Capsticks has renewed its partnership with the 10,000 Interns Foundation for the second consecutive year, under its transformative ‘10,000 Black Interns’ programme.
- The firm is set to welcome four new interns, integrating them across diverse teams in Leeds, London, and its Central Business Services.
- This initiative aligns with Capsticks’ overarching goals for enhanced diversity and inclusiveness within the workplace.
- The firm’s internal network, CREATE, plays a critical role in fostering an environment supportive of ethnic and racial diversity.
- Capsticks’ reciprocal mentoring programme has concluded, promoting racial equity and furthering leadership engagement in diversity initiatives.
Capsticks has reaffirmed its partnership with the 10,000 Interns Foundation as part of their ‘10,000 Black Interns’ programme, marking the second year of collaboration. This initiative reflects the firm’s dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
The upcoming internship will be six weeks long and sees the firm opening its doors to four interns: Rudo Ushewokunze and Enoch Sakyiama in the Leeds office, Emmanuel Edwards in London, and Tumi Mayowa-Peters joining the Central Business Services team. This approach allows interns to gain hands-on experience within various branches of the firm, enhancing their professional growth.
Rudo is an LLM graduate from the University of Law, Newcastle, while Enoch holds an MSc from the same institution with an LLB from Nottingham Trent University. Emmanuel is about to complete his studies in Politics and International Relations at the University of Manchester, and Tumi is a first-year student in the same field at the University of London.
Martin Hamilton, the managing partner, expressed his enthusiasm about the ongoing partnership and highlighted its significance in achieving a more diverse and inclusive environment. He stated, “I’m really pleased that we’re partnering again with the 10,000 Interns Foundation – our partnership is important to making Capsticks an ever more diverse and inclusive place to work and improve further our recruitment and retention of global majority candidates and colleagues.”
The firm’s CREATE network has been pivotal in driving participation in this programme. As co-chair Marsha Thompson explains, CREATE aims to celebrate and heighten awareness of cultural and racial diversity, collaborating with senior leadership to advocate for meaningful change. The internship initiative is seen as a step forward in enabling Black students and graduates to enter the legal field.
Capsticks has also concluded its inaugural reciprocal mentoring programme, incorporating 11 partner mentors paired with solicitor and business services mentors from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The programme fostered passionate advocacy and inclusive leadership among participants. It concluded in April 2024, with partners committed to continuous enhancement of race equity at Capsticks.
In addition to this, the firm plans to welcome new apprentices in September and continues its collaboration with the Ahead Partnership. This collaboration aims to inspire school-aged children to consider law as a viable career alternative, irrespective of their backgrounds.
Capsticks continues to champion diversity and inclusion through strategic partnerships and internal programmes, reinforcing its commitment to equitable growth.