Ruth: The culture here is very friendly, it’s very open, supportive and most of all it’s really encouraging. From the welcome that you get from the receptionist when you walk into the office in the morning. Right down to all the partners or directors or leaders of the firm as well.
Rob: I’ve been with the firm nearly ten years now, and I’d say it’s very much the relationships and friendships I’ve built up with colleagues over that time that really give you that sense of belonging.
Mashud: Being such a large firm we’ve got loads of people who are, you know, gurus at what they do. Everyone’s really accessible. Everyone’s easy to speak to. So if you ever have a question or ever want help with something, there will be somebody in the business who has done that before.
Ellie: Francis Clark has provided me with never-ending support. If I’m working on a job and I get stuck, the managers are always there to help me, I can pick up the phone. The sense of satisfaction that we both get from fixing that problem, it’s amazing.
Rob: Throughout my training, I was also given the opportunity to go on secondments to different teams around the firm. This gave me the opportunity to broaden my knowledge and experience base and also try and figure out which was the best path for me.
Sam: I would definitely say there is a lot of autonomy with my job role. I’m trusted to get on with my work by my managers and partners. But at the same time I also know that they will be there to support if I needed anything. I feel that my opinion does really matter and I can talk to my managers and partners about anything.
Rob: I work in a very big team. So there’s always plenty of people around if you just want to have a chat or a laugh or go and break out for a game of table football. We regularly have department socials whether that just be drinks out, meals out. We have team building days.
Sam: There is a real social aspect to working here. We have got volunteering days, so whether it’s a beach clean, maintenance at a zoo, working in a soup kitchen, a food bank, anything that’s going to give back to the community.
Mashud: One area which the business has been really good and supporting at is just in inclusion, effectively. That’s been great, is knowing that I can do what I want to do and excel in the career which I’ve always wanted to excel in without having to think that my skin colour or my background has affected me in any way.
Ruth: The introduction of hybrid working has been a bit of a game changer for me, to be honest. As a mum and as a working mum, the ability to actually be at home when my kids come home from school and just be there to be present for them as well as being absolutely present in my working life. So I feel that the balance that I’ve got now, it means I can really be me.
Ellie: We all pitch in, we all help each other out. If somebody’s overloaded with work then, you know, we can redistribute and work everything out. So nobody’s feeling like they’re on their own. We are a team at the end of the day and that’s what we do best.
Ruth:You just feel like you’re part almost part of a family, really.
Rob: I am highly motivated by achievement, whether that be through exam success, career progression. Francis Clark provides the challenges and the opportunities to tick the box for me.
Mashud: Motivation for me is leaving a mark, is being able to do what I do best for the business to benefit not just myself but you know the wider picture as well.
