Howden makes UK acquisition as it looks to continue growth in employee benefits sector

Howden has agreed to acquire Evelyn Partners Financial Services (EPFS) – the employee benefits consultancy arm of Evelyn Partners.

EPFS supports a client list with a focus on mid-market, scale-up and fast growth firms and provides a wide range of consultancy services to employers and trustees.

It also offers advice on group risk and healthcare benefits, employee engagement and communications services, as well as wellbeing and ancillary benefit packages.

The team of 38 professionals, located in London, Bristol, Glasgow and Guildford, led by Gareth Sawyer, head of employee benefits, will transfer across to Howden in Q1 2026.

Sawyer will report to Cheryl Brennan, managing director of Howden Employee Benefits, following completion of the acquisition.

Sawyer said: “Howden is an impressive business and will be an excellent long-term home for the team and the clients we serve through access to Howden’s wider proposition offering and global presence.

”The deal provides clarity on our future and will bring exciting opportunities as we become part of a global organisation that has grown to become one of the UK’s largest employee benefits specialists. Our clients can expect business as usual, with the team remaining focused on delivering high quality advice to help them attract and retain talent in a competitive market, while retaining a close relationship and continued collaboration with Evelyn Partners.”

Market growth

This announcement follows Howden’s acquisition of Barnett Waddingham in March 2025, with the deal driving the broker’s growth in the employee benefits and pensions advisory sector.

Through the deal, Howden has approximately 4,000 experts across 40 countries, delivering total combined revenues exceeding £500m.

Howden said acquiring EPFS ”strengthens the scale of its corporate health and employee benefits offering in the UK and is an additional step forward in its strategy to invest in expertise for the benefit of clients”.

Brennan added: “EPFS bring a highly experienced team with an excellent reputation and a culture that mirrors our own. This acquisition reinforces Howden’s investment in our market-leading, full-service employee benefits proposition, strengthening our ability to deliver fresh thinking and trusted advice for corporates seeking a global employee benefits broker with a client-first approach.

“We’re delighted to welcome the EPFS team and to build on our strong relationship with the wider Evelyn Partners group as we continue to grow our scale and impact in the corporate health and benefits market.”