Supporting Local Charities and Communities
At Progressive we are strongly committed to being part of and supporting the local community.
Social responsibility is at the core of our business. As a local organisation, we have a responsibility towards our community and its economy. In addition to our charitable donations and community involvement our staff are involved with local organisations, sports clubs and voluntary projects outside of work.
Disability Sports NI
We are proud to partner with Disability Sports NI since 2019, delivering a programme which will support the development of Disability Sports Hubs across Northern Ireland.
The sponsorship will go towards improving the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities and will transform the access to disability sports throughout Northern Ireland, developing over 11,000 participation opportunities.
Progressive and the Environment
We’re committed to the environment and try where possible, to implement Corporate Social Responsibility across all sections of our business from reducing the amount of paper we use to saving energy on a daily basis.
See our Environmental Policy.
Since the late 1990s the Society has participated in the Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey in conjunction with Business in the Community. The survey was established in 1995 to coordinate all business environmental initiatives in Northern Ireland and to provide an environmental support service to local industry. The survey benchmarks organisations on the basis of their environmental management and performance in key areas. The survey helps organisations analyse gaps, measure progress, drive improvement and raise awareness of the environment as a strategic, competitive issue. The survey is designed to test how well organisations have developed their approaches to environmental management and assess how they are performing.
The Society created an Environmental Policy in 2006 and at the same time implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS) aimed at improving the Society’s environmental performance.
In 2020, the Society created an Environmental Strategy designed to improve both the running of the Society’s operations and the products and services offered to Members. This strategy is based around a framework of 9 core areas and includes aggressive targets to move the Society to Carbon Net Zero. In 2021 the Society also offered its first ‘Green Mortgage’ which offers a more competitive interest rate to customers purchasing an energy efficient house.
In 2022, the Society donated to the Woodland Trust towards the protection of woods and trees in Northern Ireland for the benefit of people, wildlife and the climate. Furthermore, the Society also paid the Woodland Trust a fee of £10,000 to absorb 400 tonnes of carbon dioxide, helping with our strategy to reduce our business carbon footprint. This is more than double the amount of carbon dioxide the Society produces from its direct business operations.
A visible demonstration of our environmental commitment and drive for sustainable improvement, The Society is an Investor in the Environment (IIE) Member and is currently working towards IIE Bronze Accreditation.
In the Community
Our branch and head office staff are committed to gaining a better understanding of the needs in their community and have been taking part in community programmes to support where they can – from a ‘one off’ projects to providing ongoing support they have been providing support to a range of charities, schools, local events and community groups.
Four Charity Partners
As well as our partnership with Disability Sport NI, in 2025 the Society announced it’s commitment to support four leading charities in Northern Ireland, furthering its mission to invest in the wellbeing of local communities.
The new five-year partnership will see Women’s Aid NI, Simon Community NI, Autism NI and Northern Ireland Hospice each receive £20,000 annually until 2030.
Charitable Assignment
This is the arrangement under which all members of the Society joining after 31 March 2000 are required to assign to charity any future benefits, in the unlikely event of the transfer of the Society’s business to a bank or other company announced within five years of their account opening. We have chosen the well known charities Aid Foundation as the charity to benefit from any potential windfalls.
HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter
Progressive Building Society has signed the HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter which has a key priority of harnessing the talents of women in financial services.
It marks the sector’s collaborative efforts to drive meaningful and permanent changes in the representation of women in financial services, to ensure women everywhere are able to fulfil their potential. In signing the Charter, the Society has made the following pledges to improve gender diversity.
Pledges
The Society will set internal targets for gender diversity in senior management.
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Maintain current female participation levels at Management (74% female participation) and Senior Management Committee (38% female participation), improving these where possible, in line with recruitment practices to ensure continued strong female representation.
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Launch a programme that aims to give every female staff member the opportunity to participate in female focussed development opportunities that support career enhancement through Women in Business Northern Ireland (or other suitable alternative) with a target that at least 30 female staff participate.
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Develop a recruitment /promotion strategy that enhances attraction of female applications to Society roles and supports the retention and career development of existing female staff.
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Develop a maternity returners engagement programme that encourages females to return to work (at least 90%), build their confidence, and refresh their focus on their careers within the Society.
Progress
When we signed up to the Charter in 2016, we had 38% female representation at senior management level. As of 30 September 2023, we have 63% female representation in senior management. We are pleased to report that we have met this element of our Charter target.
When we signed up to the Charter in 2016, we had 74% female representation at management level. As of 30 September 2023, we have 70% female representation at management level. Whilst non-replacement of staff into roles that were vacated by females retiring from the Society has reduced the percentage slightly, overall the Society continues to provide strong opportunities for female leaders.
Promoting from within and providing female role models is central to our diversity and inclusion commitment to our female staff.
We plan to continue with our focus on female hiring, development opportunities and maternity returners in the coming years.
Northern Ireland Quarterly House Price Index
We keep our eyes firmly fixed on local property market activity, so we can give you as much information as possible about your chosen area when it comes to helping you find your new home.
View the latest Northern Ireland Quarterly House Price Index report here.
Internal Audit Charter
The internal audit charter is a formal document that defines the internal audit activity’s purpose, authority and responsibility.
The internal audit charter establishes the internal audit activity’s position within the organisation, including the nature of the internal audit’s functional reporting relationship with the board; authorises access to records, personnel and physical properties relevant to the performance of engagements; and defines the scope of internal audit activities.
At Progressive Building Society the internal audit function has been outsourced to PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
