Branches & agencies
The award for Best Green Lender was presented to the Society at FRA24 – the Brokers’ Choice Awards. The prestigious event took place on Wednesday 5 June at Alexandra Palace, London. Chief Customer Officer Danny Cranie was present on the night to accept the award and also presented the Rising Star Award to Tom White of Connect for Intermediaries.
In the Best Green Lender category, nominees were judged on their innovations in the green lending space during 2023, and their commitment to environmentally friendly operations and wider initiatives.
Reacting to the award, CEO Barry Carter said:
“We entered this award because we genuinely feel that we’re a leading light on the ‘green’ stage, and that we’re making a significant impact. Winning this award is a testament to the energy and dedication that my team has put into leading the way on green mortgages. Our own green agenda and commitment to local community initiatives are the beating heart of our Society, and to be recognised for our achievements on this is the pinnacle of pride for us all.”
Integral to our commitment to the green lending space has been our unique partnership with green retrofit specialist Retrogreen. The Society’s partnership with Retrogreen, a licensed TrustMark Scheme Provider, created a service that was the first of its kind to market.
The partnership enables and fully supports both residential and investment property owners to improve their property’s energy efficiency, and to raise their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating. The barrier of affordability is overcome by covering the full cost of green retrofitting through a lower-rate green mortgage. At every step – from start to finish and beyond – the customer is assisted and supported with expert guidance, ensuring that their home energy goals are fully realised. This ‘with you all the way’ approach is what sets the service apart.
Also in 2023, we were featured in a TV documentary series – Finance Frontiers – which was produced to highlight environmental innovations in the financial sector. The Finance Frontiers team visited our head office to learn about all the positive changes we’ve made, and joined the Society’s green champions on one of their regular school visits. There, the team witnessed how we engage with local primary-age children, supported by a retrofitted doll’s house.
The following video was used in the documentary, and highlights the Society’s environmental initiatives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX9esEGjQWw
Learn more about our green retrofitting and green mortgages by visiting our Retrogreen page.
