STEP Employer Partnership Programme

Media Procedures

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ContentsPage

Process 3Employer Forum Group Situations 3Press Release from Michelmores

4-5Platinum Employer Partner (sample)

Press Release from Lupton Fawcett 6-7Gold Employer Partner (sample)

Press Release from Stronachs 8Employer Partner (sample)Press Release from STEP (sample) 9-11

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Process

Now that you have been accredited as an Employer Partner, you may like to publicise your achievement by issuing a press release.

Important: all press releases must be approved by STEP’s Communications team. Please send your draft press release to your contact point at STEP, or email to epp@step.org

We reserve the right to edit your draft press release and require that you include the following information about STEP:-

STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning. STEP works to improve public understanding of the issues families face in this area and promotes education and high professional standards among its members. STEP members help families plan for their futures, from drafting wills to issues surrounding international families, protection of the vulnerable, family businesses and philanthropic giving. Full STEP members, known as TEPs, are internationally recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.

For further information please contact Joanna Pegum on +44 (0)20 3752 3771, joanna.pegum@step.org

Find out more at www.step.org

Upon gaining approval from STEP: Once approved it, we will return your press release for you to release to the media, and post on your own website.

STEP will also announce your achievement on Social Media and in STEP publications.

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Group Employer Forums:

If you attend a STEP Employer Forum, please note STEP will produce a press release on behalf of the whole group and circulate to you. Please do not issue your own press release as well. This is in order to ensure consistency and fairness to all Employer Partners in attendance.

Sample Press Releases

We include three examples of press releases below which you might find useful in helping you to draft your own press release to announce your accreditation.

The first has kindly been provided by Michelmores (Platinum Employer Partner)

Issue date: 18 January 2017

 Michelmores is awarded highest accreditation from STEP

Michelmores has been awarded STEP Platinum Employer Partner accreditation, the highest of three accreditation levels awarded under STEP's Employer Partnership Programme.

Achieving platinum accreditation is testament to the strength of the policies, practices and structures that Michelmores have in place to support its growing Private Wealth offering.

To achieve platinum accreditation, the organisation must show that the importance of learning & development is championed throughout the organisation, as well as demonstrating a positive work and learning environment.

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STEP was particularly impressed with the strong learning and development culture at Michelmores. Laura Keith , STEP’s Employer Partnerships Officer, states:

"At Michelmores, staff across all levels are encouraged to share issues and findings and discuss topics. There is a fantastic recognition and reward culture encouraging and acknowledging staff in their professional development. It sounds like an excellent organisation to work for and it is a great addition to STEP’s Employer Partnership Programme."

Sam Jamieson, Head of Learning & Talent Development at Michelmores said:

"Our prestigious award from STEP validates the quality of the learning opportunities and support that we offer our professionals to be the best they can be in their chosen career".

About STEP

STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning. STEP works to improve public understanding of the issues families face in this area and promotes education and high professional standards among its members. STEP members help families plan for their futures, from drafting wills to issues surrounding international families, protection of the vulnerable, family businesses and philanthropic giving. Full STEP members, known as TEPs, are internationally recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.

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Sample Press Releases

The second has kindly been provided by Lupton Fawcett (Gold Employer Partner)

PRESS RELEASE

Issue date: 16 May 2017

Lupton Fawcett becomes a STEP Gold Employer Partner

Lupton Fawcett, which has offices in Leeds, York and Sheffield, has become one of only four law firms in England & Wales, as an early adopter of the programme, to be awarded a STEP Gold Employer Partner accreditation, in recognition of its specialist skills in family inheritance and succession planning.

STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning. STEP works to improve public understanding of the issues families face in this area and promotes education and high professional standards among its members.

STEP members help families plan for their futures, from drafting wills to issues surrounding international families, protection of the vulnerable, family businesses and philanthropic giving. Full STEP members, known as TEPs, are internationally recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.

Amanda Simmonds, a senior associate at Lupton Fawcett, serves on STEP’s International Council as well as the STEP Business Families Special Interest Group Steering Committee. Amanda has been a member of the STEP Yorkshire Branch committee for 10 years, having served as Chair of the Yorkshire Branch until 2014.

Speaking about the accreditation, Amanda said,

“We are extremely proud to have been recognised for our professionalism, expertise and experience in providing our clients with the best advice about potentially complex matters at sometimes difficult times.”

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Tricia Carter, head of the Private Client department at Lupton Fawcett, added,

“It is also excellent to be recognised for the fact that, through ongoing training and development, our team is able to reach the highest level of expertise in order to benefit our clients.”

Jenni Hutchinson, STEP’s head of employer partnerships, commented,

“Lupton Fawcett has demonstrated a supportive and encouraging approach to learning and development and we are pleased to see the value they place on staff training. We had no hesitation in recognising these qualities by awarding them with a well-deserved Gold Employer Partner accreditation.”

Ends.

STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning. STEP works to improve public understanding of the issues families face in this area and promotes education and high professional standards among its members. STEP members help families plan for their futures, from drafting wills to issues surrounding international families, protection of the vulnerable, family businesses and philanthropic giving. Full STEP members, known as TEPs, are internationally recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.

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STEP sample press release

The third example has kindly been provided by Stronachs (Employer Partner)

Stronachs achieves STEP recognition for private client team

Stronachs LLP in Aberdeen has achieved specialist accreditation for its private client team, becoming one of only five Scottish practices to be recognised as an “employer partner” by STEP.

It also recognises the firm’s commitment to helping employees gain individual STEP accreditation, which has already been achieved by five members of the private client department.

A further member of the team was named as one of the top two Scottish candidates in the Trusts (Law and Practice) exam earlier this year, and is now one assessment away from achieving full STEP accreditation.

Carol Crowther, Stronachs LLP partner (pictured), said: “We recognise the need for our solicitors to have the fullest training and resources available to develop their professional skills, and to ensure they are able to provide the best legal advice for our clients.

“We are proud to have cultivated a supportive and nurturing environment which allows our employees to further their experience in their chosen specialisms.

“This formal award from STEP recognises that we have excellent staff training programmes in place to ensure that our teams are equipped to provide a reliable, high-quality service to clients.”

Jenni Hutchinson, head of the employer partnership programme team at STEP, said: “Stronachs has demonstrated a supportive learning culture in the development of their STEP staff and we are delighted to welcome them to the STEP Employer Partnership Programme as an accredited employer partner.”

step, stronachs December 14, 2016 8

STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning. STEP works to improve public understanding of the issues families face in this area and promotes education and high professional standards among its members. STEP members help families plan for their futures, from drafting wills to issues surrounding international families, protection of the vulnerable, family businesses and philanthropic giving. Full STEP members, known as TEPs, are internationally recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.

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STEP sample press release

The fourth example is one which we produced here at STEP following the launch of the EPP.

STEP launches its Employer Partnership Programme

Friday, 15 April, 2016

STEP launched its Employer Partnership Programme with a learning and development forum in London on 14 April.

Members of the trust and estates sector met to participate in professional learning and development workshops. Around 60 industry representatives attended the event, which was sponsored by STEP Jersey.

Presentations at the forum were delivered by expert speakers, including Jonathan Winter of Career Innovation and Trevor Kelham, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank (Guernsey), who gave practical insight into different approaches to learning. Ian Pettigrew of Kingfisher Coaching looked at how to coach staff for resilience in an ever-changing workplace.

The forum was followed by a drinks reception with members of STEP’s Board and Council, opened by Edward Buckland TEP, STEP Worldwide Chair, who said: ‘This is a very important initiative for STEP and I personally am hugely supportive of it. Our key priorities are now to continue to develop our offering, to grow the programme in key jurisdictions worldwide in a measured fashion, and to build relationships with our employer partners. We look forward to working with you.’

The launch of the Employer Partnership Programme follows a hugely successful pilot programme and initial review. 

Its primary aim is to help any employer deliver the best possible learning and professional development outcomes for both STEP staff and the wider organisation. It is now being opened up globally to interested employers.

STEP’s Head of Employer Partnerships, Jenni Hutchinson said: ‘The Employer Partnership Programme has generated considerable interest, and we are delighted to already be working with 24 companies from the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and Singapore who have helped us to shape the programme by participating in the pilot.

‘We are now pleased to open up the programme to applications from all interested employers of STEP students and members who take a pride in the learning and development opportunities that they provide to their STEP employees and want to be able to learn from each other and share best practice.’

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‘STEP’s Employer Partners have all demonstrated commitment to strengthening the industry through high-quality, structured professional development. There is huge potential for the future growth of the Employer Partnership Programme across the world, which will bring substantial benefits both to STEP and its employer partners’.

ENDS

About STEP

STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialise in family inheritance and succession planning. STEP works to improve public understanding of the issues families face in this area and promotes education and high professional standards among its members. STEP members help families plan for their futures, from drafting wills to issues surrounding international families, protection of the vulnerable, family businesses and philanthropic giving. Full STEP members, known as TEPs, are internationally recognised as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience.

For further information please contact Joanna Pegum on +44 (0) 20 3752 3771, joanna.pegum@step.org

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