All Together Money Pioneer Group Launches

19/06/2026

Senior leaders from credit unions across Great Britain gathered in Crewe this week for the inaugural meeting of the Pioneer Group, a new forum established by All Together Money for credit unions with more than £20 million in assets. The launch forms part of a wider programme of engagement and sector development activity being delivered by All Together Money, which includes the Growth Group for small and medium-sized credit unions and the introduction of All Together Money’s new member engagement platform earlier this year.

Formerly known as the Larger Credit Union Advisory Committee (LCUAC), the Pioneer Group has been created to provide a dedicated space for larger credit unions to network, share insights and explore the strategic opportunities and challenges facing organisations operating at scale.

Opening the event, All Together Money welcomed delegates and outlined the vision for the Pioneer Group, highlighting its role in helping shape the future of the movement through collaboration, innovation and shared leadership.

A key focus of the meeting was the future development of the credit union sector. Delegates heard from Molly Harris of the New Economics Foundation, who shared an update on the United Vision programme. The ambitious two-year collaboration between the New Economics Foundation and the Swoboda Research Centre is working to develop a cohesive vision for the British credit union sector and a roadmap for achieving it over the next decade. Participants were given an early look at emerging findings and had the opportunity to contribute their own perspectives during an engaging discussion session.

The agenda also featured an important conversation around Credit Union Service Organisations (CUSOs), with Sam Plester of Mission Brands Consulting facilitating a discussion on the opportunities CUSOs could present for credit unions across Great Britain. The session encouraged participants to explore collaborative approaches that could support innovation, efficiency and growth across the sector.

International perspectives were provided by Miriam Ackerman, a recognised expert in the US CUSO movement and former acting CEO of the National Association of Credit Union Service Organizations (NACUSO). Drawing on extensive experience supporting and operating CUSOs, Miriam shared valuable insights into how the US model has helped deliver transformational growth and strengthened collaboration between credit unions. Delegates also welcomed her ongoing support as All Together Money and member credit unions continue to explore opportunities in this area.

The day concluded with a regulatory update from Dominic Cashman of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Marcela Hashim of the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). Their session focused on the regulatory considerations associated with the sector’s transformation agenda, including the opportunities and implications surrounding CUSOs.

Matt Bland, Chief Executive of All Together Money, said: “The Pioneer Group reflects our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for credit unions to learn from one another, collaborate and help shape the future direction of the sector. As credit unions grow, the challenges and opportunities they face evolve too, which is why we’ve introduced dedicated groups that better reflect the different stages of organisational development across our membership.

“Alongside the Pioneer Group, we’ve established the Growth Group for small and medium-sized credit unions and launched our new engagement platform to help strengthen connections across the movement. This refresh forms part of a wider programme of work to enhance how we deliver value for members, ensuring activity is better aligned to the different challenges and opportunities credit unions face as they grow. The platform is already helping members connect with peers, share knowledge and access support in a more flexible and accessible online environment, complementing the face-to-face opportunities we provide.

“The discussions throughout the day demonstrated a real appetite for collaboration, innovation and transformation, and I am grateful to all of our speakers and attendees for helping make the inaugural meeting such a success. We look forward to building on this momentum and supporting the Pioneer Group as it helps shape the future of the credit union movement.”All Together Money would like to extend its sincere thanks to Molly Harris, Sam Plester, Miriam Ackerman, Dominic Cashman and Marcela Hashim for sharing their expertise and insights throughout the day. Their contributions helped stimulate valuable discussion and provided delegates with important perspectives on the future direction of the credit union movement.”

The launch of the Pioneer Group marks an exciting new chapter for larger credit unions in Great Britain, creating a platform for strategic dialogue, collaboration and collective action as the sector continues to evolve and grow.