Employee-owned Financial Planning firm Paradigm Norton says it has reached a diversity milestone with more than half of its team female.

The firm is celebrating the breakthrough as part of its drive to improve diversity and change the way the firm works.

The Bristol-based firm believes it is now a “champion” for female talent in Financial Planning and others will follow.

In contrast to many companies in financial services, where gender pay gaps can be large and many staff are male, the firm says 41 of its 71 partners are women.

A number of the firm’s new female planners have come through its Graduate Training Programme. The programme sees one trainee taken on each year.

The gender milestone comes as part of a series of changes by the firm. Last year the company transferred its ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust, often called ‘John Lewis-style ownership.’

The company is also a B-Corp certified firm which means it actively champions “meaningful change” in the sector to address imbalances. It is also exploring contributing to the ‘Are you in?’ movement, which aims to change the course of the wealth management profession to one that is “sustainable, diverse and fair” for the future.

Ruth Sturkey, client director in Paradigm Norton’s London office, said: “Paradigm Norton is one of the few leading Financial Planning firms with equal representation of men and women among its team.

“By recruiting talented women, the firm benefits from the huge female talent pool that so many companies miss out on. I believe this is a large part of why Paradigm Norton wins accolades year after year for its great client service and results. It is a delight to be part of a firm that is leading the way for the profession.”

Barry Horner, chief executive of Paradigm Norton, said: “It is really important to us as a firm that we nurture talent from as wide and diverse a pool of individuals as possible.

“We are extremely proud to be known as a firm that appeals to a range of Financial Planners because of our balance in age and gender alongside our values focused approach to Financial Planning. 

Paradigm Norton has offices in Bristol, London and Torquay.