International Women’s Day Series: how giving in my job enriches my career 

To celebrate International Women’s Day and its theme ‘Give to Gain’, Laura Jones, Director of the gunnercooke foundation, reflects on what giving really means in practice, not as a one-off gesture, but as a mindset woven through work, community and everyday life. 

Drawing on her experience leading purpose-driven initiatives across the firm, Laura shares her perspective on why giving time, skills and energy alongside a career isn’t a distraction from success, but a powerful contributor to it. She explores the causes closest to her heart, from tackling loneliness with House of Books & Friends to supporting young people through mentoring and access to opportunity and reflects on the projects she is most proud of helping to build. 

This year’s theme is Give to Gain. What does giving mean to you? 

To me, giving is about choosing to show up for something bigger than yourself. It might be financial support, offering your time, or sharing your skills and knowledge, but at its heart, giving is about contribution. It’s about asking, “How can I help?” and meaning it. Giving doesn’t have to be grand or dramatic. Often, it’s the small, consistent acts that create the greatest ripple effect. 

Why is it important to you have time to give back alongside your career? 

For me, giving alongside my ‘day job’ isn’t separate from my career, it enriches it. Of course, the primary motivation is to support people and causes that matter, but what I’ve learned is that when you give, you gain so much in return. You meet people from different walks of life. You hear stories you’d never otherwise hear. You develop new skills, fresh perspectives, and a deeper understanding of the communities around you. Most importantly, you see firsthand the tangible difference one person or one team can make. 

I feel incredibly fortunate that I get to embed this into my work through the gunnercooke foundation, House of Books & Friends, and the wider range of impactful initiatives we deliver across gunnercooke. Purpose isn’t an add-on; it’s woven into what we do. 

What are the causes important to you?  

Through my work, tackling loneliness has become incredibly important to me. Bringing people together within and across communities can be transformational. A single conversation, a welcoming space or a simple act of kindness can change someone’s day, I always think that you never know how significant a small interaction might be to someone else. 

One of the most powerful ways to support this mission is through House of Books & Friends, our Community Interest Company. It’s more than a bookshop; it’s a community hub. We have a wide range of events and activities planned this year, and there are so many ways for people to get involved. 

On a more personal level, youth unemployment is an issue I care deeply about. I believe young people from all backgrounds should be exposed to entrepreneurship, self-employment, and alternatives to the traditional university or corporate path. Success isn’t one size fits all and that’s why I mentor with One Million Mentors and have worked with Young Enterprise. I’m also incredibly proud of our gcScholars programme at gunnercooke, which helps level the playing field for those seeking work experience in law, regardless of background. Talent is everywhere, opportunity isn’t always and I believe we can help change that. 

Is there a campaign  you are most proud of? 

Without hesitation, House of Books & Friends. We’re now in our third year of trading and to have taken it from a grey and white shell of a space and transformed it into the vibrant, welcoming bookshop it is today has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Watching it grow into a true community has been incredible. We regularly hear stories from customers about what the space, and the amazing team within it, means to them. That’s when you realise that we’re about more than books, we’re about our community and a sense of belonging. 

I love working from there and meeting people because it feels exactly as it was designed to feel: warm, friendly and open to everyone. We continue to evolve the bookshop thanks to the ongoing support of gunnercooke, most recently by welcoming Lara, our new Community Builder, who will help us deepen our mission of tackling loneliness and social isolation even further. 

What does it mean to you to be part of a firm with a wider purpose? 

gunnercooke doesn’t just talk about purpose, it backs it. The firm funds the foundation team and places what we do at the heart of the business. We work closely with partners and gcTrust to deliver meaningful programmes, projects and campaigns year after year, building momentum and impact as we go. 

I firmly believe businesses have a responsibility beyond selling products or services. They have a duty to improve the world around them, for their employees, their clients, their communities, and the wider society they operate in. My role is to help ensure that gunnercooke lives that belief and that purpose sits firmly alongside people and profit and that ultimately, we gain impact that lasts far beyond any business or individual. 

You can learn more about Laura and her work on the gunnercooke foundation website here.