The Awards are open to patrons and partners of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB), with entries shortlisted by a judging panel and winners chosen through a combination of votes by the NACFB’s broker community and the judges’ scores. This year’s winners were announced at a ceremony on 27 November 2025. 

New for this year, the Sustainability Champion of the Year Award recognises organisations that champion green initiatives, embed sustainable practices across their operations and support brokers in delivering funding solutions that enable positive environmental impact. 

Phillip Bate, Director of Business Banking at Triodos Bank UK, said: “As a bank with environmental responsibility embedded into our ethos, we’re proud to have been named the first Sustainability Champion of the Year by the NACFB and its members. We would also like to commend the NACFB for introducing this important category, as more and more SMEs prioritise having a positive environmental impact.” 

Triodos Bank’s recent lending has included a tailored loan following a broker referral to sustainable care provider, Sunlite London, including a capital deferral to enable solar installation. 

The bank’s work this year has also included a new £5.4m loan to enable Shawton Energy to build its first ground-mounted solar farm in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It also supports customers such as The Solar for Schools Community Benefit Society, an organisation that funds solar installations on schools, plus a project by Avon Needs Trees to create the South West’s largest new woodland in decades. 

Triodos was shortlisted for Sustainability Champion of the Year alongside nine other organisations. 

The largest trade association for commercial finance brokers in the UK, the NACFB has almost 1,400 members, which follow its code of practice and undergo regular minimum standards reviews. 

-Ends- 

Notes to editors 

For further information and photography please contact: 

Ed Grattan 
T:  07817 413 792 
[email protected] 

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 and Germany 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 sustainable banks. Together these banks want to grow sustainable banking and its impact on the real economy substantially.   

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.