S&W grows financial services consulting business with acquisition of Fredward
S&W, a professional services group, has bolstered its consulting capabilities with the acquisition of Fredward, a specialist financial services management and data consultancy based in London.
Founded in 2016, Fredward works with financial institutions to help tackle complex data challenges, enabling them to transform, comply, integrate, and adapt to evolving market demands. As part of the deal, all 45 Fredward colleagues – including two partners and six directors – will join S&W.
The acquisition of Fredward follows the recent establishment of consulting as a standalone business line within S&W. The wing provides a broad range of consulting services, including transformation, regulatory, accounting, risk advisory, technology and data.
Claire Burden, Head of Consulting at S&W, said: “The acquisition of Fredward is a significant step in building a consulting practice that’s focused on helping our clients navigate complex challenges with confidence. Fredward ’s deep expertise in financial services and legacy data transformation complements our existing capabilities and enhances the breadth and depth of solutions we can offer.”
Fredward is the 6th business that S&W has acquired since it was launched in March 2025 with backing from Apax Funds.
“Expanding the range of complementary services we offer our clients is central to our growth strategy, and the acquisition of Fredward is an important milestone in that journey,” noted Andrew Wilkes, CEO of S&W.
“The Fredward team bring a wealth of expertise and this deal perfectly aligns with our vision of being the go-to professional services for clients with complex needs. I’m excited to welcome our new colleagues to S&W and look forward to the impact they’ll make across our business.”
Ashley Bragg, Founder and Managing Director at Fredward, and Dhiresh Patel, Partner at the consulting firm, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to join S&W’s consulting team. This marks an exciting new chapter for our colleagues. What started as a vision to help organisations unlock the full value of their data has grown into something far bigger, and seeing that work recognised and embraced by S&W is both humbling and energising.”
