As Managing Partner, I have been reflecting on the strength of the culture that exists throughout Saffery. A culture defined by care, ambition and a genuine desire to make a positive difference. This year’s Responsible Business Report highlights that culture, as well as the progress made at the end of our 2022-26 business plan.

Responsible business remains central to our vision in our new business plan period. It shapes how we work, how we support one another, how we contribute to the communities and environment around us and, importantly, how we deliver value for clients.

While our own operations matter, some of our greatest opportunities for positive impact come through the clients we advise. Through our sustainability and natural capital work, we are helping organisations respond to evolving reporting expectations, improve the quality of climate, carbon and nature data, assess environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities, and make better informed decisions about long-term value and resilience. Over recent years, the firm has laid strong foundations, and this report shows how that work is becoming more embedded, more visible and more connected to the way we operate.

There is much to celebrate in this year’s report. We have delivered our first equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) strategy for 2023-26, Everyone Belongs, and continued to strengthen our focus on inclusion, belonging and wellbeing. We launched the Saffery Academy, bringing learning and development together under one clear framework. We also completed the first full year of our social impact strategy, Helping Build Sustainable Futures, with colleagues across the firm volunteering their time, skills and enthusiasm to support their communities.

This year has also seen important progress in preparing for our long-term climate commitments. With stronger data, clearer governance and closer collaboration across our business support teams, we are now better positioned to set out the next phase of our climate strategy.

Looking ahead, our priorities are clear: to continue growing our sustainability, ESG and natural capital expertise, to continue strengthening our inclusive culture, to build on the momentum of volunteering and community partnerships, and to move into the next phase of our climate strategy. These commitments will sit alongside continued improvements to our operations and the way we support each other, ensuring responsible business remains woven into the fabric of how we work and supports the firm’s sustainable growth, client relationships, and long-term success.

I’m grateful to every colleague, client and peer who has contributed to this work. This report captures a year of progress, but perhaps even more importantly, it reflects the direction we are heading. I look forward to building the next chapter of our responsible business journey together.