A firm of financial advisers has seen profits and savings increase in line with staff and client satisfaction, having worked with Wales’ leading gender equality charity.

Leabold Financial Management, based in Abercynon, signed up to Chwarae Teg’s fully funded Agile Nation2 Business Programme as it wanted to place staff development and progression and its own quality of service at its core.

The thriving firm has now been awarded ‘Achieving FairPlay Employer’ status by Chwarae Teg. It has recorded its highest annual turnover, £620,000, and the introduction of agile working has directly led to savings of £20,000 – with further savings of over £40,000 forecast for the next financial year.

The company, which has been established for 17 years, provides advice and guidance to individuals, businesses, pension scheme trustees and other professional firms. It has worked with an unwavering commitment to gender balance and inclusion and taken impactful steps such as introducing family-friendly policies and instilling a sense of flexibility and trust in staff. As well as the monetary rewards the business’s efforts have enabled them to attract and retain talented employees, increase productivity and staff well-being, as well as lessen their impact on the environment as less travel is now required.

Derek Lavington, Director/Compliance Officer, Leabold Financial Management, said:

At Leabold, we are committed to Equality and Diversity.  We are also committed to enhancing our culture of fairness, openness and inclusivity. We started on the AN2 Business Programme with a set of good policies and procedures already in place but we have benefitted from Chwarae Teg reviewing all our practices to help us continuously improve. We have attended workshops to improve our knowledge and understanding and have benefitted from the support of our Employer Partner, Jane Griffiths, to strengthen our approach and to incorporate best practice. We are determined to attract a wide range of new talent to the business as well as ensuring that all our existing employees work in a business that both supports their wellbeing and gives them every opportunity to succeed and develop.”

Jane Griffiths, Delivery Partner – Business Programme, Chwarae Teg, said:  

“Leabold have been a pleasure to work with as they have been committed to  improving numerous aspects of their business policies and processes in order to develop their desired culture of fairness, openness and inclusion.”