Working with others

Our governance partnerships and initiatives shape how we structure our building society. They help ensure transparency, responsible business practices, and doing the right thing for our members and society.

As a signatory to the UN Global Compact, we've reinforced our commitment to social and environmental sustainability and our shared responsibility for a better world.

UK Finance is a collective voice for the banking and finance industry and acts to enhance competitiveness, support customers and facilitate innovation.

The BSA's objective is to champion and support its Members, to push for the best outcomes from new and changing regulation and legislation to ensure that building societies thrive as an essential part of a diverse financial services sector – serving their savers, borrowers and communities.

The Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) provide the first-ever global sustainability framework for the banking industry. Signatories commit to aligning their business strategies global goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.

We recognise the impact of our operations on the world around us. Our partnerships and initiatives for environmental good help ensure sustainability is central to the decisions we make, helping us achieve a low carbon economy.

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is a partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector to mobilise private sector finance for sustainable development. UNEP FI works with more than 400 members, including banks, insurers, and investors, and over 100 supporting institutions.

This industry-led, UN-convened Alliance, recognises the vital role of banks in supporting the global transition of the real economy to net-zero emissions. All banks who are members of the Alliance have signed the Commitment Statement (PDF, opens in new window) and will use the accompanying Guidelines for Climate Target Setting (opens in new window).

Nationwide is an official supporter of the TCFD and is committed to following their disclosure guidelines. Our climate-related disclosures can be found within our annual results and accounts.

PCAF is a global partnership of financial institutions to measure and disclose the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with loans and investments.

The UK GBC seeks to radically improve the sustainability of the built environment by transforming the way it's planned, designed, constructed, maintained and operated.

Carbon Intelligence helps businesses set and achieve ambitious sustainability targets to tackle the climate crisis. We've partnered with Carbon Intelligence to model, hotspot and reduce our upstream GHG emissions.

Nationwide is a member of the Green Finance Institute’s CEEB, working to promote the benefits of energy-efficient buildings.

CDP is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts.

A collaboration between Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). We've committed to setting a science-based target, this provides companies with a clearly-defined path to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals.

Our social partnerships and initiatives help guide us towards our aim of building society, nationwide. We support communities, tackle social disadvantage and champion diversity in our business practices and beyond.

Nationwide signed up to the Fintech Pledge in December 2020 and is committed to providing clear guidance to technology firms on how the onboarding process works. The Pledge is an initiative of the Fintech Delivery Panel, supported by HM Treasury, to accelerate the growth of the UK’s fintech sector. A world-first, the Fintech Pledge sets standards for the establishment of efficient and transparent commercial partnerships between banks and fintech firms.

The real Living Wage, as set by the Living Wage Foundation each year, is an independently calculated rate that ensures workers can meet the cost of living. It’s higher than the Government’s national living wage, which is based on a percentage of median earnings rather than on actual living costs. Nationwide has been an accredited Living Wage Employer and Principal Partner of the Foundation since 2014. Our Director of Shared Services, Laura Faulkner, also joined the Foundation’s Advisory Council in 2019 to help shape the future of the campaign for real living wages.

BITC is the oldest and largest business-led membership organisation dedicated to responsible business, mobilising its members to be a collective force for good. We also hold a place on the Race Leadership Board, championing, supporting and influencing approaches to race and ethnic diversity with BITC.

The Buy Social Corporate Challenge is a Government-backed initiative run by Social Enterprise UK. It helps large businesses to engage with innovative suppliers and embed sustainability and diversity into their supply chains. Nationwide joined the Corporate Challenge in 2018, after jointly commissioning the ‘The Hidden Revolution’ report on the social enterprise sector with The Co-op in 2017.

As part of our commitment to the UN Global Compact, we're also a member of the Modern Slavery Working Group of the UN Global Compact Network UK. This working group explores challenges and best practices.

Unseen work in partnership with communities, business, governments and other organisations to stamp out slavery for good and offer safety, hope and choice to victims of trafficking. We partnered with Unseen in 2020 to raise awareness of modern slavery across the Society and complete enhanced due diligence on third parties potentially at higher risk due to factors such as industry and location.

The JMLIT is a partnership between law enforcement and the financial sector to exchange and analyse information relating to money laundering and wider economic threats.

We’re a founding signatory of the Race at Work Charter, developed by BITC and launched by the Government to tackle ethnic workplace disparities.

We've partnered with Switchd to offer our members access to automatic energy switching, to help with savings and to highlight the option for green energy. Members can also benefit from the Make My House Green initiative we launched with Switchd. The initiative focuses on solar panels and includes personalised saving, payback and installation information. Find out more about Make My House Green (opens in a new window).

Recruitment trade body charter that works towards a common goal of attaining recruitment best practice.

A working group to discuss the challenges companies are facing integrating diversity, equality and inclusion into their strategies and operations and to explore how this can be a source of competitive advantage.

A Government scheme that helps organisations to be disability confident by changing behaviours, cultures and improving recruitment and retention of great people.

MSDUK works with organisations that are committed to building diverse and inclusive supply chains. MSDUK drives inclusive procurement that promotes diversity and inclusion by identifying and introducing innovative and entrepreneurial ethnic minority owned businesses (EMBs).

The Business Disability Forum is a not-for-profit membership organisation that exists to create a disability-smart world by linking businesses, disabled people and Government.

PurpleSpace is the world’s only networking and professional development hub for disabled employees, network and resource group leaders, and allies from all sectors and trades.

Valuable 500 companies and leaders have committed to putting disability inclusion on their Board agenda and making firm commitments for action.

We have a shared commitment to maintain an inclusive and accepting working culture, to value the benefits brought by LGBTQ+ people, and to be an advocate and agent of positive change.

As a member of the 30% Club, our Chair and CEO are committed to better gender balance at senior levels and throughout our organisation and ensuring it’s integrated into our strategy development.

By signing the Women in Finance Charter, we've committed to supporting the progression of women into senior roles; we set measures, implement a strategy and publicly report on our progress.

We are a Working Families employer, committed to flexible and family friendly business practices.

Signing up to The Smallest Things – Employer with Heart Charter is a commitment to provide extra support and extended leave for parents of premature babies.

We’re committed to building a positive and inclusive workplace for all staff – including the growing numbers who are, or will become, carers.

We achieved Gold Employer Recognition for supporting members of the armed forces community to access commercial services and products as easily as any other citizen.

As a signatory of the Tech Talent Charter, we're committed to increasing the inclusion and diversity of the tech workforce in the UK.

Last updated: April 2022