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100% Pure-play consumer health company with a clear purpose to deliver better everyday health with humanity.

People

Together, we open spaces for creativity to flourish by prioritising our people’s wellbeing and being an open, inclusive and caring employer. 

Our Purpose and Values

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To Embrace The Elements With Open Arms

Our purpose shapes how we lead, create and collaborate at Burberry.

Grounded in a growth mindset, our purpose honours our heritage while also serving as a commitment to moving forward with confidence, curiosity and an open heart, whatever the weather.

Our founding principle, that clothing should protect people from the weather, has been at the heart of Burberry for 170 years.

We have reimagined our purpose and values to reflect this belief and to further embed the spirit of Burberry Forward into our business.

Our purpose and values serve as the guiding framework for everything we do. They underpin decisions, inspire creativity and define the experiences we bring to both our colleagues and our customers.

Our values

Our three core values are intrinsic to Burberry, bringing our purpose to life and guiding everything we do, from how we design to how we think and evolve. They also provide a shared foundation that unites us as one community while celebrating the diverse perspectives that drive our creativity.

  • We are a source of protection and warmth, no matter the forecast
  • We promise quality, function and enduring value
  • We strive for a space where everyone feels they belong
  • We build trust with each other and our customers
  • We aim to protect the environment, those who work in our value chain, and the communities in which we operate

  • We innovate to open new horizons
  • We strive for excellence in the pieces we create
  • We learn from one another and seek out new skills to push boundaries
  • We aim to continuously improve in everything we do

  • We brighten up even the cloudiest day
  • We see the world as a canvas of possibilities
  • We celebrate each other’s achievements
  • We create positive impact for one another, our customers, and our communities

Thomas Burberry 1835-1926

Thomas Burberry was just 21 years old when he founded his outfitting business in Basingstoke, England. However, it was in 1879 that he secured his legacy as a visionary and innovator with his invention of gabardine. Before the advent of the fabric, outerwear worn to protect against the often inclement British weather tended to be made from rubber, oil and wax. After hearing from a doctor that it was better to get wet through rather than stay dry in such clothing as it was odorous, hot and believed to induce ill-health, Thomas Burberry set out to create a breathable and weatherproof alternative. His invention, gabardine, revolutionised rainwear. The open spaces in the weave of the fabric allowed airflow and made for lightweight and comfortable garments. 

Such was the fabric’s reputation that in 1893 Norwegian polar explorer, zoologist and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr Fridtjof Nansen, took Burberry gabardine with him when he set sail bound for the Arctic Circle. Many more explorers and adventurers turned to Burberry gabardine in the years that followed. Gabardine is still used in the manufacture of Burberry Heritage Trench Coats today. 

Affectionately known as “Old Tom”, Thomas Burberry was described by his employees as “the kindest of chiefs”. During his lifetime he devoted significant time to humanitarian causes and gave generously to local charities. He was considered to have been thoughtful and ambitious, and was said to have conducted his career through “straightforward dealings and sound principles”. 

He retired in 1917 but remained on the Board of Burberrys Ltd until his death in 1926 at the age of 90. 

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