Team size: 24 (includes legal, secretariat and sustainability teams).

What are the key projects that you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

Our legal team has been supporting initiatives that are key to our business strategy and purpose – in particular our commitment to help first time buyers. Recent highlights include the Skipton Track Record mortgage, a 100% mortgage product designed for renters using their history of paying rent to assess affordability; the Skipton Delayed Start Mortgage, a novel product offering greater flexibility for customers at the start of their homeowning journey; the Skipton Group Home Affordability Index, which compares housing affordability across each UK postcode area; our Make Your Move Campaign (in collaboration with Channel 4), a social-first branded entertainment series aimed at assisting first-time buyers in navigating the complexities of purchasing their first home; and the Big Retrofit – retrofitting a Skipton-owned house to showcase sustainable living. The legal team navigated IP licensing issues and ensured balanced and compliant messaging for our members on the benefits and pitfalls of these projects whilst avoiding greenwashing risk.

A clear focus on simplicity and clarity within strict legal and regulatory frameworks has been crucial. It is very satisfying for the team to be able to help thousands of first-time buyers across the UK and see the incredible media response to these exciting initiatives.

What strategies do you employ to ensure the successful digital transformation of a legal department while maintaining compliance with your country’s data protection laws?

It’s crucial for a legal team to quickly triage and allocate work to provide an efficient service for colleagues and to generate meaningful MI to demonstrate our value. We have developed – using in-house capability – a digital portal for colleagues to access legal advice at any time, guiding them through the information we need from them to give the right answer and allocate the right lawyer. This solution also generates real-time MI on types of queries coming into the team, meaning that we can focus our training on key areas. We have created podcasts to bring concepts like privilege and gen AI to life for the business in an accessible way.

We are actively exploring the potential of Gen AI tools – particularly Copilot – to transform how the team operates. Our goal is to reduce time spent on repetitive tasks and instead empower our lawyers to focus on what they do best: delivering personal, high-impact legal advice and driving strategic decisions. These tools can be aligned with local data protection requirements and will help us work smarter and faster – without losing the human touch that is the basis of all strong relationships.

How can general counsel foster a corporate culture that supports ESG principles and compliance across all levels of the organisation?

I am responsible for ESG across the Skipton Group, so can drive our approach to embedding sustainability practices into our core business operations and governance. This approach is strongly supported by the board, but everyone across the business carries a responsibility for sustainability. We have established a Group-wide ambition in line with net zero by 2050, which includes guidance for members on retrofitting their homes. We also donate 1% of annual group profit before tax to charitable causes aligned to our purpose and all colleagues are encouraged to use their three volunteering days a year to support charitable projects. A GC’s knowledge of complex governance, environmental and social requirements helps to minimise risks and maximise our opportunities across the group, whilst upholding ethical standards.

How do you prioritise diversity and inclusion within your legal department, and what initiatives have you implemented to foster a more inclusive work environment?

Our recruitment practices are built on diversity and inclusion, helping us to attract talent from all backgrounds. I am especially proud of our focus on social mobility – recently welcoming a solicitor apprentice straight from school who will develop alongside a cohort of other apprentices across our business. My team reflects our inclusive ethos, with one colleague chairing our Ethnicity Network and other team members contributing to our Neurodiversity Group. These efforts are key to building a culture where everyone can thrive.