UK Mortgage Centre (UKMC) provides personalised mortgage advice that’s easy to understand, for first-time buyers and those looking to remortgage their property. UKMC understands that a lot of investment in the mortgage industry goes into unsustainable activities, so providing clients with sustainable alternatives and advice was an easy decision to make.
Positive Planet recently sat down with UKMC Founder, Sam Fox, and Marketing Manager, Emma Fairhurst to discuss the process of becoming Certified Carbon Neutral, what other sustainable actions they are taking, and the challenges faced along the journey.
The Challenge
The journey for UKMC began when concerns grew that consumers may not understand the total environmental impact of their money with the likes of ‘dirty investment’ in the industry where lenders invest in unsustainable activities, like fracking. UKMC felt it was ethically right to provide an avenue to sustainable lenders with eco-friendly investment products within the industry for clients. Whilst also giving Carbon Neutral mortgage advice, playing an important role in redirecting client money to eco-friendly activities.
Like many businesses, UKMC had no prior expertise in sustainable activities, they naturally feared the worst when assuming the costs, data required, and other resources needed to enable them to take such positive actions. However, after a search for the right sustainability consultancy for them, Positive Planet offered them an affordable and hands-on service.
The Positive Planet Solution
UKMC first engaged with Positive Planet in May 2022, due to the affordability of services and clear messaging throughout the website when compared to similar consultancies. Immediately, they were put at ease when becoming aware of the simplicity of the Positive Planet process for data collection to measure their carbon footprint.
To achieve their sustainability goals, Positive Planet set UKMC a clear map of their journey to reach Carbon Neutral Certification. This included a full measurement of UKMC’s carbon footprint that then could be analysed by both parties to engage in some initial reduction measures. Then, UKMC could offset their total emissions to attain their Carbon Neutral Certification.
UKMC understood that another way of initiating positive change was the way they engaged with clients. So, the typical customer gifting of wine and wax melts has been replaced with tree planting services and ‘thank you’ cards made from eco-friendly seed paper. UKMC is now making their way through the reduction stage with Positive Planet having received their carbon reduction plan to reach their 2030 net-zero target.
“At a time when the planet needs our support the most; to make conscious decisions and think sustainably in our day-to-day lives, SMEs need to be positively promoting good practices to staff and consumer bases so that together we can have a huge impact. Working with Positive Planet has been unwaveringly easy, from the initial contact, the data capture for our assessment and the aftercare support in understanding exactly how we’ve managed to offset our Carbon Emissions as a business!
We are looking forward to building on our Carbon Neutral status by taking trips to support tree planting projects in the UK and continuing our work in the business to look at new ways of reducing our carbon footprints – like not sending 1,000 emails a day – Just 900!”
Sam Fox, Founder, UK Mortgage Centre
The Benefits
There is an array of benefits that UKMC has experienced, one being an increase in brand recognition and a positive reputation from their local business community and beyond. Another benefit for UKMC because of engagement with positive environmental action is the growth of social responsibility within the team. Now, UKMC engages with a wide range of social actions, including recently donating food and gifting toys to less fortunate families around Christmas.
Sam and the full UKMC team aim to prioritise sustainability over price when purchasing everyday products and supplies.
Next Steps
UKMC is not short of plans when it comes to the future. As well as continuing to engage with the Positive Planet team to put in place a reduction plan, they have a trip to Scotland scheduled for early 2023. UKMC will visit one of their supported forests and get hands-on in the tree planting initiative.
Other plans include purchasing land locally in Warrington to create a forest that other like-minded businesses can contribute to maintaining, supporting, and sponsoring. The aim is to build a strong green business community around Warrington that gives local businesses an opportunity to support local initiatives whilst preserving some of the remaining green space around the town. The future looks bright green for both them and the local community!
Find out more about their plans for going greener.
