Finance Monthly December 2019 Edition

Equilibrium is a financial services firm with a difference. The company, founded by Colin Lawson in his bedroom 24 years ago, has made a name for itself over the years with its resistance to fit the traditional wealth management business model. It’s an approach which has paid off, as Equilibrium has won numerous awards and clinched a spot in the top 10 of The Sunday Times’ Best Small Companies to Work For list three years in a row. They also have a 92% staff retention rate. Under the stewardship of Managing Partner Gaynor Rigby, SarahWarburton, Head of Culture, has played a vital role in shaping the culture and engagement strategy that earned their place on the list. Here, she discusses how other financial services firms can follow suit and ensure that staff are striking the correct balance between work and their personal lives. I actually made my start in financial recruitment with Equilibrium, initially joining part-time on the talent team to assist with a number of different projects. My time at the company slowly upped and upped, and I was invited to join full time as the Head of Culture in 2015. So much has changed in that relatively short space of time, but one thing has remained resolutely the same: we put our people first and make their happiness a key priority. The phrase ‘work/life balance’ is bandied about so freely these days, but a lot of companies – particularly in the financial services industry – are yet to fully understand the importance of it. Historically in this industry, we have accepted that the nature of our work means we must be chained to our desks and work incredibly long hours, answering emails and phone calls from clients and CEOs at all hours of the day. HOW TO STRIKE A WORK/LIFE BALANCE WHEN YOU WORK IN THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY Sarah Warburton Head of Culture at Equilibrium 48 www.finance-monthly.com FINANCE CAREERS - WORK/LIFE BALANCE