Rachel Pears wins Inspiring Leader award at the 2025 Carers UK Awards

Rachel Pears, Associate Director – Responsible Business & Employment Counsel, has won the Inspiring Leader award at the 2025 Carers UK Awards.

The award recognises individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership in driving awareness, inclusion, and tangible change for carers in the workplace.

Rachel leads the RPC Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies and has built a career defined by empathy, advocacy, and action. A former fee-earning employment lawyer, she transitioned into Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) seven years ago, using her personal experience as a carer to shape her professional mission.

Rachel has said of the recognition: “This award means a lot to me because it recognises the importance of creating workplaces that understand and support carers. Caring has shaped who I am, and I’ve seen first-hand the difference flexibility, empathy and awareness make. I’m proud to be part of a firm that values inclusion not as a side initiative, but as part of how we work every day.”

As a carer for her daughter who has a rare genetic condition and for a parent in the United States, Rachel brings deep understanding and authenticity to her work. Her lived experience has guided the creation of policies and partnerships that strengthen support for working carers within RPC and across the wider business community.

Last year, Rachel co-led the Mind the Caring Gap research project with Next 100 Years and LawCare, the first sector-wide study exploring the experiences of carers in the legal profession. The report’s findings, published during Carers Week 2024, have informed meaningful conversations across the sector about better workplace support and flexibility for carers.

Rachel’s leadership has also influenced real change at RPC. She led updates to the firm’s Carer’s Leave policy, now offering five days of paid leave annually, and spearheaded RPC’s partnership with Carers UK through its Employers for Carers programme. RPC is now working towards achieving Carer Confident accreditation.

Kate Ruch, People Director at RPC, added: “Rachel’s leadership has strengthened RPC’s culture of care and inclusion. Her work has given carers a stronger voice and ensured our policies reflect real life. She represents the best of our culture; collaborative, authentic and focused on helping people thrive."

Rachel regularly contributes to national discussions on caring and inclusion. This year, she spoke at the Carers UK Equality and Work Conference, hosted Carers Week podcast specials for The Work Couch, and co-facilitated a learning session for RPC carers.

Her recognition reflects the culture that underpins the RPC high-performing but inclusive culture, built on trust, collaboration, and fairness. 

At RPC, inclusion is seen as key to high performance. When people feel they belong, can be themselves, and know their contribution is valued, they deliver better work and stronger results for clients. Rachel’s leadership and advocacy are clear examples of how this philosophy works in practice.