# Sustainability
## We are building a sustainable business
At Funding Circle we are committed to contributing positively to our communities – providing access to business 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 [30-43 of our Annual Report and Accounts 2025](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/5pyhlkbj/funding-circle-holdings-plc-annual-report-and-accounts-2025.pdf#page=32 "Funding-Circle-Holdings-plc-Annual-Report-and-Accounts-2025.pdf")
- [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/about-us/sustainability#) - **Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)**
- **Social impact**
- **Climate and environment**
- **Governance and risk management**
Our ambition and commitment: To be best in class and live by our [DEI statement](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/about-us/diversity-equity-and-inclusion "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion"), building an inclusive and diverse culture.
At Funding Circle, we’re on a mission to back small businesses like no other company has ever done before. To succeed, we need a team that reflects the diverse world of the customers we support. We know that our success comes from a culture where every Circler – regardless of background, identity, or experience – feels the confidence to bring their whole self to work.
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
[Read more](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/about-us/diversity-equity-and-inclusion "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion")
Learn more about our people and our culture
[Learn more](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/about-us/our-people "Our people")
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 believe that supporting SMEs is vital to a thriving economy. Beyond our mission to back them with business finance, we support initiatives that bring real benefits to SMEs and their local communities. We recognise the importance of financial inclusion – our borrowers sit at the heart of diverse communities, and the finance we provide supports businesses in every corner of the UK.
We work with Oxford Economics each year to carry out an economic impact analysis focused on our activities and the outcomes they drive. In 2025, Funding Circle's lending supported 117,000 jobs, £7.9 billion in GDP, and helped businesses in every one of the 650 parliamentary constituencies.
SMEs are strategically vital to 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.
[Read more](/content/uk/funding-circle-impact-report-2025/ "www.fundingcircle.com"/index.html)
In 2026, Funding Circle was awarded the Silver Fair Payment Code accreditation, highlighting its ongoing commitment to ethical payment practices and its role in fostering a healthy ecosystem for SMEs. The recognition demonstrates that we consistently meet high standards for prompt payment, upholding the Code’s principles of being Clear, Fair and Collaborative with suppliers.
[Read more](https://www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk/fpc/ "www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk")
Through our multi-year partnership with Hatch Enterprise, we are contributing to its mission to build a fairer, more equitable and more diverse business landscape – empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs to launch and grow sustainable and impactful businesses. Volunteers from Funding Circle have provided mentoring support to over 200 founders since September 2022.
[Read more](https://hatchenterprise.org/blog/disabled-entrepreneurs-launch-new-businesses/ "How ‘Get Ready To Start’ Is Launching New Businesses Led By Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK")
In response to the need for mental health support for small business owners, we partner with Thrive Mental Wellbeing, an innovative, full-service mental health provider trusted by the NHS, to offer SMEs mental health support anytime, anywhere.
[Read more](https://thrive.uk.com/ "thrive.uk.com")
Funding Circle is a proud signatory to HM Treasury’s Investing in Women Code, a commitment from the financial services industry to improve female entrepreneurs' access to tools, resources and finances.
[Read more](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/investing-in-women-code-reports "www.gov.uk")
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.
Under our Climate and environment pillar, we also focus on Beyond Value Chain Mitigation activities that help move towards societal net zero by delivering positive climate and nature outcomes with co-benefits for communities.
Read more about our [partnership with National Parks](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/newsroom/funding-circle-announces-new-partnership-with-national-parks-to-champion-uk-climate-and-nature-resilience) to champion UK climate and nature resilience.
Our ambition and commitment: To meet shareholder and investor expectations, and be viewed positively in the market.
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 participants of the UN Global Compact Network UK
[Read more](https://www.unglobalcompact.org/ "www.unglobalcompact.org")
## Corporate governance
[Read more](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/about-us/corporate-governance "Corporate governance")
Funding Circle Holdings is a constituent company in the FTSE4Good Index Series
### Relevant Funding Circle policies and statements
| Title | Document |
| --- | --- |
| Title
Title
**Human Rights Statement** | Document
Document [Download document: Human Rights Statement](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/kjkhxcge/human-rights-statement__external_2026docx.pdf) |
| Title
Title
**Customer Complaints (UK)** | Document
Document [Download document: Customer Complaints (UK)](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/dsjjogqo/customer-complaints_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
Title
**People at Funding Circle** | Document
Document [Download document: People at Funding Circle](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/lpnbup0i/people-policy-summaries_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
Title
**Data Protection** | Document
Document [Download document: Data Protection](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/f5hpqjua/data-protection_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
Title
**Information Security** | Document
Document [Download document: Information Security](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/l1sbntdj/infosec-statements_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
Title
**Whistleblowing Policy** | Document
Document [Download document: Whistleblowing Policy](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/mq4o2jn5/whistleblowing-statements_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
Title
**External Assurance Supplier Standard** | Document
Document [Download document: External Assurance Supplier Standard](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/cyvjnwca/external-supplier-assurance-standard_external_2026docx.pdf) |
| Title
Title
**Supplier Code of Conduct** | Document
Document [Download document: Supplier Code of Conduct](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/ptibvnla/supplier-code-of-conduct__external_2026docx.pdf) |
| Title
Title
**Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy** | Document
Document [Download document: Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/o51mpekk/anti-bribery-and-corruption-policy_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
Title
**Funding Circle Code of Conduct** | Document
Document [Download document: Funding Circle Code of Conduct](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/1whpsajo/code-of-conduct-2026.pdf) |
| Title | Document |
| --- | --- |
| Title
**Human Rights Statement** | Document [Download document: Human Rights Statement](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/kjkhxcge/human-rights-statement__external_2026docx.pdf) |
| Title
**Customer Complaints (UK)** | Document [Download document: Customer Complaints (UK)](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/dsjjogqo/customer-complaints_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
**People at Funding Circle** | Document [Download document: People at Funding Circle](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/lpnbup0i/people-policy-summaries_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
**Data Protection** | Document [Download document: Data Protection](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/f5hpqjua/data-protection_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
**Information Security** | Document [Download document: Information Security](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/l1sbntdj/infosec-statements_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
**Whistleblowing Policy** | Document [Download document: Whistleblowing Policy](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/mq4o2jn5/whistleblowing-statements_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
**External Assurance Supplier Standard** | Document [Download document: External Assurance Supplier Standard](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/cyvjnwca/external-supplier-assurance-standard_external_2026docx.pdf) |
| Title
**Supplier Code of Conduct** | Document [Download document: Supplier Code of Conduct](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/ptibvnla/supplier-code-of-conduct__external_2026docx.pdf) |
| Title
**Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy** | Document [Download document: Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/o51mpekk/anti-bribery-and-corruption-policy_external_2026.pdf) |
| Title
**Funding Circle Code of Conduct** | Document [Download document: Funding Circle Code of Conduct](https://corporate.fundingcircle.com/media/1whpsajo/code-of-conduct-2026.pdf) |