Sheffield dispute resolution firm SSB Law has revealed that 30 new graduates recruited to its training scheme just before the UK lockdown was announced last month remain an integral part of its future.
The firm moved into 10,000 square feet of new office space at the Victoria Quays development in February as part of its expansion plans, which included the recruitment of the new graduates.
SSB Law said the new recruits are operational across all areas of the firm and already planning for the future.
In response to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, SSB Law implemented its business continuity plans and immediately had the capacity for 75% of its staff to work from home.
Wesley Bower (pictured), director at SSB Law, continued: “We invested in new technologies and have now been able to remotely train new starters and get them back to work.”
“As for all businesses the Covid-19 outbreak has led to numerous challenges over the last three weeks, but most importantly we wanted to ensure our staff are looked after both health wise and financially. Whilst presenting significant challenges to the business we recognised that with the sort of nimble planning that epitomises SSB we could react positively to the situation.”
Bower revealed that the firm had decided against furloughing any staff, and so claiming back a proportion of their salaries from the UK government’s job retention scheme, and will continue to pay them 100% of their earnings.
SSB Law will also allow all staff to carry over their annual leave allowance over the next two years if they wish to do so.
Bower said: “All staff will be paid in full to the end of May with a view to ensuring that even the new starters could be gainfully employed by the end of May. We are on course to achieve that objective.”
“We also appreciate that many members of staff had holidays booked, which they are no longer able to go on and we have taken the decision to allow leave to be cancelled and, if necessary, this can be rolled over.”
“Our people have been incredible during this time. Because of their support for the business we wanted to be supportive to them and their families and I believe that we have achieved this.”
Bower concluded: “Our business continuity plans have proven to be robust and it’s now business as usual for us. We are still helping thousands of clients with various types of litigation and these matters are unaffected by the current crisis, adjusting the way we work as we learn from our interactions. Once lockdown requirements have been eased, we will be expanding into new areas of work and will continue our recruitment drive.”
