IP Inclusive
A round-table meeting on Diversity in IP hosted by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) led to the creation of a pan-professional diversity task force. This task force currently has nearly 40 members from organisations including CIPA, the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA), the IP Federation, the UK association of the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI-UK), the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) and Managing IP magazine. The group has representation spanning patent and trade mark attorneys, IP solicitors and barristers, patent and trade mark administrators, information scientists, IP Office examiners and HR professionals from IP practices. Operating under the banner IP Inclusive, the task force exists to implement the challenging diversity-improving initiatives agreed during the round-table discussions.
During 2015 we laid the foundations.
In 2016 we need to build on those.
In the second annual round-table meeting on Diversity in IP, on 26 January 2016, the IP Inclusive team reviewed its achievements so far and set its objectives for the coming year. Our priorities now are to increase awareness of IP Inclusive and its work, and to involve more people from the full range of IP professions.
The EDI Charter will be key to this: we will seek to widen uptake and also to support and engage with signatories so as to improve standards throughout. Look out too for the launch of our IP Out and Women in IP support networks; for webinars on unconscious bias; for a seminar on recruitment best practices; and for other training and discussion events throughout the year.
We will also complete and launch our awareness-raising resources, and take them out to the communities from which the IP professions recruit – work that will benefit all of our businesses.
You can read the full outcomes from the round-table meeting here.
During 2015 we laid the foundations.
In 2016 we need to build on those.
In the second annual round-table meeting on Diversity in IP, on 26 January 2016, the IP Inclusive team reviewed its achievements so far and set its objectives for the coming year. Our priorities now are to increase awareness of IP Inclusive and its work, and to involve more people from the full range of IP professions.
The EDI Charter will be key to this: we will seek to widen uptake and also to support and engage with signatories so as to improve standards throughout. Look out too for the launch of our IP Out and Women in IP support networks; for webinars on unconscious bias; for a seminar on recruitment best practices; and for other training and discussion events throughout the year.
We will also complete and launch our awareness-raising resources, and take them out to the communities from which the IP professions recruit – work that will benefit all of our businesses.
You can read the full outcomes from the round-table meeting here.
Joint statement of intent
We are committed to making the IP professions more inclusive. We believe that there is value, not only to the professions and their individual members, but also to the IP system as a whole and its users, in ensuring that the IP professionals of the future encourage, embrace and sustain a more diverse workforce.
We will work together to ensure that for all those who have the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, physical ability, wealth or background, the IP professions are:
Following the round-table meeting on 27 January 2015, we, the undersigned, will commit to a range of joint initiatives aimed at achieving the above outcomes and improving diversity throughout the IP professions.
We will work together to ensure that for all those who have the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, physical ability, wealth or background, the IP professions are:
- welcoming
- accessible
- respectful
- supportive
Following the round-table meeting on 27 January 2015, we, the undersigned, will commit to a range of joint initiatives aimed at achieving the above outcomes and improving diversity throughout the IP professions.
- The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)
- The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA)
- The IP Federation
- The UK association of the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI-UK)
Work streams
The IP Inclusive initiative operates under four work streams (click to find out more)
