Now into its seventh year, the Women in Credit (WiC) Awards are commitment to transforming the financial landscape through equality, empowerment, awareness and allyship.

We would like to say a congratulations to each of the seven ladies who have been shortlisted for their efforts in the credit industry this year.

Advocate of the Year – Louise Wardman, Lead Business Analyst

This award highlights a woman or ally who has sought to champion the needs of women in their workplace or more widely within the industry.LouiseWardman_Circle.png

Why Louise was nominated.

  • As a woman working in Tech and Change, Louise has been pivotal in ensuring a positive environment is shared by all employees. Inclusion and diversity are significant priorities for her, and she actively works to keep these values at the forefront of the company's agenda. Louise co-leads the Gender Affinity Group and plays an essential role in the Parental Peer Group, contributing to the implementation of several new policies that benefit VBG employees.
  • Louise has also taken on the Women in Leadership apprenticeship which helps women to step up to a top-level role and maximise impact.

Policies that Louise has successfully championed include:

  • Enhanced Maternity Pay Qualifying Period
  • Increased and Flexible Paid Paternity Leave
  • Improved Paid Time Off for Appointments
  • Increased Pregnancy Loss Leave

 

Lifetime Achievement Award – Cathy Prior, Social Impact Programme Manager

This is an award for an individual who has made a significant impact in her career and will leave a lasting legacy, whether in her own firm or in the wider industry, from work that goes beyond the call of duty.

CathyPrior_Circle3.pngWhy Cathy was nominated.

  • In 2023, Cathy launched the ‘World of Work Programme’.
  • She founded the partnership with School-Home Support...
  • Initiated the first School-Home Support Practitioner in Bradford, which has expanded to twenty-five practitioners.
  • Played a crucial role in launching the School Uniform fund.
  • Established a long-term partnership with the One in a Million charity...
  • Funding two youth workers from 2012 to 2018, with an investment of almost £300,000
  • Funding groups of young children from local schools to attend Outward-Bound courses every year.
  • Sponsoring an award at the charity’s annual ceremony to celebrate youth achievements.
  • Collaborating with Leading Children to fund various educational programmes, such as Reciprocal Reading and Maths Mastery, a revision programme for Year 6 students, and creative critical training for youth workers.

Cathy’s efforts extend beyond these initiatives - an incredible achievement for her was being nominated by the National Literacy Trust to attend the Queen’s Garden Party in 2022 at Buckingham Palace (and while there, she met the Duchess of Cornwall!)

Cathy said, "To firstly be nominated for a Lifetime Achievement Award, let alone being a finalist, has left me speechless. Having been with the Group for 35 years this December, I’m so proud of where we have come in terms of our ESG agenda and the fantastic work we do with children and young people in our local communities, and I feel very privileged to play a part in that programme. I’m very excited to attend the evening with my fellow nominees, and I wish everyone the best of luck."

Rob Lawson   

Head of Sustainability and Cathy's manager Rob Lawson said, "I’m delighted that Cathy has been shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award. She is so deserving of this, not least because of the amazing 35 years of hard work and dedication she is given to our business supporting our customers, colleagues, and communities. I have known and worked with Cathy for almost 18 of those years in her current role of Social Impact Programme Manager.

"I've seen her workday in, day out with our colleagues and Foundation partners to support children and young people from disadvantaged communities to develop the skills and aspirations they need to make the most of life’s opportunities. She is an enthusiastic champion of what our business does to improve the lives of our customers, and the role it plays in creating opportunities for children and young people in the communities we serve. Huge congratulations Cathy!"

 

Mentor of the Year – Natalie Ball, Senior Customer Operations Manager

Senior Customer Operations Manager Natalie Ball from Operations Centre of Excellence has been shortlisted in the Mentor of the Year category. This is an award for an individual – woman or ally – who has worked to develop the potential of female mentees, which has had a major impact on career development and personal growth of their charges.

NatalieBall_Circle.pngWhy Natalie was nominated.

  • As a senior leader, Natalie has been a pillar of support during our most significant changes in the last five years. Her vision and adaptability have been crucial in establishing successful UK Hubs, a key component of our blended operating model.
  • During our outsourcing journey, Natalie led communication efforts, helping colleagues navigate their change curve by tailoring her approach to their specific needs.
  • She has been particularly dedicated to mentoring the women within her team, proactively seeking to upskill them by advocating for their participation in learning and development opportunities and leading key projects.
  • Natalie is widely recognised across the business as the go-to person for all operational matters, as well as being known for her outstanding personality. She has cultivated an environment where openness, trust, and transparency flourish, all sprinkled with a touch of humour.

 

Outstanding Returner – Rachel Falconer, Senior Lawyer

Senior Lawyer Rachel Falconer from Legal has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Returner category. This is an award for women who have returned to work in the UK financial services sector, whether it be from a sabbatical, for health reasons, maternity leave, or indeed anything else, and have acted as a role model to other women.

RachelFalconer_Circle.pngWhy Rachel was nominated.

  • Rachel embarked on a significant career transition after taking a four-year break to focus on her young family. Rachel quickly immersed herself in various challenging tasks, often extending beyond her formal job role.
  • Her involvement with Exco highlighted her willingness to contribute at higher levels of the organisation.
  •  One of Rachel’s key projects involves addressing litigation and complaints, particularly developing strategies to counteract claims and complaints brought by Claims Management Companies (CMCs)
  • Beyond her professional life, Rachel is also a charitable person. She manages her family trust, which provides occasional ad-hoc grants to larger charities that align with its purposes. One of these charities focuses on helping young people pursue sports, showcasing Rachel’s commitment to youth development and community support.
  • Additionally, in response to the Russia-Ukraine war, Rachel welcomed a Ukrainian family to the UK, assisting them in settling into their new environment.

 

Team Leader of the Year – Jacqueline Tallack, Customer Support Ambassador

Customer Support Ambassador Lead Jazz Tallack from Operations has been shortlisted in the Team Leader of the Year category. This is an award for an individual who has made a special contribution to the team they work in, which has had an impact on the team and/or wider organisation.

JazzTallack_Circle.pngWhy Jazz was nominated.

  • As a Team Leader, Jazz spearheaded two critical workstreams - Responsible Lending and Customer Service
  • These workstreams were integral to one of our largest outsourcing projects. The scope of the project was immense, involving the establishment and integration of a new division in South Africa.
  • Jazz led the entire process, which included creating comprehensive training materials and making multiple trips to South Africa to implement the training plan with the new team.

Jazz said, "I am so grateful to have been shortlisted for Team Leader of the Year at the Women in Credit Awards. Those who know me will know how proud I feel to work in a team with such heavy female leadership, so to be nominated for an award for my own leadership is exciting. I operate a continuous open line of communication with my team to foster a collaborative and happy workforce. Everyone has their own spark to offer and encouraging them to use these talents benefits their own personal development and keeps our team strong!"

Team Player of the Year – Chloe Box, Customer Operations Acquiring Ambassador

Customer Operations Acquiring Ambassador Chloe Box from Operations Centre of Excellence has been shortlisted in the Team Player of the Year category. This is an award for an individual who has made a special contribution to the team they work in, which has had an impact on the team and/or wider organisation.

ChloeBox_Circle.pngWhy Chloe was nominated.

  • Chloe is an inspirational team player and has firmly established herself as the go-to person and the glue that holds the team together.
  • She is known throughout the team and the broader business for her positive outlook and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure success and received six nominations for this award entry.
  • Chloe said, "This is the first time I have ever been nominated for something, so feeling very chuffed and thankful to be put up for ‘Team Player of the Year’. I work with an amazing bunch and thank those of you who nominated me."

 

Rising Star of the Year – Cassandra Ong, Service Design Lead

An award for a woman who has worked for less than five years in the industry who has made a significant impact in her organisation in a brief period of time.

CassandraOng_Circle.pngWhy Cassandra was nominated.

  • Since her arrival, she has significantly contributed to the business by leading critical initiatives and fostering a customer-centric approach that is being followed throughout the organisation. Cassandra's leadership of a large customer research project informed the companies shift to a new customer focused strategy, ‘North Star’, that was presented to shareholders in March 2024.
  • Cassandra was instrumental in co-creating the research strategy, crafting interview scripts, coordinating with our third-party research agency and leading numerous interviews herself.
  • She co-presented the customer research findings alongside the Executive Committee in a series of high-profile workshops across the Group. These presentations were critical in disseminating the insights gained from the research and fostering a shared understanding of the customer strategy among colleagues.
  • She co-presented the customer research findings alongside the Executive Committee in a series of high-profile workshops across the Group. These presentations were critical in disseminating the insights gained from the research and fostering a shared understanding of the customer strategy among colleagues.

Congratulations to all our finalists!