GUEST COLUMN:
Paul Lewis
Managing Partner
Linklaters
At first glance a corporate law firm like Linklaters, with its headquarters in the heart of London and a global focus, might not seem the most obvious choice to get involved in local community initiatives outside the capital.
However, our involvement with the Business in the Community (BITC) Newport Place Programme Board illustrates why it is essential for large firms, especially those based in major cities, to consider supporting communities beyond their immediate locality.
London, as the economic powerhouse of the UK, naturally attracts significant corporate attention. Large firms, ourselves included, have long focused their social impact programmes on the capital, engaging with communities and contributing to initiatives that address issues such as social mobility and diversity.
However, the reality is that other regions of the UK, particularly areas that lack the same concentration of corporate activity, often miss out on such support. In our work with BITC, we recognised this imbalance and decided to look further afield for a community where we could make a real difference. This led us to Newport.
Newport may not be all that far from London in distance, but it is a world away in terms of the corporate attention it receives. That said, the local authority in Newport is strong, and there is clear leadership and enthusiasm from within the community. The city has a real appetite for growth and development, but it also faces challenges that need addressing. At Linklaters, we saw an opportunity to bring our experience and resources to help BITC’s Newport Place Programme tackle some of those challenges, while also broadening our own horizons as a firm.
Working in Newport has already delivered mutual benefits. For us, one of the key attractions is Newport's size. As a large law firm, but not an enormous multinational, we wanted to work in a place where we could have a tangible impact without being spread too thinly. Newport offers that balance – it's a city where we can engage meaningfully and catalyse change, without overextending ourselves. Our involvement has also been a great opportunity to encourage other businesses, particularly those without a history of place-based work outside of London, to get involved in similar initiatives.
While we originally approached this as a social impact initiative, it’s become clear that there are business benefits too. Newport is home to a burgeoning tech and data industry, with a growing interest in innovation and infrastructure. This wasn’t something we were necessarily looking for when we first got involved, but it’s been a welcome surprise, demonstrating that community engagement can often lead to unexpected synergies between business and local development.
More broadly, working in Newport has been a reminder of the importance of looking beyond the capital. I grew up in Wales, and our work in Newport has helped me to reconnect with my own journey and inspired me to help create more pathways for others. In a sense, this initiative has brought our firm back to the roots of social mobility, highlighting that opportunities shouldn’t be limited to those near London or other major cities.
This experience has also enriched our recruitment pipeline. The legal profession, as many will be aware, has long struggled with issues around diversity and social mobility. At Linklaters, we’ve worked hard to address these challenges in London, partnering with organisations to attract talent from across the UK. But our work in Newport has added a new dimension to this. By engaging directly with the community, getting to know local schools, and meeting young people, we’ve been able to proactively encourage applications and build relationships with potential future talent.
One example of this was when we brought a group of young people from Newport to our London offices. The opportunity to visit a global law firm and meet our team was eye-opening for them—and it was equally rewarding for us. It’s a small but powerful step in addressing the barriers that often prevent talented individuals from underrepresented backgrounds from considering careers in firms like ours.
Supporting a place like Newport is more than just a box-ticking exercise in corporate responsibility. It’s about genuine engagement with a community that can benefit from what we have to offer, and from which we, in turn, can learn and grow. Diversity, social mobility, and community support are all interconnected, and by stepping outside our London-centric focus, we’re broadening not only our recruitment pipeline but also our perspective as a firm.
This type of place-based work has the potential to create long-term change, not just in Newport but in other areas across the UK. For businesses like Linklaters, the message is clear – it’s time to look beyond our immediate surroundings and consider how we can make a difference in communities that may not always be on our radar but are just as deserving of our attention. In doing so, we can play a part in creating a more balanced, inclusive future for the whole country.
