As we celebrate our 20th anniversary at Berwick Partners, we reflect on the incredible journey we’ve had, helping clients and candidates achieve their goals while continuously evolving as a company. This week, we want to shine a spotlight on our company culture and why Berwick Partners is a fantastic place to work. Our success over the past two decades is a testament to the dedication and innovation of our staff, who have been the driving force behind our evolution. 

A Culture of Trust and Flexibility

At Berwick Partners, we pride ourselves on fostering a mature and “grown-up” culture. We trust our employees to deliver results without the need for weekly targets, KPIs, or sales incentives. This trust is the foundation of our flexible working model, which allows colleagues to spend three days working from our offices or client sites, with the remaining days working remotely. This hybrid approach ensures that work patterns are aligned with business demands, giving our team the autonomy to manage their time effectively. 

Staying Connected

Internal communication is key to our success. We keep our employees informed and engaged through various channels, including group messages, weekly update emails, and bi-weekly ‘coffee hugs’. Our annual all-company offsite update in the summer, the Berwick two-day away day, bi-annual business updates, and quarterly business reviews and socials are just a few of the ways we stay connected. Each office and practice team also hosts regular events, and our active CSR group drives initiatives and fundraising activities throughout the year. 

Commitment to Development and Career Progression

We believe in nurturing our talent and providing opportunities for growth. Our extensive learning and development programme includes a group induction, a three-week pre-planned onboarding programme, and a variety of in-house ‘lunch & learns’ hosted by experienced Managers and Partners. These interactive sessions cover topics such as managing retained search assignments, business development initiatives, and commercial and financial insights. 

We also partner with an exceptional external training provider to deliver courses on Business Development, Pitching to Win, and Negotiation Skills. For those with the potential to become future Partners, our 12-month Principal Development Programme offers leadership development, coaching, projects, and business cases. Additionally, we provide tailored support through our mentoring programme and a transparent career ladder that highlights the journey from Graduate Researcher to Partner. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are. Our Unlimited Festival, an annual global event, focuses on the importance of diversity and inclusion within and across Odgers Berndtson. All sessions are virtual and recorded, ensuring accessibility for our employees worldwide. 

Our Unlimited Allies programme supports ten groups, including Age, Disability, Ethnicity, Faith, Gender, LGBTQ+, Menopause, Mental Health, Neurodiversity and Social Mobility. Over 25% of our workforce is a member of one or more groups, championing equality, fairness, dignity, and happiness at work. Our commitment to inclusion enables our people to contribute without limits, benefiting our colleagues, candidates, clients, and communities. 

Sustainability and Social Responsibility

We are committed to operating sustainably and minimizing our environmental impact. Our science-based decarbonisation targets, verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), hold us accountable to our sustainability strategy. We also provide sustainability insights to our clients and have a strong track record in placing sustainability leaders. 

In addition to our environmental efforts, we actively participate in charity days and support various CSR initiatives throughout the year. Our dedication to social responsibility is a key part of our company culture. 

Berwick Partners in Numbers

• 50:50 male to female ratio 

• 80% of our Partners have been promoted internally 

• Less than 10% turnover in our Consultant population 

As we look back on the past 20 years, we are proud of the culture we have built at Berwick Partners. Our commitment to trust, flexibility, development, diversity, and sustainability has made us a great place to work and will continue to drive our success in the years to come. Here’s to the next 20 years of growth and excellence! 

This article was brought to you by Jennie Green, Internal Resourcing Executive at Berwick Partners. If you are interested in developing your career with us, please do get in contact with Jennie.