Stewardship Wealth is unusual for a finance-sector business in that the financial planning practice is 100% purpose-driven. Their commercial ambitions are all focused around sustainability - not just for their clients but for the wider world.
Founder and CEO, Simon Glazier told us that, “our goals are to give at least 10% of gross income away every year (so far we are ahead of target), to offer flexible employment to those who prioritise family over work, to provide training in a highly regulated profession to build career opportunities, to let staff leave if they want to start their own business or support charities more directly, to buy a building that can be used by a local church and community groups, and to one day give the whole business away to charity”.
Simon said that, “we are a relatively small business, with seven employees and last year's turnover was about £500,000. We have given £348,000 to charity so far and are aiming to give £1 million within the next 6-8 years at the current rate of growth”.
“So far we have put in place salary exchange pensions, with the goal of increasing employer contributions from the current 6% up to 10%, life insurance and private medical insurance. As staff are at different stages of life, they each value the available benefits differently, so we consult with them about which would be the most valuable to add next”.
“Staff are given a £1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice when they join the company, and each year we hold an appreciation dinner for staff, clients, professional connections and charity representatives where we ask each attendee to nominate a charity and then pick three out of the hat at the end of the night who each receive a £500 donation”.
Simon reported that, “this culture of generosity at the core of our business has attracted both staff and clients who want to put purpose ahead of profit. Staff have chosen to leave jobs with better benefits locally in order to work in a business with a purpose-driven culture”.
On receiving news of being joint second place, Glazier said that, “we have always hoped that Stewardship Wealth would be known for its generosity, as this sits as one of our three core values, but it is an absolute honour to be listed amongst the UK's Most Generous Companies. We hope that this will inspire us, and others, to even greater levels of generosity, to build a culture of giving back when we have been given so much, and a recognition that generosity can be a powerful force for good within the business community.”
Judge Ifty Nasir, founder and CEO of Vestd said, “Congratulations to our joint second place winners, Stewardship Wealth. You can be rightfully proud of leading the way and setting an excellent example to other British companies!”