Credit where credit's due...

Our colleagues’ commitment to diversity and inclusion has paid off.

And the winner is…Credit Management Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland!

These words were met with whoops and cheers as colleagues scooped the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) Project Award at this year’s British Credit Awards.

Wowing the judges with their outstanding performance in diversity and inclusion, the Credit Management team were praised for their “clear ethos, goals and vision backed by data and evidence”.

Laura Brown, Head of Credit Control, who has worked for Saint-Gobain for nine years, said: “We are so proud of our team and the way it has grown. This award truly demonstrates our alignment with Saint-Gobain’s Grow & Impact strategy to build the best teams in a diverse and inclusive workplace.”

To achieve diversity and inclusion success the team focused on recruiting talent from “far and wide” including a credit controller of Indian nationality to hiring a graduate from Turkey, in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University.

Increasing female representation in senior roles and promoting flexible working arrangements has led to tangible improvements across the department, added Laura.

“Our ED&I has brought fresh perspectives, knowledge and experience to the department and is positioning us for further success in the ever evolving and diverse employment landscape,” she said.

A promising future lies ahead as we continue to meet Saint-Gobain’s Growth and Impact goals.

It’s not the first accolade the team have received at the British Credit Awards; they secured a win in the ‘Shared Service Provider’ category in 2023. They also achieved ‘Distinction’ in their CICMQ re-accreditation. CICMQ is the Credit and Collections Industry Accreditation for best practice - formal recognition of an organisation’s commitment to quality, continuous improvement, and best practice.

The Credit Management department formed in 2016 and comprises 18 colleagues. Led by Laura Brown and Rosie Fitzsimons, Head of Credit Risk, they oversee cash collection, overdue debt reduction, risk management and working capital improvements. The department also supports internal and external customers in delivering their targets and making processes as efficient as possible.

The British Credit Awards, run by the Chartered Institute of Credit Management, celebrates the achievements of the professionals, teams and organisations that stand out in the Credit Management and Debt Collection industry.