Based in Gloucestershire, Hartpury is a leading higher and further education provider of specialist land-based courses, focusing on animal, equine, sport, agricultural and veterinary nursing courses.

The new £14.8m loan facility from Triodos, Europe’s leading sustainable bank, will help to fund a new Learning Resource Centre and other new campus facilities at Hartpury, as well as refinance existing lending.

The announcement comes as Triodos Bank continues to grow its lending to the education sector, as part of its mission to deliver social impact.

Paul Nicoll, social and cultural team manager in business banking at Triodos Bank UK, said: “We’re impressed by Hartpury’s academic standards and inclusive attitude. Its continued investment in students and facilities demonstrates the university’s commitment to helping students achieve their goals and find future employment. Quality education is key to enabling social cohesion and inclusion – which is why supporting the education sector is of great importance to Triodos Bank.”

Russell Marchant, vice-chancellor of Hartpury University and principal of Hartpury College, said: “We’re dedicated to ensuring that all of our students have access to the very latest equipment and facilities and a supportive, healthy and welcoming campus on which to live and study.

“Triodos Bank shares our commitment to doing all that we can to improve the environment and in creating a sustainable planet. We’re delighted to be working with Triodos Bank on our latest exciting project that will further enhance the range of facilities that we provide on campus for our growing number students.”

In the last 10 years, Hartpury has invested more than £50m in state-of-the-art campus facilities, including the world’s largest equine educational facility, a new sports academy, an animal therapy centre, fully equipped science laboratories and a new student accommodation block.

The planned new Learning Resource Centre is currently in the design and planning stage and will include a traditional library, dedicated careers advice space, flexible learning areas, meeting spaces and a café, with completion targeted for 2022.

In 2018, Triodos provided finance to the University of Winchester to support the development of a landmark new building at the University's West Downs Quarter. The development will open this year and include cutting-edge sustainability features.

The funding tender for Hartpury was managed by Finalysis, leading banking and treasury specialists in the higher and further education sectors.

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Images available upon request.

For further information please contact:

Ed Grattan

Ellie James

Notes to editor

About Triodos Bank

Founded in 1980, Triodos Bank has become a frontrunner in sustainable banking globally. As an independent bank that promotes responsible and transparent banking, it does not see any conflict between a focus on people and the planet and a good financial return. Instead it believes that they reinforce each other in the long-term.

Triodos Bank has banking activities in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Spain, Germany and France as well as Investment Management activities based in the Netherlands but active globally. Triodos Bank co-founded the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), a network of 54 sustainable banks. Together these banks want to grow sustainable banking and its impact on the real economy substantially.

About Hartpury

Hartpury is a specialist educational provider located in Gloucestershire with more than 3,600 college and university level students studying postgraduate and undergraduate degrees, diplomas in the areas of sport, equine, animal, agriculture and veterinary nursing, and A-levels.

Located close to Gloucester and Cheltenham, Hartpury University and Hartpury College sit alongside one another on the same 360-hectare campus that has benefited from more than £50 million of investment.

Students at Hartpury University have access to the largest equine educational establishment in the world, cutting-edge sports facilities, an extensive animal collection, an animal therapy centre, science laboratories with industry standard equipment and a fully working farm.

Triodos Bank UK Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triodos Bank NV. Registered Office: Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS. Registered in England and Wales Company No. 11379025. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 817008. VAT reg no 793493383.