Saffery Trust celebrates 95% staff retention rate

Saffery Trust has announced an average 95% staff retention rate in 2023 across its offices in the Cayman Islands, Dubai, Guernsey and Switzerland.

The private client firm opened its first international office in Guernsey in 1977 and now employs close to 150 staff across four jurisdictions.

Coinciding with its 2023 rebrand, Saffery Trust launched its Employee Value Proposition, formalising its people-first approach, with a continued focus on the health and wellbeing of team members, as well as supporting them in shaping their career paths.

As the “global recruitment crisis” continues, Saffery Trust teams are growing; new joiners were welcomed in each of the firm’s offices, and its Cayman team doubled in size through 2023.

With research by Investors in People revealing one-third of employees surveyed considered leaving their job due to a lack of opportunity and career progression, Saffery Trust’s commitment to supporting staff in understanding professional qualifications and setting personal development goals could be a contributing factor to the firm’s impressive retention rates.

Initiatives to promote wellbeing are common practice within the firm, including “lunch’n’learn” events with a wide range of guest speakers, green projects including tree-planting, zero-waste workshops and active travel challenges, and a flexible working policy to promote a healthy work-life balance.

A group of staff in Guernsey also recently undertook training to become Mental Health First Aid Champions, to offer support to all other team members and signpost to relevant services. This support is running in conjunction with 24/7 support services through an Employee Assistance Programme.

Saffery Trust Managing Director, Nick Batiste, said the 95% retention rate was a testament to the firm’s prioritisation of its team members.

“When it comes to clients, intermediaries and our staff, people are at the centre of the Saffery Trust approach. We are committed to putting the right people in the right place within the firm, and to ensuring everyone has opportunities to grow and fulfil their potential.”

“We have a culture of longevity at Saffery Trust, regularly celebrating staff with long service awards, including decades of service. The same is true for our connections with our clients, where positive professional relationships are established and maintained over generations as we act as trusted advisors for our clients and their families.

“I am extremely proud of our high retention rates, which are a reflection of our inclusive culture, access to opportunities and the friendly and supportive environment that we provide for our growing teams.”