We are building a sustainable business
At Funding Circle we are committed to contributing positively to our communities – providing access to finance to our SME customers who are often underserved by mainstream finance, and adopting sound and responsible Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.
Our approach, goals and progress are outlined on pages 24-39 of our Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Our ambition and commitment: To support initiatives that help drive progress towards net zero, and contribute meaningfully to climate, nature and biodiversity outcomes for healthier communities.
At Funding Circle, we are committed to fostering a resilient and sustainable business model that contributes to the broader global effort of mitigating climate change and protecting the environment. Our approach to environmental responsibility is being proportionately embedded in our operational strategies, recognising the growing importance of climate-related risks and opportunities for the wider UK economy, but limited idiosyncratic risks to Funding Circle’s business model.
Our climate disclosures are consistent with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, and are set out in our annual report.
Our ambition and commitment: To be best in class and live by our DEI statement, building an inclusive and diverse culture.
We’re here to build the incredible at Funding Circle. We know we can only achieve this through an inclusive and diverse culture where Circlers of all backgrounds feel confident in bringing their whole selves to work, where they can contribute their ideas, have opportunities to be successful, and have their talents nurtured. Through empowering our people we are not only building something incredible for our customers, but an incredible place to work too.
Our approach, goals and progress, including on our gender pay gap and women in leadership, are set out in our annual report.
You can read more about our DEI efforts
Learn more about our people and our culture
Our ambition and commitment: To back a diverse and thriving SME customer base – creating jobs, fostering financial inclusion and having a positive impact on UK SMEs, entrepreneurs and their wider communities.
We value the contribution of SMEs to the economy, through the jobs they create and the potential multiplying effect they can have on wider society. Our lending helps businesses invest and scale up, and sustains local employment. We recognise the importance of financial inclusion – our borrowers sit at the heart of diverse communities, and the finance we provide supports SMEs in every corner of the UK.
We work with Oxford Economics each year to carry out an economic impact analysis focused on our efforts and the outcomes they drive. In 2024, Funding Circle’s Term Loans and FlexiPay lending supported 87,500 jobs, £7.2 billion in GDP, and helped businesses in every one of the 650 parliamentary constituencies.
SMEs are strategically vital to the fortunes of the UK economy, and we are proud to champion them. Our latest Economic Impact Report, produced in partnership with Oxford Economics examines the vital role small businesses play in our economy.
We support the wider SME ecosystem. Through our multi-year partnership with Hatch Enterprise, we are empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs to imagine, launch and grow sustainable and impactful businesses through tailored support, community and partnerships. Volunteers from Funding Circle have provided mentoring support to over 70 founders since September 2022.
Funding Circle is also a proud signatory to HM Treasury’s Investing in Women Code, a commitment from the financial services industry which was launched in 2019 to improve female entrepreneurs' access to tools, resources and finances.
Our ambition and commitment: We are committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance and risk management.
Funding Circle is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact and the UN Global Compact Network UK, and adheres to their principles-based approach to responsible business on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. We publish our Communication on Progress annually.
More detail on our corporate governance, risk management, and our climate disclosures consistent with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) can be found in our annual report
We are included in the FTSE4Good Index
Funding Circle policies and statements
| Date | 26 June 2024 |
|---|---|
| Title | Human Rights Statement |
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| Date | 29 May 2024 |
| Title | Funding Circle Global ESG Framework |
| Document | View |
| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | Customer Complaints (UK) |
| Document | View |
| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | Funding Circle Code of Conduct |
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| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | People at Funding Circle |
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| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | Modern Slavery Statement |
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| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | Data Protection |
| Document | View |
| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | Information Security |
| Document | View |
| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | Global Whistleblowing Policy |
| Document | View |
| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy |
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| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | External Assurance Supplier Standard |
| Document | View |
| Date | 20 December 2023 |
| Title | Supplier Code of Conduct |
| Document | View |