New employee-led Unity & Me initiative launched

Published: June 16, 2022

Delivering social impact in local communities is at the heart of everything we do at Unity Trust Bank and our values are deeply embedded in our culture.

In 2009, to celebrate our 25th anniversary, we introduced our Unity in the Community programme. It offered every employee up to five paid days’ leave a year for work in the community. The days can be used to take part in volunteering and fundraising for charities and community organisations across the UK.

Now, in 2022, we’re building on the success of Unity in the Community. We are launching an exciting new employee-led initiative called Unity & Me.

Unity & Me will help deliver a vibrant, inclusive and engaging employee experience. It will support and facilitate a wide range of initiatives to further demonstrate our commitment to creating a better society.

Engagement initiatives

A 16-strong team of passionate and creative employees have signed up to become the first members of Unity & Me. They will meet regularly to discuss four key engagement initiatives:

• Unity Wellbeing – To support the delivery of employee wellbeing activities; provide visibility for mental health first aiders; promote national and international health awareness campaigns and organise internal events to support employee wellbeing
• Unity People – To support diversity and inclusion initiatives; promote national and international campaigns and events such as International Women’s Day, Pride and Black History Month; coordinate employee social events and provide support for employee networks
• Unity Green – To focus on the delivery of sustainability initiatives; track employee pledges as part of Unity’s Carbon Neutral accreditation; promote national and international awareness campaigns and coordinate employee events and activities
• Unity in the Community – To build on employees’ paid volunteer days; lead fundraising events and activities; support charity partnerships including Unity’s corporate charity; explore and create employee volunteer opportunities with charities, schools and organisations and support the allocation of Unity in the Community funds

Words from Shana Roberts

Shana Roberts is the bank’s Events & Partnership Manager. She said: “Unity in the Community has been a huge part of the bank for 13 years. Not only does it benefit local communities and the people they support, it also provides valuable practical experience for our colleagues. This in turn enhances their understanding of the social economy sector.

“However, our business family continues to grow and change. So, the way we engage, connect and support each other has to change too.

“Unity & Me is our opportunity to get involved, get active and get together with like-minded people who are passionate about creating connections, engaging with colleagues and making a real difference.”

Words from Mark Clayton

Mark Clayton, Chief Operating Officer, said: “I’m really excited about our vision for Unity & Me. I passionately believe we can further enrich the employee experience by embracing opportunities to learn together, share experiences, stories and successes and have fun along the way.”

Our first event

Under the Unity People pillar, members organised their first employee social event on June 1. The event celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Afternoon tea was provided in Unity’s head office in Brindleyplace, Birmingham. There was also music and a selection of handmade sweets from The Park Regis Hotel.

We held The Great Unity Bake-Off Challenge where budding bakers created Jubilee inspired bakes that were judged by special guests.

A Jubilee Colouring Competition was organised for colleagues’ children. Entries were displayed in a special Jubilee Celebration Gallery with prizes for the top three entries.

Colleagues got creative and brought in bunting and flags to help decorate the office – using recycled materials of course!

A special Jubilee inspired quiz asking questions about the Royal Family and momentous events spanning the past 70 years went down a treat.

Watch this space for more exciting developments from Unity & Me and our employee experience. We will also soon be announcing our new corporate charity, voted for by our colleagues.