ESG at Harpenden Building Society
The Society is committed to:
- Supporting the UK Government’s ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 and helping generate sustainable economic growth.
- Reducing its carbon footprint.
- Supporting our people in an ethical and responsible way.
- Playing an active role in our communities.
- Following best practice corporate governance.
At Harpenden Building Society, being a responsible lender goes hand in hand with supporting our communities and protecting the environment. We are committed to sustainable financial services and helping to build a greener, more resilient future.
Through the ongoing development of our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, we continue to enhance our understanding of climate change and take practical steps that benefit our members, colleagues, communities and the wider environment. Working closely with our stakeholders, we strive to make a meaningful difference today while shaping a stronger future for generations to come.
Environmental initiatives
The Society supports the UK Government’s net zero target by 2050 and is committed to driving sustainable economic growth through responsible lending and savings.
Our approach includes:
- Sustainable financial products – Designing savings and lending solutions that support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
- Helping customers go greener – Incentivising landlords to invest in energy-efficient properties and offering funding for home improvements.
- Supporting sustainable housebuilding – Partnering with developers to encourage responsible, eco-friendly construction.
- Assessing climate impact – Measuring the carbon footprint of our mortgage portfolio and setting clear risk policies for landlords with lower energy ratings.
- Managing climate-related financial risks – Proactively addressing both physical and transitional risks in our lending strategy.
- Industry collaboration – Engaging with external climate initiatives and contributing to wider sustainability efforts.
This strategy reflects our long-term commitment to reducing emissions, improving financial sustainability, and helping our members transition to a greener future.
Our carbon footprint
The Society is dedicated to minimising its environmental impact by reducing energy consumption, waste, and emissions across its operations.
Our key initiatives include:
- Optimising energy efficiency – Upgrading insulation, replacing air conditioning units with energy-efficient models, and installing new double glazing at Mardall House.
- Minimising environmental impact – Implementing measures to reduce emissions and prevent environmental harm.
- Enhancing waste reduction – Expanding recycling efforts for IT equipment, confidential documents, and general waste.
- Cutting paper usage – Promoting digital workflows, electronic document packs, and e-signatures via DocuSign.
- Reducing harmful substances – Limiting the use of chemicals and prioritising eco-friendly alternatives.
- Conserving water – Installing cistern displacement devices in toilets where feasible.
- Improving travel efficiency – Encouraging remote working and optimising travel arrangements to lower emissions.
- Energy-conscious practices – Ensuring devices, appliances, and lighting are switched off when not in use.
- Sustainable procurement – Collaborating with suppliers to align with our sustainability objectives.
Our colleague benefits platform further supports our sustainability ambitions through initiatives such as Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle (EV) schemes. Since its launch in early 2026, the EV scheme has already gained traction, with three vehicles delivered to colleagues, helping to make lower-emission travel a more accessible choice.
Through these measures, we will drive meaningful reductions in our carbon footprint while ensuring a more sustainable future for our members and the communities we serve.
Our people, talent pipeline and investing in professional growth
At the core of our Society are the remarkable individuals whose dedication and passion drive our success. Every achievement, innovation, and milestone is made possible by their commitment, expertise, and ambition. We have continued to invest in our people, strengthening capabilities and creating opportunities that support both individual growth and the long-term success of the Society.
Our commitment begins with attracting and nurturing talent from within our local communities. We advertise vacancies through Job Centre Plus, promote opportunities within our branches and on our website, and carefully target recruitment through selected job boards. We have also strengthened our partnerships with the Universities of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, welcoming marketing graduates through internship placements. These interns have made valuable contributions to key strategic initiatives, including our brand refresh and the development of our new website, while gaining practical experience and skills to support their future careers.
Alongside attracting new talent, we remain committed to helping our colleagues develop and thrive. The wellbeing, knowledge, and proficiency of our team underpin everything we do for our members. Through our continuous professional development programme, colleagues benefit from targeted e-learning, regular knowledge-sharing sessions, and updates on industry best practice, emerging technologies, and regulatory developments. This ensures our people remain skilled, confident, and equipped to deliver excellent outcomes for our members.
Creating meaningful opportunities for career progression is equally important. Since the beginning of 2026, eleven colleagues have moved into new roles within the Society, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities available across the organisation. We also celebrated a significant milestone with the appointment of our first apprentice within the Finance team, providing a structured development pathway for an existing colleague. Together, these achievements reflect our commitment to nurturing talent from within, helping colleagues build new skills, advance their careers, and realise their full potential.
Engaging our team
For the third consecutive year, we partnered with Best Companies for our engagement survey, achieving our highest participation rate yet. We were pleased to retain accreditation as a ‘Very Good to Work For’ organisation, with particular strengths in management and wellbeing compared to our peers.
Championing diversity & inclusion
We are dedicated to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. We believe diversity in all its forms strengthens our Society, driving innovation, enhancing performance, and enriching our service to members and the wider community.
Our team reflects this commitment, with colleagues from twenty nationalities, five ethnic identities and religions, and a balanced mix of women and men aged 19 to 66, according to our latest diversity and inclusion survey.
We continue to invest in initiatives that promote equality and inclusivity, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive in an environment that celebrates differences and encourages collaboration. We strive to build a workforce representative of the communities we serve and where every voice is heard.
Creating an inclusive, flexible culture
Our culture is built on collaboration, recognition, and inclusivity, creating a genuine sense of belonging and shared purpose. We also recognise the importance of work-life balance, offering flexible and remote working arrangements so colleagues can tailor their schedules to suit personal needs while not being detrimental to members or Society performance.
Our communities
Take a read about the work we do in our dedicated communities section.
Our governance
Our ESG Forum oversees the Society’s operations and initiatives regarding environmental, social and governance matters. It reports into the Executive Committee with quarterly updates provided to the Board. This ensures our efforts stay focused, transparent, and aligned with our mission.
At the Society, we are committed to best practice in corporate governance by:
- Continuing to embed our governance framework to ensure alignment to our corporate goals.
- Ensuring we have the right governance process and procedures in place to protect customers, colleagues, and the Society from potential risks and to meet regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrating how the Society has identified and prioritised ESG risks and focus areas.
- Embedding ESG strategies and associated limits and metrics within the Society’s broader governance and risk management framework.