The mortgage and protection brokerage says five members of staff will sit on the council including head of operations Amrit Bahee, Adrian Brewer, head of later life as well as the Access All Areas referral scheme, business quality assurance manager Kamelia Azaad, Megan Hind, an operations coordinator and Adam Niedzielski, a protection admin supervisor.

Alongside Access FS employees, brokers Rakhi Wojkowska and Areeb Jalali from the firm’s mortgage division will sit on the council.

They will be joined by two advisers from the brokerage’s protection team: Farhan Ali and Anita Wokomah.

The Equality Council aims to foster an inclusive environment by amplifying underrepresented voices and addressing systemic barriers.

The council will review company policies, advocate for inclusive practices, and hold Access FS accountable for its diversity and inclusion (D&I) commitments.

Access Financial Services mortgage sales and marketing director Nick Jones says: “By engaging with employees and advisers, the Equality Council seeks to identify challenges, propose solutions, and drive cultural change, ensuring we reflect the diverse communities we serve.”

“Through regular feedback and transparent reporting, the Council is going to help embed D&I into our core operations, setting a benchmark for the industry.”