Throughout the month of March PEM, a leading independent accountancy and tax firm in Cambridge, proudly celebrated Women’s History Month by highlighting the remarkable achievements and contributions of women. Their EDI network organised a range of initiatives to honour and empower their female employees, reinforcing their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
With 50% of partners being female, PEM sets an example in gender diversity within a historically male dominated sector. As part of the celebration, PEM shone a spotlight on some trailblazing women in senior leadership positions, with hopes of inspiring others to pursue their aspirations and break barriers. Spotlights included Jemma Gibbons-Ridell (Audit and Accounts Partner), Sanchia Norris (Private Clients Partner), Judith Pederzollli (Business Tax Director), Patience Matereure (Technical Director) and Nicole Knight (Learning and Development Manager).
In a significant milestone, PEM also proudly announced the appointment of their first female chair back in October 2023, Sanchia Norris (Private Client Partner), a proud moment in PEM’s almost 150 year history. With her wealth of experience, Sanchia embodies the firm’s commitment to fostering a culture of empowerment and excellence as she supports the managing partner and wider partner group by overseeing and promoting the highest standards of corporate governance.
In addition to recognising achievements within the firm, PEM extended their support to the broader community by collecting donations such as clothes, toiletries and art supplies for the Cambridge Women’s Resources Centre, a local charity that provides resources, opportunities and space for women to change their lives for the better.
As well as collecting donations for Cambridge Women’s Resource Centre, the PEM Charitable Trust donated a grant of £2000 to the Cambridgeshire Rape Crisis Centre. Clare Bake, Centre Manager at CRCC shared
We are so grateful to the PEM Charitable Trust for such a generous donation, that is already making a huge positive difference to the local children and young people who are receiving support from our specialist sexual violence advocates. Thanks to the incredible people at PEM, we have been able to purchase a range of therapeutic-based resources to facilitate us in delivering meaningful and bespoke support sessions with children aged 5-18 who have been subjected to sexual abuse. These resources are immensely helpful for young people to communicate their feelings and worries. Sometimes, the words are hard to find. We know that young people also get a real feeling of worth and care when we are able to provide such high-quality resources and activities in their sessions, signaling that we have held them in mind and they are deserving of support.
Furthermore, PEM promoted women’s voices in the arts and media by sharing recommendations for TV shows, films and books created by and featuring women. By amplifying these voices, PEM seek to foster a culture of appreciation and recognition for the diverse talents and perspectives of women in the entertainment industry and added copies of books to their library for employees to pick up at their leisure.
“Women’s History Month serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact women have made throughout history and continue to make every day,” said Warren Tilbury, Managing Partner at PEM. “At PEM, we are proud to honour and celebrate the achievements of women, both within our organisation and in the broader community as we continue to champion diversity, equality and inclusion.”