ESG Spotlight: Continuum Financial Services
ESG Spotlight: Continuum Financial Services
Simon Reeve is Head of Operations at Continuum, a fresh and modern financial advisory business that strives to be one of the leaders in its sector and to be viewed by clients, advisers, its people, strategic partners and the regulator as the quality benchmark others should aspire to achieve. Here, Simon shares how ESG principles, particularly social responsibility and education, are central to Continuum’s culture, and how ESGmark® certification has strengthened its credibility, deepened team engagement, and supported its journey towards more sustainable, purpose-driven growth.
ESGmark®: Tell us about Continuum and your role within the business.
Continuum is a national partnership of independent financial advisers, working together under a single brand with one clear mission, which is to bring high-quality, holistic financial advice to as many people as possible. We are proud to combine the expertise of our advisers with a client-first culture that focuses on building long-term relationships.
My role as Head of Operations spans across marketing, operations, and adviser support therefore ensuring that our people have the tools, systems and frameworks they need to deliver the very best outcomes for clients, while also supporting the senior management team to shape our strategic direction as a business.
ESGmark®: What sparked Continuum’s deeper engagement with the ESG agenda?
We have always believed financial planning is about more than money. It’s about people, communities, and the future. The “S” in ESG, social responsibility, really resonates with us. Part of that responsibility is education, which is why we run a weekly client newsletter designed to make financial matters clearer and more accessible. By helping people make better, more informed decisions, we see education itself as a core part of our ESG commitment.
ESGmark®: Why did you choose to join the ESGmark® Community, and what value has having the ESGmark® Certification brought to your business over the past few years?
We wanted to benchmark ourselves against a clear, credible framework, and ESGmark® provided exactly that. Joining the community gave us access to best practice, shared learning, and a standard we could be held accountable to.
Having the ESGmark Certification® has brought real value in two ways. Firstly, it provides reassurance to clients that we are serious about sustainability, and secondly, it has helped us engage our team internally by giving us a recognised badge of progress and purpose.
ESGmark®: Congratulations on your recent re-certification! What progress are you most proud of since your initial certification three years ago?
Thank you. We are delighted to have achieved re-certification. The progress we are most proud of is embedding ESG thinking into the day-to-day running of the business. That includes formalising our policies, increasing awareness and training across our team. Most importantly, it’s now part of our culture rather than a separate initiative.
ESGmark®: What has been the biggest challenge in improving Continuum’s ESG performance, and how have you addressed it?
Like many growing firms, our biggest challenge has been balancing the pace of change with the need for meaningful, measurable action. ESG is a broad agenda, and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by where to start. We addressed this by focusing on clear priorities such as reducing our environmental footprint, enhancing diversity, and maintaining our strong governance frameworks.
ESGmark®: What’s next for Continuum on its ESG journey?
We see ESG as a journey rather than a destination. Looking ahead, we want to deepen our reporting and transparency and further engage our clients in the conversation. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure ESG is embedded in every decision we make for the benefit of our clients, colleagues, and communities.
About ESGmark®:
ESGmark® is the community for people and organisations who care about the planet and society. We support organisations to credibly demonstrate and improve their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) credentials. The ESGmark® certification is a symbol of trust and distinction which allows consumers to identify organisations who believe in and act to deliver a fairer, more sustainable future.
Through our ESG Spotlight Q&A series, ESGmark® Certified organisations share their approach to responsible business practices and how they create positive impact for the environment, their clients, employees, and communities. Discover more Q&As here.