Project Overview
The British Business Bank’s 2024 Annual Report and Accounts celebrates a decade of supporting UK growth, innovation and sustainable finance access for small businesses. Highlighting the Bank’s impact across recent initiatives such as the Nations and Regions Investment Funds, and its commitment to transitioning to a net-zero economy.
Built around a theme of ‘Supporting UK Growth and Innovation’, our design approach emphasises the optimism of the Bank’s evolving role, with a focus on geographical reach, a decade-long set of achievements and future momentum. We replaced ‘standard’ photography with dynamic graphics and illustration to better support the Bank’s vision of innovation – integrating accessible infographics, case studies and illustrations.
Using engaging visual elements to clarify complex information, the report consolidates the activities of the Bank’s subsidiaries, British Business Investments and British Patient Capital, within the broader narrative, underscoring a cohesive strategy. Key sections include financial audits, risk management and performance reviews.
To reach diverse audiences, the report balances natural language with expert analysis, enhancing accessibility through pull quotes, key stats and regional funding maps.
Designed as an interactive PDF and limited printed copies on FSC-approved stock, the report is both sustainable and user-friendly. This latest report effectively communicates the Bank’s strategic vision, supporting its reputation as a champion for small businesses across the UK.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Red Stone creative and project teams
Project Brief
The British Business Bank is a UK government-backed business development Bank. Its mission is to drive sustainable growth and prosperity across the UK, and to enable the transition to a
net zero economy, by supporting access to finance for smaller businesses.
Following a series of successful reports, the bank commissioned us to design, produce, and manage the production of their Annual Report and Accounts 2024. The objective for this year’s report was to outline the bank’s key economic role, through its support of small and innovative businesses. The overarching theme ‘Supporting UK growth and innovation’ was key
in communicating a sense of optimism as the bank celebrated its 10 years of impact across the UK.
The report presents the bank’s achievements, highlighting recent launches such as the Nations and Regions Investment Funds, the Future Fund Breakthrough extension, and the Long-Term Investment for Technology and Science initiative. A new section integrates the bank’s two commercial subsidiaries, British Business Investments and British Patient Capital, into the broader Bank narrative.
The bank’s drive for sustainable growth, support for innovation, and transition to a net-zero economy through their focus on improving access to finance were key themes. In addition, the report focusses on a financial audit and performance of the bank group, detailing financial performance, risk management, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Project Innovation/Need
The bank’s evolving role and expanded initiatives required an innovative design approach to reflect both the changed remit and long-term commitment to economic growth. The report includes elements such as an impact infographics and case studies, to communicate the Bank’s message of innovation in supporting SMEs in the UK.
The design approach focussed on geographical reach, the Bank’s impact over the past decade and communicating a sense of future momentum. We incorporated illustration as an alternative to standard photography, to build a sense of energy and innovation to support the Bank’s vision.
Red Stone developed the report’s narrative text using an accessible, and expertise-driven tone of voice to empower businesses, providing them with clear tools and insights to make informed decisions. The human touch was important with the use of natural language to demystify finance and show the bank’s impact through small business successes.
Design Challenge
The design of the 2024 report was approached with a new, growth-oriented graphic approach. We used the brand’s graphic assets more extensively this year to highlight growth as a driving concept.
Challenges included integrating new sections within the structure and visually representing the bank’s narrative through accessible infographics and diverse imagery. This achieved a optimistic tone, communicating the Bank’s strategic goals despite current economic challenges.
The Annual Report serves as a best practice model for the brand, applying an expanded use of illustration, accessible colour, and typography to create an engaging, vibrant report. Infographic spreads clarify the Bank’s lending processes while maintaining a dynamic, on-brand approach.
We enhanced accessibility by incorporating top-layer elements such as pull-quotes, and key stats, along with funding and case study maps for regional context.
Imagery was carefully selected to provide authenticity and relevance within the small business sector. We supported the report’s written content with a mix of stock and custom photography, including art directed photo shoots and thoughtfully selected imagery. This reflects the Bank’s understanding of its diverse audiences, reinforcing its reputation and connection with UK business owners.
The 2024 Annual Report was an opportunity to dial up the brand and really celebrate the bank’s achievements whist looking forward to changes and opportunities in the future.
Effectiveness
The latest report communicates the bank’s renewed growth focus, showcasing achievements and expanding public awareness of its mission. Infographics, key visuals, and strategic
narratives work together to create an engaging and highly accessible report.
By delivering the report as a small number of printed copies on FSC-approved stock and an interactive PDF, the result is both environmentally friendly and easy to navigate. The report is necessarily information-heavy, but its digestible format is designed to increase stakeholder engagement, with visual and verbal consistency supporting the Bank’s ‘lighting the way’ positioning for small businesses across the UK.
What our client said:
“We’ve really enjoyed working with Red Stone on our Annual Reports. They are professional, innovative, flexible and each year have brought us an exciting concept which has enhanced our brand and demonstrated the growth of our business.”
Annual Report team, British Business Bank
Graphic Design - Publication
This award celebrates creative and innovative design in the traditional or digital visual representation of ideas and messages. Consideration given to clarity of communication and the matching of information style to audience register.
More Details