Osborne Clarke is an international law firm known for sector-focused expertise, innovative thinking and pragmatic advice on complex commercial matters. With a high-achieving workforce navigating complex career paths, promotions and growing financial complexity, the firm is also increasingly focused on supporting their people’s financial futures.
Katie Walker, Senior Benefits Manager, had been fielding more and more requests for financial planning support. The pandemic prompted many to reassess their finances and make plans for the future, and Osborne Clarke wanted a solution that could grow with their people and with the firm.
The firm also recognised that money worries are one of the most common sources of stress. Helping people reduce financial anxiety has not just been a “nice-to-have” benefit, but an important part of the firm’s wider wellbeing strategy and its commitment to helping people perform at their best.
Finding the right fit
Octopus Money stood out as a good fit across roles, departments, seniority levels and life stages, combining technology and 1-to-1 human support, with a track record other law firms already trusted.
Getting started was straightforward.
“We had a dedicated implementation manager who guided us through the process,” says Katie. “Following implementation, we were seamlessly handed over to the support team, who are very engaging and proactive.”
How it’s landed
Almost half of all Osborne Clarke employees have booked a free discovery session since launch, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. “Octopus Money made me feel really comfortable talking about my finances,” said one colleague. “They made me feel hopeful that I could take control of my finances.” Another said their Octopus Money session was “a wealth of knowledge, giving great insight and really helping me think about my financial future.” A third described their advisor as “enthusiastic and really knowing their stuff, making me confident I can make the most out of my finances and achieve my goals.”
Every Osborne Clarke employee is at a different point in their money journey. Some are just starting to get their finances in order. Others are looking at wealth investment strategies and longer-term planning. Octopus Money is a key provider that Osborne Clarke uses to support people wherever they are on that journey.
See it for yourself
Chat to one of our team for a no-obligation demo and find out why Osborne Clarke made financial coaching a key part of their benefits offering.
Making it stick
Osborne Clarke doesn’t just offer the benefit and leave it there. Two annual campaigns, a Benefit Fair in March and Financial Wellbeing Month in September help keep financial wellbeing on the agenda throughout the year. The Octopus Money team attends the Benefit Fair in person, answers questions and contributes webinars and content to the overall programme. By normalising conversations about money and positioning financial planning as a proactive wellbeing tool, Osborne Clarke is helping to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek support early – before worries start to impact their mental health or performance.
Support is also available at key moments. Coaching campaigns can be triggered at important career milestones, such as bonus season or starting a new role, and employees can seek guidance when life changes prompt financial decisions, whether that’s starting a family, buying a home, going through a divorce or planning for retirement. Giving people access to expert guidance at these points helps them process decisions more calmly, protecting their mental wellbeing while enabling them to stay focused on their careers and clients.
For Katie, three things made the difference:
- Senior leadership backing
- Visible employee champions
- Clear, regular signposting.
Keeping the benefit relevant over time depends on insight. Octopus Money’s quarterly benefit dashboards give Katie and her team full visibility of utilisation and engagement trends, helping them track impact, identify where further support might be needed and evolve their wider financial wellbeing strategy.
Katie’s advice to any business thinking about financial wellbeing support: understand where your employees actually are in their lives, and build something that works for different needs and stages. For Osborne Clarke, Octopus Money is an important part of a longer-term journey to support people with their finances.
“Financial wellbeing is fundamental to how people feel and perform at work,” she says. “When colleagues feel in control of their money, they are more able to focus on their roles, manage pressure and look ahead with confidence. That’s good for them, and it’s good for business.”