Archives: FAQ - Savings

Our Autumn 2017 regional Members’ Meet-up takes place at Holyoake House in Manchester.

Holyoake House

Holyoake House was completed in 1911 and built to host the Co-operative Union (now Co-operatives UK), which existed to support the interests of consumer co-operatives in the UK. It was named after George Holyoake, a co-operative activist. Now one of several adjacent listed buildings which recognise the unique co-operative heritage of the area, Holyoake House is home to Co-operatives UK, the Co-operative College, the Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL), The Co-operative News and the Manchester office of The Phone Co-op.

How to get to Holyoake House

Holyoake House is located on Hanover Street in central Manchester, off Corporation Street and very close to Victoria Station and close to the head offices of The Co-operative Bank and The Co-operative Group as well as the C.I.S. Tower. Once you are on Hanover Street, Holyoake House can’t be missed as there are banners displaying Co-operatives UK’s logo outside the main entrance.

By train

• Manchester Victoria station is three minutes walk away. Manchester Piccadilly station is 15 minutes walk away or you can take a Metrolink tram to the Shudehill tram stop.

By tram/bus

• Shudehill Metrolink tram stop is adjacent to Hanover Street. There are also nearby tram stops at Victoria (within the station) and Exchange Square. A number of local buses also stop at Shudehill bus station.

By car

• Car parking is available nearby at Manchester Victoria station and the Manchester Arena, Printworks and Arndale NCP car parks.

 

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You can register to attend our Summer 2017 Members’ Meet-up here, which will take you to our dedicated Eventbrite registration page.

Registration is open to all members and non-members who are interested in finding out more about Ecology Building Society.

Please register by 5.00 pm on Thursday 6 July 2017 (for catering purposes). We will contact you to confirm your place – if you have not heard from us by Thursday 6 July 2017, please contact us on 01535 650 770.

We’re owned by our members and put their interests first – so we want to hear what you think.

Our Summer 2017 regional Members’ Meet-up is your opportunity to:

• Meet the Ecology team and share your views on our work
• Have a direct input into Ecology’s policies and practices
• Meet other Ecology savers and borrowers in a friendly environment
• Hear from an exciting line-up of speakers on topical housing and ethical finance issues

 

 

16.15	Registration and refreshments Meet your fellow members
16.30	Welcome Steve Round, Chair, Ecology Building Society
16.40	Introduction to Brigade Bar and Bistro
16.45	Update on Ecology's progress Chris Newman, Director, Ecology Building Society Paul Ellis, Chief Executive, Ecology Building Society
17.00	Sustainable lending in practice - how can Ecology support community-led housing? Hear about plans to scale up the community-led housing sector and move it into the mainstream and how Ecology has pioneered mortgages for permanently affordable homes in London. Catherine Harrington, Executive Director, National Community Land Trust Network Humayra Hassan, Ecology borrower and London CLT homebuyer
18.00	Afternoon tea Vegetarian, complimentary
18.30	Meet the Directors What are Ecology's plans for the next ten years? How can Ecology grow in a sustainable, mission-driven way? Chance to meet and grill Directors
19.30	Close

 

Our Summer 2017 regional Members’ Meet-up takes place at Brigade in Bristol.

Brigade Bar and Bistro

Brigade is a social enterprise restaurant housed in The Fire Station on Tooley Street in Central London. As well as being a British inspired Bistro serving delicious, seasonal and sustainably sourced dishes Brigade is a training kitchen which provides apprenticeships that help the homeless develop skills and motivation to find employment. Brigade is part of Beyond Food Community Interest Company (CIC), a unique collaboration between PwC, De Vere Venues, Beyond Food and Big Issue Invest.

How to get to Brigade

By Car

• The nearest car park is the NCP at the junction of Snowsfields and Kipling Street (approximately 600 metres from the venue).

By Tube/Rail

• The nearest rail and tube station is London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee Lines). Exit London Bridge Station via the Tooley Street exit, turn right and continue down Tooley Street for approximately 700 metres. Brigade is on your left hand side next door to the Unicorn Theatre.

By River Boat

• It’s easy to reach Brigade by river boat with the nearest stop at London Bridge City Pier. For information and timetables for river journeys please visit thamesclippers.com

Download event information 

We’re owned by our members and put their interests first, so if you’re a part of Ecology we want to hear what you think.

Our AGM and Members’ Meet-up is your opportunity to:

• Meet the Ecology team and share your views on our work
• Hear from leading experts on climate change and sustainable housing
• Explore our eco-build offices and permaculture gardens

 

 

09.15	Registration and refreshments Meet your fellow members
09.30	Building societies for beginners Optional session giving an introduction to the building society model and the workings of an AGM
10.15	Annual General Meeting including Ask the Directors
12.00	Lunch (vegetarian, complimentary)
13.00	Our Member Survey Summary of the key findings from our recent survey.
13.15	How can we ensure that Ecology is fit for a digital future? Hear how we’re investing in our digital capability so we can develop new products and serve our members better Steve Round - Chair, Ecology Building Society Matt Wilson - IT Manager, Ecology Building Society Craig Haslam - Head of Product Strategy, Mutual Vision
14.15	Refreshment break
14.45	Tackling climate change with modern, traditional and natural building methods Panel discussion exploring how different materials and building approaches can help us address the housing crisis while tackling climate change Rosemary Coyne – Ecology borrower, co-ordinator of SHAP (the Sustainable Housing Action Partnership) and part of the Energiesprong UK market development team Mike Jacob - Director, Kiss House, a provider of off-site homes designed to Passivhaus standard Barbara Jones – Director, Straw Works and Principal of the School of Natural Building. Designs pre-fabricated straw panel buildings and accessible self-build designs with straw bales
15.45	Your Society Opportunity for members to discuss the key findings from the Member Survey and feedback on our plans to invest in our digital capability.
16.15	Closing comments Paul Ellis - Chief Executive, Ecology Building Society
16.30	Close

 

It’s very important to us that as many members as possible take up their opportunity to vote – it’s what makes us a democratic Society. All eligible members will have received an AGM voting pack including information about our AGM resolutions, by post or by email, by early April, along with our Annual Review  and Directors’ election statements.

Voting online is the greenest and easiest way to have your say.

Simply visit castavote.online/ecology and enter your login code and password as shown on your voting form or email.

We’ll donate 20p to international development charity Practical Action for every postal vote cast, or 50p for every vote cast online. We’ll also donate £1 to Practical Action for every member who signs up to receive future voting packs by email.

Please ensure we receive your vote by 5.00 pm on Wednesday 25 April 2018.

 

Our Directors want to hear from you! Email your questions and our Directors will answer them during our Ask the Directors session at the AGM. We’ll be tweeting the answers live via Twitter @EcologyBS.

Please note that for reasons of time, we can’t guarantee to answer every question during the AGM. Any questions that are not answered on the day will be answered afterwards and we’ll post responses on our website.