Weightmans has joined the Mayor of the West Midlands in an initiative aimed to tackle race inequality.
The West Midlands Race Equalities Taskforce is an independent group of leaders brought together by the Mayor Andy Street and the West Midlands Combined Authority Board to ensure local people have the same opportunities regardless of their race, ethnicity, and heritage.
As part of Race Equality Week, Weightmans welcomed a host of individuals seeking career advice to its Birmingham office on Colmore Row and offered practical hints and tips on how to apply for jobs and other ways of approaching careers through apprenticeships.
Jawaid Rehman, partner in the employment and pensions team and Birmingham office head, said:
“Everyone should have the equal right to fulfil their potential no matter their race, ethnicity, or background. Weightmans is committed to improving the inequalities in our region and empowering our people - from our employees and clients to those in our local community - to see the possibility. We believe the Race Equalities Taskforce is a significant step in the right direction in making real changes to people’s lives and making our region more prosperous for it.
“I would like to thank the Mayor and WMCA for enabling us to get involved in the initiative so far, and a special thank you to the Weightmans’ team, led by Monica Sood and James Statham, for their passion and commitment to the project.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: “Sadly evidence indicates that racial disparities in outcomes persist - preventing local people from all backgrounds reaching their full potential. That’s why working with diverse and under-represented communities to address these sorts of inequalities is so important if we want to boost equality of opportunity in the West Midlands in the months and years ahead.”
1.3 million people living across the West Midlands may face race inequality in their daily lives.
The West Midlands Race Equalities Taskforce is led by an independent chair, Sharonjit Clare. It brings together a wide range of leaders from different backgrounds, including public services, businesses and communities.
In 2023, the Taskforce launched Race Forward, its independent strategy. This sets out the changes the Taskforce want to see across a wide range of priorities. It focuses on the policy areas where the WMCA and its partners can make the most impact. These are:
- Jobs, living standards, skills and education
- Transport and connectivity
- Housing and homelessness
- Health and wellbeing
- Criminal justice
- Improving data, leadership diversity and cultural intelligence
Jawaid Rehman joined Weightmans in 2007 and is the head of our HR Rely product, a partner in the employment, pensions and immigration team, and Birmingham office head.
