Introducing Mattioli Woods plc, the wealth managem...

FROM a converted garage to a new purpose-built £15 million headquarters; from a two-man band to an award-winning, multi-talented workforce of more than 500. And, little more than 25 years since their adventure began, royal recognition for co-founders Ian Mattioli and Bob Woods as both are made MBEs.

The meteoric rise of wealth management and employee benefits specialists Mattioli Woods from its humble beginnings to a multi-million-pound business is a remarkable modern-day success story.

Nowadays, the company advises more than 6,000 clients - with assets under management, administration and advice totalling almost £8 billion. 

It has offices in Leicester, Newmarket, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Manchester, Preston, Hampton-in-Arden, Buckingham, and London.

Next year, more than 300 staff will move into a new 60,000 sq ft headquarters currently under construction in the heart of Leicester city centre.

It’s a far cry from the days of 1991 when Ian and Bob decided to go it alone and set up their own pensions business in Ian’s garage.

Thanks to strong organic growth and some shrewd acquisitions, the Mattioli Woods of today is a diverse, AIM-listed company also specialising in investments, wealth management, employee benefits, and financial education.

It prides itself on an impressive client retention rate in excess of 98 per cent. Many of its original customers are still with the company.

Brands under the Mattioli Woods banner include Custodian Capital, Custodian REIT, City Trustees, Taylor Patterson, and MC Trustees.

It recently bought a 49 per cent stake in award-winning fund management firm Amati Global Investors Limited, based in Edinburgh. The £3.3 million deal gives Mattioli Woods the option to buy the remaining 51 per cent share-holding over the next two years.

“We will continue to grow through recruitment, and in particular our schemes for apprenticeships, graduates, internal training and fast-track training,” says chief executive officer Ian.

“That doesn’t stop us from looking for further acquisitions, though. We remain on the look-out for businesses which we can overlay – or ‘gap fill’ – who like Amati, give us a range of things we have not already got”.

Former chairman Bob, now special adviser to the group, adds: “Building financial security is a complex thing. You need to be able to offer not just advice, but a complete support service.

“By putting consultancy, asset management and investment products under one roof, we can reduce costs to our clients”.

Today, Mattioli Woods’ staff are the company’s 11^th largest shareholder – thanks mainly to its generous share incentive plan.

Between them, the workforce and MW’s directors own around 50 per cent of the business.

On May 19, Ian and Bob were presented with MBEs by the Princes of Wales in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace. They were honoured for their “services to business and the community”.