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First Steps Bath joins Bristol Credit Union’s Employer Partnership Scheme
Community nursery First Steps Bath has joined the union’s scheme which provides employees with access to fair and affordable loans.
Bristol Credit Union’s Employer Partnership Scheme allows employees to save directly from their payroll deduction, helping to provide ethical loans at competitive rates to local members and improve their financial resilience.
The scheme ensures more money stays in the local economy, which benefits independent businesses and the local community. Any surplus money is reinvested into the Credit Union or returned to members as a dividend.
Employees may also be able to access discounted loan rates and exclusive loan products.
Other companies on the Employer Partnership Scheme include Airbus, Better Food, Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Interaction Learning and Development, Centre for Sustainable Energy and Knowle West Media Centre.
James Berry, CEO of Bristol Credit Union welcomes First Steps Bath to the scheme.
“With this move, First Steps Bath have provided their staff with the chance to access ethical savings and low cost loans,” he said.
“This allows First Steps Bath to discreetly help any team member who may be going through a tough time financially whilst maintaining employment without a major impact on their personal finances. First Steps Bath is very much welcomed to our growing club of business partners on our Money@Work programme and there is room for more.”
Roz Lambert, CEO of First Steps Bath, said that the scheme will alleviate financial stress for employees.
“Joining BCU’s Employer Partnership scheme means we can provide this service to our staff and support their wellbeing. Opportunities for our staff to save and manage their money will help to retain talent, reduce financial stress resulting in improved workplace relationships.”
The Credit Union recently announced a merger with Wyvern Savings and Loans (WSL), which adds 3,000 members and £1.9m in deposits to BCU’s existing 16,000 members and £7 million deposits. The move supports Bristol Credit Union’s mission to triple its membership over the next five years.
First Steps evolved from a community nursery to an Early Excellence Centre in 2001, followed by achieving Neighbourhood Nursery status in 2002. In 2003 the nursery centre was designated as Bath and North East Somerset’s first Sure Start Children’s Centre.
First Steps continues to work in close partnership with parents, professionals and the local community delivering services that enable families to develop positive, loving relationships with their children and support their continuing development.
Bristol Credit Union (BCU) helps local people make the most of their money by giving them access to affordable loans and competitive savings accounts. The union lends out money at fair and affordable rates of interest, and offers savers a decent return on their savings.
BCU is owned by its members instead of shareholders, meaning any profit gets recycled back into the Credit Union, allowing it to help more local people.
For more information on the Employer Partnership Scheme and its benefits here.
Find out more about First Steps Bath here.
Main image: Bristol Credit Union
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