Diversity is increasingly regarded as an essential requirement for success – a realisation that any boy band producer could have told you was long overdue. From The Jackson Five to Take That and current adorable future-bankruptcy-filers One Direction, music moguls have always known that a range of different personalities are needed to create a harmonious whole, with the funny one, the shy one and the one who’s always in Heat all catering to different segments of the target demographic.

While manufactured pop may be a superficial business, the principles underpinning its greatest success stories are shrewd nonetheless and – what’s more – in evidence far beyond the confines of the X Factor studio. For international law firm Reed Smith, diversity has long been both an ethical and commercial imperative.

“We are an open community and recognise that the strongest teams utilise the contributions of a range of individuals, who all contribute different perspectives and strengths," says training principal Peter Hardy. "There is no need for everyone to be the same; the important thing is to share a common goal.”

Download the .PDF to find out more!