Exciting Time to join the family

When I joined the NHS Credit Union in September this year, I knew I was joining at a time of transition. Our previous CEO had recently left to join ABCUL, the trading association for credit unions, and we were reaching a huge milestone in celebrating our 20^th anniversary in November 2018, ahead of the busy Christmas period.

On top of that, the role I was to fill as Business Development Manager was a brand new one for the credit union, and so it’s fair to say I expected the first few months to be a learning curve for all parties. After the initial settling period, I’ve no doubt that I’ve joined an organisation with a tangible, lasting and positive impact on all those involved.

Having previously worked in business development in the finance sector for several years, I knew I wasn’t taking a complete leap into the unknown. While this is true, there is one difference about the credit union sector that stands out to me more than anything else. In my short time here, I’ve been struck by the shared values and common goals throughout not only the NHS Credit Union, but the wider sector itself. From Board Directors to members, the belief in the beneficial impact of credit unions is universal.

This has been particularly apparent to me when visiting our fantastic NHS facilities and staff over the past few months, to promote the benefits of joining a credit union before the most expensive time of the year. After visiting numerous sites over the past few months, I’ve been delighted to hear from current members about the impact that joining has had on their financial wellbeing.

It’s not only our NHS staff who pay testament to how far we’ve come as a credit union either. I was proud and privileged to attend the NHS Credit Union’s 20^thbirthday celebrations at the Trades Hall in Glasgow last month. It really brings home the extent of our influence, when representatives of credit unions as far afield as Ireland and the United States praise the impact of the NHS CU. Special thanks also go to Dave Prentis from UNISON, and our charity partners Bobath & Penumbra, for attending and sharing such a special occasion with us.

As part of the marketing team here at the NHS Credit Union, I can certainly say it’s an exciting time for us. Our plans to develop a new mobile app, to make our services more accessible and convenient, will enable more of our members to enjoy an even more streamlined customer experience. Our commitment to enhancing our digital offering promises to reach more people who can benefit from our services, particularly younger generations. Innovations such as these are what reassures me that I’ve joined an organisation with a very forward-facing approach, as we continue to improve and expand our offering to the people who matter most – our members.

Here’s to a successful (if very busy!) Christmas period, and I already can’t wait to get started on what will be an exciting 2019.

Mark Russell,

Business Development Manager, NHS Credit Union