When we think about making the world a better place, the responsibility has historically fallen to governments, scientists, and international groups to lead the charge in driving positive change. Yet, as the dial shifts, the private sector, including financial services, is now stepping up, to go beyond just focusing on the bottom line, and instead working towards making the world a better place – now and in the future..

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Apex Group, a global financial services company employing nearly 10,000 employees across over 80 locations globally, provides a single-source solution to their clients including a pioneering ESG ratings and advisory service for private markets investors and businesses.

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With a global reach comes a global responsibility. Rosie Guest, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Apex Group reveals that the business is proactively taking part in building conversations around positive change including powering a Financial Services Disruptor Forum, which she describes as “a think tank for change in financial services”:

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“It’s about bringing the best minds together so that we can accelerate change and get the industry comfortable with doing things differently.”

Doing things differently is in Apex Group’s DNA. This year, the company have launched a number of initiatives including Project JUMP, a global mobility program, that allows employees to apply transfers to other countries in order to provide the opportunity for career and personal development. Apex Group is also tackling the issue of gender equality within financial services and has launched a Women’s Accelerator Program to advance high-performing female talent through the business by giving them opportunities for additional training, learning and progression. The program aims to make tangible change in an industry that is typically unequal at higher levels of the business.

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Driving positive change for its people is not the only way Apex Group is forging a path for good in the industry. The company is also deeply involved in moving the needle on climate change. Founder and CEO, Peter Hughes, says that the entire industry needs to take steps to use their influence to make a difference:

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“Everyone needs to do what they can to slow down climate change; we want to be the leading business, doing this in financial services. We've offset all our carbon emissions since we started the business 19 years ago and other companies will hopefully follow our lead.”

With a strategy to reduce and offset its own emissions, plus a product that is helping other private companies and even sports teams such as Cricket West Indies to do so, Apex Group is truly pushing for change and restless in the process. Guest calls on Apex Group’s industry peers to do what they can to forge a path towards a sustainable future.

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“ESG is going nowhere, but I think that it needs to evolve…having core roles that are dedicated to diversity, inclusion and environmental impact. That's the only way that it's going to happen.”