We do this by building on our strong performance, which allows us to maintain and develop our position as the global market leader in shipping services.
Expanding our breadth to better tailor our integrated offer
With an expanding and industry-leading range of products and services spanning the maritime, offshore, trade and energy markets, and more touch points across the industry than anyone else, we are uniquely positioned to empower our clients to make better informed decisions, whilst enabling smarter, cleaner global trade.
Growing to meet demand
We made significant investment in new resource to stimulate traction in the development and expansion of the offshore wind market. We grew the expertise within our Green Transition to drive further progress with clients. Strategic acquisitions by the Sea business are increasing our digital offering to clients, and strengthened partnerships are enhancing data-driven decision-making.
Read more on page 52Extending our reach to support clients globally
Our global presence enables us to meet client needs wherever and whenever they arise. Through our growing global office network we share culture, values, IT systems and high standards of corporate governance across our business, as we use our local knowledge to provide our clients with truly global, cross-border advice.
New presence in emerging markets
The acquisition of DHSS by Port Services has expanded our reach into mainland Europe, whilst the opening of a new office in Edinburgh has strengthened our headcount to support the growing Renewables market. A new warehouse facility in Rhode Island is enabling the Gibb Group to better respond to customer demand, and our Dry Cargo team increased its reach to the South America market by acquiring a new team. The Research team expanded its presence in New Delhi to cement an emerging marketing position.
Read more on page 59Stronger understanding of clients’ needs
With a broad and long-established client base, we have worked with many of our clients for generations, building a deep understanding of their businesses and providing the services that have helped them to prosper. We use our leading technology and authoritative intelligence to offer unique and tailored solutions to meet our clients’ needs.
Developing and integrating our solutions
Understanding our clients’ needs, we re-established our Specialised Products Projects desk, providing a more integrated and comprehensive service. With accelerating net-zero targets, we grew our Green Transition team to accommodate demand. And we established a custom software development team within Sea to respond to client needs.
Read more on page 55Empowering people to fulfil their potential
We are committed to attracting and retaining the best people, providing them with the tools and training that empower them to fulfil their potential. Our employees have access to our leading technology and authoritative intelligence, enabling them to support our clients to make smarter and better informed decisions.
New resources for stronger progress
A more deeply embedded competency and behaviours framework is supporting more consistent leadership, employee development and performance management. This was complemented by the launch of an internal learning resource, The Clarksons Academy, and a new mentoring programme for more junior employees. We launched the 2023 Global Trainee Broker programme to develop the next generation of brokers and ran a successful social media campaign specifically promoting the stories of women in the business to inspire a more diverse talent pool.
Read more on page 43Maintaining trust in shipping intelligence
Globally respected as a provider of market-leading data and intelligence, our research and data is widely trusted across the shipping industry to inform effective decision-making.
Data to overcome disruption
We remain agile with our data sources to ensure clients can stay ahead of changing market conditions. We provided regular tracking reports focused on the disruption in the Red Sea – a vital water way for maritime. We continued to provide market-leading data on ESTs, alternative fuelling and CII ratings. And rolled out new enhancements to the Renewable Intelligence Network to inform this fast-growing wind sector.
Read more on page 62Growing our business to improve performance
We are a consistently profitable and cash-generative business that is focused on creating long-term value for our shareholders. We continue to invest to build on our position as the market leader across our core sectors through the provision of best-in-class advice and service to our clients.
Find out moreIncrease and progression
We maintained our progressive dividend policy and increased our dividend for the 21st consecutive year. We attained an 8.2% increase in underlaying profit before taxation and remained cash-generative. We continued to invest in new people, teams, training, product footprint and new market-leading tools and intelligence.
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Investing in our next generation
Our people are our strongest assets, and continued investment in emerging talent will ensure stronger teams, diversity and collaboration with our clients for generations to come.