CEO Statement

We will create a more inclusive place of work.

We currently have 20 different nationalities which creates a vibrant and exciting culture. We are dedicated to nurturing the next generation of design talent through close collaborations with leading design universities, an internship programme and an annual scholarship for a design student at Kingston University. However, we know we can do more to improve our diversity and inclusion levels and as we grow, we will keep attracting a community of talent that is as diverse in background as it is in skill.

We aim to be the employer of choice for the design industry.

Winch Design has always invested heavily in physical health by providing daily lunches and fitness classes. Recently, the focus has been on mental health, and we appointed 10 individuals from across the business to train as Mental Health First Aiders. All employees have 24/7 access to a dedicated team of trained counsellors provided by our insurance provider AVIVA. Our key goal is to increase our health and wellbeing satisfaction rating year on year.

We encourage craftsmanship and the use of small artisans across our projects.

The success of the Winch portfolio doesn’t just lie with the designers who translate the dreams of its clients from paper to reality, it also lies with the craftspeople who bring the Winch portfolio to life. We created Under Winch's Wing during the Covid pandemic to extend our help to the smallest suppliers who help bring the Winch portfolio to life. We also work closely with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), sponsoring a new scholar each year to help preserve British craftsmanship. 

The Water Revolution Foundation

The Water Revolution Foundation was started from within the superyacht industry to tackle its ecological footprint and preserve the world’s precious oceans. Aino Grapin sits on the board and chaired the Sustainable Taskforce from its launch, championing the creation of a new generation of eco-friendly yachts by encouraging designers and naval architects to share innovative solutions and best practices through a Designer's Protocol.

Blue Marine Foundation

The protection of our oceans is very close to our hearts. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with the Blue Marine Foundation in their mission to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. Since establishing the London to Monaco bike ride in 2016 we have raised in excess of £250,000 for Blue Marine to help fund their vital worldwide marine projects.

Managing Waste

We have the ambition to send zero waste to landfill and recycle at least 70% of our waste, whilst eliminating single use products. This will not be an easy journey, but it is one we are committed to achieving. We recognise that reaching these goals will require significant changes to our operations, strong partnerships with our suppliers, and active engagement from our entire team.

We support the UK’s transition to a circular economy. 

We are pleased to be signatories of The Walpole British Luxury Manifesto which supports the British luxury sector to become a world leader in sustainability. Its aims are to drive positive change through the following key areas: leading the transition towards a circular economy, safeguarding the environment and natural resources, guiding partners and suppliers towards sustainable practices and advocating for equal and respectful working conditions.

We celebrate the rich British history of Winch Design while preserving our craft.

We are recognised as a strong British brand that invests in excellence in craftmanship. Our celebration of these elements is reflected in our promise to preserve them. Since 2019, Winch Design have supported The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), a charity dedicated to preserving British craftmanship through access to education opportunities and sustaining craftmanship skills. We now have a growing collection of Winch QEST scholars who we are proud to support.

We embed sustainability principles into our design and services.

We have a responsibility to support, invest in and promote designs that protect people and the planet. Our global influence means we have a visible platform to advocate sustainable design and to make it the most desirable option. We employ a sustainable materials specialist who researches new materials and independently vets their credentials, encouraging our design teams to incorporate sustainable materials into their projects.

We will promote sustainable action with our suppliers and partners.

We have always encouraged our suppliers and partners to make responsible business decisions. We are mapping the sustainability credentials of each of our suppliers, and are researching sustainable materials for use across all Winch projects. We will focus on equipping our suppliers with the knowledge they need to make the right decisions for people and the planet. We will continue to drive supply chain improvement by setting out policies and targets that build sustainable businesses.

We ensure we have the resources needed to achieve our goals.

We have set ambitious long-term goals in the Life Worth Living plan that will require time, money and skill. We are committed to ensuring that we plan accordingly so that we have the resources and ability to achieve our goals. We now need to update our plan and goals for 2025-2030.