We are building a sustainable business
Our approach to Environmental, Social and Governance
(ESG) is driven by efforts focused on four key areas:
At Funding Circle, we are committed to reducing our impact on the natural environment. Our ambition is to reach net zero by 2050 in line with the UK Government’s commitment, while setting a stretch target to reach net zero by 2030 for our operational emissions. We define our operational emissions as Scope 1 & 2, as well as Scope 3 categories which are under our operational control, such as Business travel and Waste from operations.
We have a commitment to carbon neutrality (PAS 2060) for our operational emissions, and in 2020 we began to offset our operational carbon footprint through quality carbon credit projects, as a first step toward addressing our emissions.
We continue to progress our environmental strategy, with support from climate and industry experts who are helping us to understand and manage our full carbon footprint. We continue to work towards aligning our climate reporting to the standards set out by the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). We will avoid greenwashing and are committed to developing an annual transition plan to map our journey to net zero by 2050.
At Funding Circle, we want our company to be as diverse as the small businesses and investors we serve, who are the heart of what we do. This is what drives innovation and allows us to deliver a best-in-class customer and employee experience.
You can read more about our DEI efforts
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 have also started to support wider SME-focused social initiatives. Through our partnership with the charity Hatch Enterprise, we are empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs to imagine, launch and grow sustainable and impactful businesses through tailored support, community and partnerships. During the partnership, volunteers from Funding Circle will be training and mentoring start-up businesses helping them learn skills to launch, grow or scale their businesses.
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 goal is for Funding Circle to always be known as a trusted and responsible business.
With Board engagement and ownership, we are implementing our approach to ESG and ESG risk management and reporting. The Board provides oversight and strategic leadership, through the ESG Committee and Risk and Compliance Committee. You can read more on our Governance and ESG framework here and in our Annual Report.
We also have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking. We have published a Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement in compliance with section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act.