PEM marked its 150th anniversary in 2025 with a standout year of charitable giving, community partnerships and staff-led initiatives, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to Cambridge and the wider region. Building on generations of local support, 2025 was one of the firm’s most impactful years to date.
A record year of grants and financial support
Through the PEM Charitable Trust, the firm awarded 120 grants in 2025, ranging from £50 to £2,000 and totalling over £70,000. Since 2022, PEM has distributed 152 grants, worth more than £97,000, to causes across Cambridgeshire.
A further 56 staff nominated £500 grants empowered employees to support charities meaningful to them. PEM also pledged £10,000 to the Cambridge Pledge project, reinforcing its commitment to long term community investment.
Supporting local organisations with space
To help charities deliver vital services, PEM provided 75 hours of free meeting room hire in 2025, benefitting 10 local organisations. The firm also loaned gazebos and tables to support fundraising and community events throughout the year.
Championing digital inclusion
In partnership with IT Support company, 4Cambridge, PEM continued to tackle digital exclusion. In 2025, the firm donated 29 laptops, contributing to a total of 109 devices donated to three local schools and 13 charities in recent years.
Staff-led fundraising
Highlights from staff fundraising in 2025 included:
- £4,103 raised through the annual Christmas raffle, supported by 100 donated prizes
- £3,360 raised through the 150th year Sporting Challenge, where staff walked, cycled and ran a combined 1,500 km
Strengthening ESG, sustainability and community engagement.
PEM employees dedicated more than 500 hours to volunteering, CSR and wellbeing activities, supporting organisations such as:
- Cambridge Sustainable Food’s community café and kitchen
- Cambridge Acorn Project, with gardening during Mental Health Awareness Week
- Touch of Sparkle, assembling care packages for cancer patients
In 2025, PEM deepened its ESG and community engagement efforts, including:
- Achieving the Silver SME CSR Award
- Joining the With Purpose Network to expand local charity partnerships
- Hosting its first carbon lunch and learn with Cambridge Carbon Footprint
- Delivering two BSL learning sessions with Cambridge Deaf Association
Looking ahead to the next 150 years
PEM remains committed to supporting Cambridge’s charities, schools and community groups long into the future.
“We’re incredibly proud of the collective effort shown by our people, clients and partners,” said Warren Tilbury, Managing Partner. “Our 150th year was a chance not only to celebrate our legacy, but to strengthen the impact we make in the community we call home.”
In the short term, our people will focus on fundraising for the Charitable Trust. In June, around 40 team members will take on a Sporting Challenge to climb the Yorkshire Three Peaks in one day.