Economic
We employ over 290 people, in high quality jobs, in geographical areas that comprise some of the most deprived boroughs in the country. As one of their key local employers, we work closely with our home local authority, Wigan, to support their community wealth building strategy. We are currently involved in a project with the authority to employ disadvantaged people, such as care leavers, in apprenticeship posts and other permanent employment.
Since January 2023, we have had 16 apprentices working across our firm in different departments.
We believe that the employment we provide should be, and is, of the best quality and our Lexcel assessor said: “The firm is managed in a modern and inclusive style. Senior management are open and approachable, people feel appreciated and valued, and the firm operates as a whole”. (Lexcel Assessor 2022)
Social (building cohesive communities)
We believe that access to the law is a fundamental right and part of any cohesive community.
We run our own legal call centre and provide telephone help to approximately 100,000 people a year.
Through our legal work we help people from all walks of life to take control of their lives and improve them.
We are also one of a dwindling group of lawyers who provide legal aid and other services in some hard to access but life changing areas of the law such as child care, discrimination and adult social care.
We are proud to be partners of the Business Growth Hub striving to work collaboratively and support business in Greater Manchester. In the last financial year our employment team has assisted approximately with over 100 enquiries on a pro bono basis providing them with a range of funding options so that they are able to progress their case
On a yearly basis Stephensons allocate 100 hours to be used by staff to help charities.
Between April 2023 – April 2024 Stephensons generated over £18,000 to support our charity of the year,The Brick, in its mission to help individuals rebuild and change their lives for the better. Stephensons also donated time and money to several other charities.
These contributions included time and/or moeny to:
Wigan and Leigh Hospice - a charity providing care and support to people who have been diagnosed with a life limiting illness which is no longer curable.
Wigan Youth Zone - a purpose built, state of the art youth facility in Wigan. It offers young people from across Wigan the opportunity to meet new friends, have new experiences, learn new skills and access the support they need to develop and achieve their potential.
Roadpeace - a charity who provide information and support services to people bereaved or seriously injured in road crashes, and engage in evidence-based policy and campaigning work to fight for justice for victims and reduce road danger.
Limbless Association - a national charity who support and empower amputees to lead independent and fulfilled lives.
Joining Jack - a charity founded by the parents of young boy, Jack Johnson, further to him being diagnosed with a debilitating muscular disease.
Brake - a charity who work to stop road deaths and injuries, support people affected by road crashes and campaign for safe and healthy mobility for all.
Atherton & Leigh Foodbank - a local foodbank providing disadvantaged people in the area with essentials.
The following are examples of how we have supported the community more widely
We offer unwanted furniture and office supplies to local businesses through a community notice board co-ordinated by Wigan Council.
The firm assist Brighter School of Discipleship Church Wigan Youth Team in providing meeting rooms for their weekly meetings.
Stephensons have assisted Wigan Council in providing meeting room facilities for the community wealth business consortium.
Following any events held by Stephensons any leftover buffet/cakes are donated to a local care home.
Environment
Stephensons is committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, read more in our plan.
![](/cms/photo/misc/stephensons-carbon-reduction-plan-5.png) Click to maximise |
Stephensons works in a paperlite way and we have a centralised administration function for efficiency and reduction of waste.
The majority of our staff work in an agile way meaning that they typically spend two core days a week in our office or less. This translates into a reduction of travel and environmental benefits.
We have calculated that if one person drives 30 miles per day, then that equates to 808 grams of carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere per day. Stephensons have circa 240 people now working agile and attending the office two days per week, driving around 30 miles per day on average. This means that by working at home the rest of the time, there has been a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 581,760 grams per week, 30,251,520 grams per year.
Our head office is at the Wigan Investment Centre, we are pleased to say that following the installation of a photovoltaic (PV) system, the solar panels and inverter should be able to create 30% of its own energy per year converting energy from the sun.
In addition to working in a paperlite way, Stephensons seeks to recycle a significant proportion of materials including:
- Ink cartridges and toners
- Batteries
- Paper/cardboard
- IT and phone equipment
- Office furniture
To demonstrate the impact this has, we have measured that from April 2022 - April 2023 Stephensons recycled 20,732 pounds of paper. Every 2,000 equates to 17 trees. Stephensons have therefore recycled the equivalent of 176 trees.
Stephensons has a solid track record of providing services to public bodies and other social purpose organisations. But the bedrock of our firm is to provide easily accessible legal services to large numbers of ordinary people, coming to us directly. We are based in the North West but we do this on a national basis. We provide services in areas that many other lawyers have withdrawn from and we change lives for the better by doing so.