“2025 has been a year that reminded me why Berry & Oak exists. Seeing our team grow, our clients thrive, and our work contribute positively to the profession and wider community has been incredibly rewarding. I’m proud of what we’ve built together and grateful to everyone who has been part of that journey. As we move into 2026, our focus remains exactly where it should be; on our clients and on doing great work, consistently and with care.”
Andrew Elson, Managing Director

As we reflect on 2025, we’re incredibly proud of what has been a year defined by growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact at Berry & Oak. Throughout the year, our focus remained firmly on delivering exceptional financial planning for our clients, investing in our people, contributing to the wider profession, and giving back to our community.

A defining theme of 2025 was team growth and development. We welcomed several new colleagues across the business, strengthening our expertise and bringing fresh perspectives to the firm. Alongside this, many of our team achieved important professional milestones, passing exams across financial planning, pensions, protection, investments, and mortgages. Continuous learning remains central to our culture, ensuring our clients benefit from the highest standards of advice and care.

We were also honoured to receive significant industry recognition during the year. Berry & Oak was once again named New Model Adviser Firm of the North for the seventh consecutive year and featured in the New Model Adviser Top 100. We were proud to be awarded Professional Adviser Firm of the Year (North East) for the second year running and to win Small Financial Business of the Year at the Yorkshire Financial Awards.

Individual achievements were recognised too. Andrew was named Financial Adviser of the Year, while Sarah won Female Leader of the Year and was also Highly Commended for Role Model of the Year at the Women in Finance Awards.

Beyond awards, 2025 was a year of thought leadership and professional contribution. Members of the Berry & Oak team spoke at national conferences, took part in expert panels, contributed to industry publications, and supported the planning and delivery of major professional events. These opportunities allowed us to share insight, challenge thinking, and play a small part in shaping the future of financial planning.

Supporting the next generation remained a key priority. Throughout the year, we worked closely with schools, universities, and organisations such as Ahead Partnership, Future Frontiers, and the CISI. From interview skills days and careers fairs to mentoring, work experience placements, and graduate opportunities, we were proud to help young people better understand careers in financial planning and build confidence in their futures.

Giving back to the wider community was another important focus. We continued our support for the Leeds Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, regularly volunteering with their Wellbeing Trolley initiative and making donations to support the incredible work they do for children and families.

Our clients remained at the heart of everything we do. In 2025, we hosted client events, delivered webinars, ran pre- Our clients remained at the heart of everything we do. In 2025, we hosted client events, delivered webinars, ran pre-Budget drop-in sessions, and invited feedback through our annual client survey. The insights we received have been invaluable and will directly inform how we continue to evolve and enhance our service.

As we look ahead, 2025 stands as a year that truly reflects our values: professionalism, integrity, collaboration, and care. We’re deeply grateful to our clients, our team, and our professional partners for their continued trust and support, and we look forward to building on this momentum as we move confidently into 2026.