Nationwide Building Society has been ranked Platinum in Business in the Community’s annual benchmark of responsible business management – the Corporate Responsibility Index – and has been named this year’s best new entrant.
Achieving Platinum status in the Corporate Responsibility Index means that the Society has been recognised as a company that successfully integrates corporate responsibility into its business model, and has clear corporate responsibility and incentive structures at board and operational levels.
This success is due to the Society’s citizenship initiative ‘Living on Your Side’, which was launched in 2012 and aims to address housing related issues, boost the UK’s capabilities in money management skills and support local communities. Under the pillars of Your Home, Your Money and Your Community, Nationwide has pledged to help 750,000 people into a home of their own, empower one million people to start saving, and strengthen local communities by investing and unlocking £15 million directed by its customers and employees.
Stephen Uden, Nationwide’s head of citizenship, said: “We are delighted to be awarded Platinum status and named as Best New Entrant in the BITC’s Corporate Responsibility Index this year. Being a good corporate citizen is an integral part of Nationwide’s mutual status and this is well-deserved recognition for not only our strategy but for the senior management, employees, and members who made it possible.
“For us, it is about integrating responsible behaviour throughout all our business practices. We pride ourselves on being a responsible Financial Services provider and employer whilst having a positive impact on the community and environment.
“We will be looking to build upon this great start over the coming years with the aim of becoming the leading corporate citizen in the financial sector.”
This announcement coincides with Responsible Business Week – an initiative taking place across the UK this week to raise public awareness of the positive role of business in society.
Stephen Howard, chief executive, business in the community, said: “Responsible business matters – to businesses, employees, communities and the long term sustainability of the planet. As we launch the UK’s first Responsible Business Week to celebrate the powerful positive role business plays in society, this Index is a key tool to help the public to understand what good business looks like while also providing examples to inspire many more companies to accelerate the pace of change within their business.
“I congratulate Nationwide Building Society for achieving Platinum because it signifies a key step on the journey, a willingness to rise to the challenge and that they are part of a movement of responsible business in which all companies have their unique part to play.”