Unity Trust Bank has been officially presented with the King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development by His Majesty’s personal representative for the West Midlands, Lord Lieutenant Derrick Anderson CBE.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are amongst the most prestigious business awards in the UK and recognise organisations for their contribution to International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development or Promoting Opportunity.
Unity – one of only 29 businesses acknowledged for excellence in the Sustainability category this year - was awarded for its commitment to delivering positive impact in local communities and adopting socially-responsible business practices.
The Lord Lieutenant visited the bank’s headquarters in Brindleyplace, Birmingham to present the award and praised Unity for its governance, culture and focus on sustainability.
He said: “Many organisations would have failed without the sort of support Unity is able to offer flexibly to disadvantaged groups and communities.
“The bank has been awarded not just for its achievements in the management of money, but for other matters that count such as climate sustainability and the way it looks after its people.
“I applaud Unity myself, but I also bring the wishes of King Charles lll for longevity in the bank’s efforts in maintaining the sustainable platform that it’s created.”
As part of its commitment to sustainable development, Unity uses customers deposits to support organisations that make a difference to society. Every loan proposal is aligned against one or more of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ensuring that the bank’s financing delivers quantifiable impact.
Colin Fyfe, CEO at Unity Trust Bank, said: “We are very proud to be awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development and it would not be possible without the hard work of all of our staff who come into work every day looking to make a difference.
“As an ethical bank committed to a ‘double bottom line’ of delivering positive impact as well as commercial success, we’re determined to build on our success; to grow and develop our business and to continue to make a difference in the communities in which we operate.”
Founded by the trade union movement in 1984 to serve the common good, Unity has marked its 40th anniversary by pledging to donate £40,000 to good causes this year and launching a new Unity Impact Grants Programme to give customers the opportunity to apply for grant funding for community-enhancing projects.
For more information, visit www.unity.co.uk
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Notes to editors
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About Unity Trust Bank:
Unity Trust Bank is an award-winning, independent, commercial bank that uses banking to improve the lives of UK communities.
Living by its principles of banking with integrity, Unity’s purpose is to help create a better society, not simply maximise profits.
Operating for 40 years, it has supported like-minded organisations that share its values and address social, economic and environmental needs.
With offices in Birmingham, Manchester and London, Unity offers a range of banking services, including current accounts, savings accounts and loans.
In 2024 Unity received the King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development in recognition of its commitment to fostering opportunity and growth through responsible finance. It was also named as one of the Sunday times’ Best Places to Work.
Unity is a Real Living Wage employer, a Fair Tax Mark business, a Women In Finance Charter signatory, a member of the Banking Standards Board and currently holds the Investors in People Gold standard.
Visit www.unity.co.uk for more information.
You can also follow Unity Trust Bank on Twitter and Facebook, or go to its LinkedIn page.