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Council tax debt collection urgently needs reform, and last week we submitted our response to the Government's consultation on the subject. Too many councils still take a punitive approach that worsens financial hardship, demanding full annual payments after a single missed instalment and resorting to bailiffs far too quickly. It’s not just unfair, it’s counterproductive. The submission to the Government consultation is a milestone, but we need to go further. Momentum is building, and we have a real chance to fix a broken system.
Celebrating Excellence in Tech! We’re absolutely thrilled to share that three of our incredible colleagues have been named finalists at the Women in Tech Excellence Awards 2025! Susie Whitaker – Rising Star of the Year (Financial) Susie’s innovative mindset and dedication as a Technical Project Manager have made a real impact. Her nomination is a testament to her talent and drive! Vaishnavi Sarvesvaran – Engineer of the Year Vaishnavi’s technical expertise and commitment to excellence have propelled our engineering projects forward. Her recognition is so well deserved! Joanne Driver – Team Leader of the Year (Financial) Joanne’s inspiring leadership and ability to bring out the best in her team have been key to our success. We’re proud to see her celebrated in this way! We’re incredibly proud of Susie, Vaishnavi, and Joanne, your achievements inspire us all. Wishing you the very best of luck at the awards on 27 November!
🏆 We’re absolutely thrilled to have won Debt Purchaser of the Year at the last Credit Strategy Awards for the third time! A huge well done to our amazing Lowell team, this award is down to the hard work, care and commitment you show every day for our customers and clients. Big thanks to Credit Strategy and the judges for the recognition, and a shout out to all the other winners and finalists too, some brilliant businesses and people in the room. What a result! 👏🎉
We’re proud to share that Lowell’s science-based net-zero target by 2040 has been officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) - a first in our industry and a milestone achieved by fewer than 2,000 companies globally. This means our climate goals are not just ambitious, they’re credible, science-backed, and aligned with the Paris Agreement. Key targets include: 🔹 90% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2040 🔹 90% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2040 🔹 Offsetting all remaining operational emissions from 2025 We’ve already made great progress: ✅ 78% cut in operational emissions by end of 2024 ✅ Renewable electricity tariffs ✅ Smarter business travel and smaller office footprint Now the real work begins – especially in Scope 3, where collaboration with suppliers will be key. But we’re up for the challenge!
Women in leadership! Last month, Lowell proudly hosted the annual Leading Women in the Credit Industry event, dedicated to supporting and empowering female leaders and those progressing through their careers. The occasion held at The Lookout, London, brought together talented individuals from across our sector and beyond, to connect, share experiences, and strengthen their networks. It was a privilege to hear from Jo Salter MBE, the UK’s first female fast jet pilot, whose ground-breaking career and honest words about breaking boundaries and building resilience, truly struck a chord with everyone. Jo's ability to mix humour with heartfelt insights had everyone engaged and laughing. The afternoon was filled with motivating stories, words of advice and an uplifting energy that comes from so many talented, passionate women supporting each other. A huge thank you to all our guests for contributing to an atmosphere of encouragement and ambition
We've been shortlisted!! We are delighted to announce that Lowell has been selected as a finalist in not one but THREE categories at the Credit Services Association Awards: 🌟 Kim Macmillan Award for skills and training | Natalie Thompson for her work with our first ever cohort of CSA apprentices. 🌟 Best Marketing and Communications Initiative | Corporate Comms Team for Fairer Debt, Fairer Society 🌟 Team of the Year | Customer Engagement Centre These nominations are a wonderful example of the great work we do across Lowell and we’re thrilled to be shortlisted. Awards are taking place on 11 September, and we wish all the nominees luck on the evening!
What a fantastic week at Lowell! 🎉 In May, we hosted a daily Life@Lowell event, all about bringing our culture to life and reminding colleagues of everything that’s available to support them — in work and beyond. From stalls showcasing our colleague-led DE&I networks, benefits and wellbeing initiatives, to learning and development opportunities, there’s been something for everyone. We’ve also hosted a brilliant series of thought-provoking talks, covering everything from resilience to building a more inclusive workplace. A huge thank you to everyone who took part, whether you were hosting a stall, delivering a session, or simply showing up with curiosity and an open mind. It’s been a great reminder that Lowell isn’t just a place to work — it’s a place to belong.
We won! We’re proud to have picked up Best Training Initiative at last night's Credit & Collections Industry Awards 2025, alongside our partners at the Credit Services Association The award recognises the positive impact of the Level 2 Credit Controller & Collector apprenticeship, which blends industry training with our own Lowell learning experience. It’s helped develop careers, strengthen our service, and support the wellbeing of our colleagues and customers alike. A huge thank you to everyone involved!
Diverse leadership teams drive performance, innovation, and inclusion—so at Lowell, improving gender balance at the senior level has been a priority since 2021. While some companies are scaling back DEI commitments, we remain focused. Gender is one of 23 key metrics we track in our annual sustainability report, and one of 12 areas where we've set ambitious improvement targets. Our goal? 40% female representation in our senior team by 2025—aligned with best practice from the Hampton-Alexander Review. Thanks to targeted initiatives in recruitment, leadership development, and accountability, we’ve hit 42% by the end of 2024—one year ahead of schedule. Progress matters. And we're not stopping here.
Yesterday’s Spring Statement confirms that there will be major changes to the benefits system as the Government looks to cut costs. As our latest Financial Vulnerability Index will show when it’s published next week, these cuts will take place in a landscape where vulnerability is already on the rise. In 2024, households were forced to use up their savings and rely on increasingly risky forms of credit in order to get by. While today’s news on inflation is promising, the Government should be concerned about the way financial health seems to be declining, particularly in areas that have usually been quite resilient. With higher council tax bills set to come in for many next month, this could be a critical period for people struggling with their finances. Fairer debt collection and greater access to affordable credit will be essential if we’re to help people through what will be a challenging 2025. #FairerDebtFairerSociety
