we cannot wait to directly engage with the BRC's D&I Charter signatories and support turning their pledges into real-life actions and success stories for the collective benefit of a more equal retail sector."