Sunday 8 March is International Women’s Day.
Boult is committed to supporting opportunities and development for women in our industry. We actively support women in all areas of the IP industry to overcome challenges, explore new opportunities, progress their careers and achieve their goals.
We are particularly proud of our partnership with the award-winning initiative IP Inclusive, working together to make our industry more inclusive, diverse, open and fair. Members of Boult’s team play a key role in guiding the activities of IP Inclusive, notably holding positions in its Women in IP committee and on the Advisory Board.
This year, Frances Baxter and Jodie Bates from Boult have assisted with the establishment of the Women in IP committee’s new Mentoring Scheme. This scheme is specifically for women in the IP industry, open to women in any role in the industry. “The scheme is for women in the IP sector from a wide range of areas – including fee earners, partners, in-house personnel and support professionals,” Jodie Bates comments.
Although still in its initial pilot phase, the mentoring scheme has brought together a really interesting range of mentors from diverse backgrounds and career paths across the IP industry, including from in-house roles, patent and solicitor firms and self-employed people.
Frances Baxter says of the scheme: “We are delighted to have such an incredible wealth of experience and understanding represented through our mentors.”
Under the scheme, mentors will help their mentees to work through challenges and set and achieve their goals. Career development is a significant part of that process, but the mentoring meetings can encompass any aspect of being a woman in the IP industry. It is designed to provide mentees with an alternative point of view, helping to organise their thoughts and plans, in whichever way best applies to them and their career.
“It is great to see people from different firms come together and help each other develop and share experiences,” says Jodie.
“In the end,” Fran adds, “the scheme is all about giving women the support they need to thrive in IP. It’s early days, but being part of bringing that together has been immensely rewarding.”
