Predictability isn’t always a positive, but in this case it’s something we’re very comfortable with. Each year the Living Wage Foundation announces its latest rates, and each year we ensure our pay keeps pace - or stays ahead. We’ve been a Living Wage Foundation accredited employer since 2016. For nearly a decade that’s meant keeping our salaries at or above the independently calculated ‘real’ living wage, based on what it actually costs to live. From April we’ll retain our accreditation by delivering another increase across our minimum salary scales - continuing to sit above the recommended rates by up to 3% - alongside proportional uplifts across the wider workforce. This latest increase means our minimum salary has risen by 46% since 2020. It’s a figure that continues to outperform inflationary increases and reflects our long-term commitment to fair pay and the people who make our business what it is.
The lead-up to Christmas is associated with warmth and cheer, but it can also place extra pressure on people who are already struggling. That was the backdrop to our food bank donation initiative, which ran across our estate in support of local food banks alongside the housing charity, Shelter. Over four weeks, the Vaultex community dug deep to donate food and essential items from their homes, recognising that demand for both food and housing support increases sharply at this time of year. They also knew that, for every item collected, we would donate £1 to Shelter! We were thrilled to receive more than 2,500 items through the initiative, enabling us to make a £2,558 contribution to support Shelter’s work with people facing homelessness and unsafe living conditions this winter. The opportunity to raise additional funds for local food banks also encouraged teams to channel their enthusiasm into creating imaginative collection point displays, filled with thoughtful and light-hearted touches and plenty of festive spirit. Two sites stood out for the scale of their efforts, with each receiving £500 to give to the food bank they had been collecting for. We’re incredibly proud of the generosity shown by our people and the care they’ve taken for those in their communities at a time of year that can be especially challenging for many.
Our matched funding programme doubles every pound our people raise, up to £500. It's a simple way to back the causes they care about while giving their fundraising an extra boost.
Our social mobility efforts are driven by a belief that everyone deserves a fair shot at success, regardless of their background or postcode.
More than 150 Vaultex colleagues took part in this year’s Vaultrek campaign, three weeks of walking, running, hiking, and step-counting to get active, boost wellbeing, and support the mental health charity, Mind. Together, we covered more than 37 million steps – exceeding our target by over 12 million and raising £4,400. A fantastic sum that we hope will make a sizeable impact in helping support those living with mental health challenges. This has been our most successful Vaultrek campaign to date – a genuine celebration of exercise, teamwork, and community spirit. We’re immensely proud that our people walked away feeling healthier, accomplished, and most certainly ready for a well-earned sit down! Read the full story on LinkedIn.
A huge thank you to our industry colleagues Enterprise Cash Management Limited and CPS, as well as Currency Research, for the opportunity to share our perspective at the Asia Cash Cycle Seminar earlier this week. Our CEO, Fergus Connolly, joined Jamie Cockerell and Barrie Foley on stage to discuss how data and information can be turned into genuine, actionable insight. We’ve always believed that our people are our greatest asset. Technology and data only provides real value if everyone is part of the journey – building knowledge, understanding, and confidence from the ground up. That’s what helps our teams make better decisions, work more efficiently, and adapt with resilience as cash continues to evolve. We’re grateful to have been part of such an engaging discussion with industry peers.
#SmallBusinessAdviceWeek (22nd–26th September) is a chance to celebrate the entrepreneurs and independents who give communities across the UK their character. Our role may be largely behind the scenes, but we’re aware and proud of how widely our efforts are felt. In the past five years alone, we’ve processed over £450bn in notes and coins - counted, checked, sorted, and recirculated nationwide. By keeping cash resilient, efficient, and accessible, we help protect people’s right to choose how they pay – a choice that millions still depend on. And when they choose cash, small businesses often benefit from lower costs compared with other payment methods. In the last 12 months, we’ve helped more than 5,800 SME businesses with high quality cash processing services and innovative solutions that make managing their money simpler. For many enterprises across the country cash remains a vital lifeline, especially during times at peak demand. This Easter, for example, we distributed more than £900m to our retail, bank, and ATM customers. Last Christmas, the busiest period of the year, we sent out £388m in a single day - 17% higher than the peak in 2023 and 36% above 2022. These are the moments we thrive on, as they highlight the trust placed in us to keep cash flowing reliably when businesses and communities need it most. To learn more about how Vaultex is helping businesses and communities across the UK, visit: www.vaultexuk.com.
Our Ops Transformation team recently spent a wholesome day volunteering at the Children's Scrapstore in Bristol. The charity gives a second life to materials, diverting would-be waste from landfill and transforming it into resources for creative, play, and educational activities for people of all ages. Our team got stuck in - assembling 400 packs of paper and cutting over 1,000 pieces of card, which will be used in workshops and events that support local families. With this effort, we’ve now surpassed over 1,100 volunteering hours this financial year – with more still to come in the final week of September. We’re grateful to our people for the time and energy they give to their communities.
We’re proud to announce that, following a reassessment by Investors in People (IIP) this summer, we have once again been awarded the highest possible accolade – Platinum status for our approach to People – alongside Gold for Wellbeing, both valid until 2028. This outstanding result confirms that we continue to operate at the top level of IIP’s 6th Generation standards, and places us among a very select group of organisations to hold both accreditations simultaneously. The evaluation also praised our exemplar measures in areas such as talent development, equality, diversity and inclusion, and ESG. IIP Assessor, John O’Sullivan, commented: “Vaultex has clearly built on the strong foundations identified in previous assessments. Your people spoke with genuine pride about their work, and the combination of an inclusive culture, effective leadership, and a true focus on wellbeing sets you apart – not just within your sector, but on a national scale.” This achievement reflects the commitment and care our people showcase every day. A heartfelt thank you and huge congratulations to the entire Vaultex community.
For over two years, our partnership with the Superhero Series has opened doors for young people from SEND schools and sports clubs to take part in their incredible sporting events. In July, our support enabled 57 children from the Vanguard School in London – which specialises in supporting autistic children – to join the At Home Superheroes event for the second year running, bringing all the fun and excitement directly into their classrooms. Plans are now well underway for their pupils to experience the magic of an in-person event at Winter Wonderwheels this December – the Series' flagship Winter celebration filled with challenges, energy, and plenty of superhero costumes. We're proud to help more and more children experience the joy of sports competition and promote disability inclusion. Coverage of this year’s Superhero Tri airs on Channel 4 this Sunday (31st August) at 9.15am. Tune in to feel the passion for inclusive sport!
