Credit Strategy’s indexes evolve for 2025: What you need to know

500 becomes 600 as Credit Strategy launches Partnership 100

The most notable change is that we’ve launched a brand new index to accompany the Credit 500: The Partnership 100 Club. This list – hand-picked by the team at Credit Strategy – comprises the leading suppliers in the credit and financial services sector.

This evolution comes as part of Credit Strategy’s mission to create a community that betters lives, with every one of our Partnership 100 offering products and services that support lenders to get the best outcome for their end customers. 

Endorsed and highly respected among our Credit 500, this list of award-winning businesses serves two purposes:

• It celebrates and showcases the top suppliers in the industry
• It connects UK lenders with ideal suppliers for successful partnerships

All members of the 100 offer valuable guidance to lenders while celebrating and recognising the industry’s top-performing partners who strive for excellence and innovation.

Membership of the group also includes several perks, including:

• The opportunity to sit on Credit Strategy’s steering committees alongside lenders and creditors
• Discounts on award entry fees
• A £500 price to attend Credit Week

From rebrands to seniority: What’s changed in this year’s Credit 500

The Credit 500 index, meanwhile, will now be known as the Credit 500 Club. Still the most distinguished Club in the credit and financial services industry, the list comprises the most influential names in the sector.

Unlike previous years, the Credit 500 team has had a radical rethink regarding the seniority of individuals who are members of the group.

The list is now almost exclusively made up of the most senior figures in businesses – including chief executives, managing directors, and heads of larger teams (such as head of risk).

Like before, members of the Credit 500 Club receive special delegate rates for Credit Week, access to premium member roundtables, and will be the first to be asked to join judges’ awards panels, author Credit Strategy content and speak at our events.

Categories within the Club

Finally, we have split the Club into distinct categories depending on either the sector their business or organisation operates in or the specialism they have within their business or organisation.

These are:

• Commercial Banks 

Professionals who specialise in commercial lending and who work at a lender that currently holds a banking licence and is regulated by the FCA and PRA.

• Commercial Lenders

Professionals who specialise in commercial lending and who work at a lender that doesn’t currently hold a banking licence, and/or has a lending model not traditionally seen at mainstream banks (such as bridging finance providers).

• Retail Lenders

Professionals who specialise in retail lending and who work at a lender that doesn’t currently hold a banking licence, and/or has a lending model not traditionally seen at mainstream banks (such as Buy Now, Pay Later).

• Retail Banks and Building Societies

Professionals who specialise in retail lending and who work at a lender that currently holds a banking licence and is regulated by the FCA and PRA.

• Government, Regulators and Trade Bodies 

Professionals who are leading figures at trade bodies and regulators, as well as parliamentarians, with a particular interest in the credit market.

• Motor Lenders

Professionals who specialise in motor finance lending, both in commercial and consumer markets.

• Credit Cards & Payment Processors

Professionals who operate in businesses that exclusively offer credit cards, in either the commercial or consumer space, or are payment processing providers in the retail space.

• Mortgage Lenders

Professionals who specialise in mortgage lending, both in commercial and consumer markets.

• Utilities and Telecoms

Professionals who specialise in water, energy or telecoms lending, both in commercial and consumer markets.

Club advisors

Each of these categories has their own adivsor. These are:

• Commercial Banks, Commercial Lenders, Retail Lenders

Kitty Wood, kwood@shardfinancialmedia.com

• Retail Banks and Building Societies

Ioana Damu, idamu@shardfinancialmedia.com

• Government, Regulators and Trade Bodies, Motor Lenders, Credit Cards & Payment Processors, Mortgage Lenders

Thomas Parker, tparker@shardfinancialmedia.com

• Utilities and Telecoms 

Amy Assad, aassad@shardfinancialmedia.com

What to take you’re learning to the next level? Then why not join more than 1,000 of your peers at this year’s Credit Week. To find out more, click here.