Just COO shortlisted for Women in Credit Award

24 August 2023

Natalie Tate, Chief Operating Officer at Just, has been shortlisted for the Vulnerability Leader of the Year at the 2023 Women in Credit Awards, hosted by Credit Strategy. 

Identifying and advocating for vulnerable customers is an important issue within the collections and recoveries industry and Natalie has played an integral part in the creation and implementation of a range of initiatives and tools to support them: 

• New industry standards through toolkit guidelines - The Doorstep Vulnerability Toolkit and Just Breathe are revolutionary to enforcement, setting out explicit standards around how face-to-face interactions between enforcement agents and customers. 
• Helping victims of domestic violence – Employing the ‘Ask for ANI’ codeword that enables victims to discreetly ask agents for immediate assistance. This has been added to our Notices of Enforcement and implemented alongside industry-leading training and signposting to domestic violence charities. 
• Enhanced signposting that reflects vulnerability in 2023 – Just has introduced enhanced signposting, the most comprehensive across the entire industry for debt advice, whilst also including the many underlying issues that can be linked to problem debt (e.g., domestic violence, economic abuse, mental health, bereavement, and illegal money lending). 

Natalie commented on the news, “It is an honour to be shortlisted for this award but, more importantly, it is great recognition for the steps we are taking as an industry to better detect and support vulnerable customers with modern methods and relevant support and guidance.” 

The Women in Credit Awards champion the work of incredible women and those who empower them across the entire credit and financial services industry. They support and uncover achievements among inspirational women and allies in the industry. The award ceremony takes place on Wednesday 20 September in London.