Patron Profile
Developing sustainable change Society is stronger when communities unite Linda Martin Regional Director Unity Trust Bank
We’re committed to working with like-minded people and organisations who share our values to ensure that, together with our customers, we can be a force for good.
Measuring ethical risk
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he events following the first UK lockdown in March 2020 have been exceptional, with one of the most challenging years for many – socially, economically, and emotionally. However, if we can take anything from the devastation of the pandemic, it’s seeing just how much stronger society can be when communities unite. Since its inception in 1984, Unity Trust Bank has been committed to helping organisations prosper as they contribute to making positive economic, community, and environmental change. As we emerge from the pandemic, we look forward to supporting brokers and borrowers so that together, we can begin to build back better.
Making a positive impact Businesses across all sectors are increasingly looking to re-focus their corporate values to deliver positive societal impact – whether that’s working towards net-zero targets, having a robust Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) policy in place, or promoting employee wellbeing. Making the switch to an ethical finance provider can be a powerful first step to driving positive change. High street institutions are under growing pressure to demonstrate the contribution to their wider communities, but specialist providers, such as Unity Trust Bank, are already well-established in promoting an ethical approach across all areas of their business. Unity is driven by a core purpose to deliver positive impact. 16 | NACFB
While large corporations with significant turnovers have greater resources to allocate towards CSR activity, we understand that many start-up companies and smaller organisations don’t have the time or funds to put a corporate policy in place, or simply don’t know where to start. By aligning the themes of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to our lending practices, we can ensure our customer deposits are used to support organisations that also contribute towards valuable economic, community, and environmental change. The SDGs encompass 17 key areas, including poverty, health and wellbeing, access to education, gender equality, and economic growth, with the objective to create a fairer and more equal society for all. From decisions around responsible procurement and
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We understand that many start-up companies and smaller organisations don’t have the time or funds to put a corporate policy in place, or simply don’t know where to start