Vernon Building Society achieves employment ‘treble’

Vernon Building Society has been named Employer of the Year at the North West Business of the Year Awards, marking the third time in 2025 the Stockport-based mutual has been recognised for its employment practices.

The award was presented at a ceremony attended by more than 400 guests at The Midland Hotel in Manchester on Wednesday 15 October, where the Vernon triumphed in a competitive field against shortlisted businesses including Agent, Alpine Fire Engineers, B-engineering, Cooper Parry, HMG Paints, Omni RMS, Panache Cruises and Principle Networks.

Vernon Building Society Chief Executive Darren Ditchburn said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to be named Employer of the Year at the North West Business of the Year Awards, and this makes it a hat-trick of employment recognition this year following our Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter membership and our Stockport Business Awards win. We’re a people-based business – everything we do starts with people and ends with people. That’s why this recognition means so much. It’s a huge credit to our brilliant team and the culture we’ve built together. As CEO, I couldn’t be prouder.”

The award recognises Vernon’s evolution into a values-led organisation that places colleague wellbeing at its core. Following its centenary in 2024, the Society has achieved record employee engagement scores whilst maintaining an impressive average tenure of 7.67 years, with 43% of colleagues staying with the organisation for over five years.

This latest accolade follows Vernon’s recognition as Employer of the Year at the Stockport Business Awards earlier in October, and the Society’s acceptance into the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter earlier this year. The Charter membership, presented by Mayor Andy Burnham, confirmed Vernon met high standards across seven characteristics of good employment: secure work, fair pay, inclusive recruitment, flexible working, health and wellbeing support, employee engagement, and effective people management.

As a Real Living Wage employer, Vernon has backed its commitment to colleagues with tangible investment. The Society expanded from 86 employees in 2022 to 99 in 2025, with plans to reach 107 by 2027 as it grows its branch network across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. Professional development is prioritised, with apprenticeships and qualifications funded across all departments.

The Society’s people-first philosophy extends into the communities it serves. In 2024, colleagues contributed over 563 volunteering hours to local charities and initiatives through paid volunteering days. Vernon’s centenary year also saw the launch of the Vernon Charitable Foundation, which distributed over £64,000 to local charities in its first year, alongside £12,000 through the expanded Community Stars programme.

This focus on people has delivered measurable business results during a challenging period for financial services. The Society now holds total assets exceeding £500 million, with profit before tax reaching £3.5 million and mortgage lending growing 17% to £89.6 million.

Michael Taylor, North West editor of TheBusinessDesk.com which hosts the awards, said:

“Businesses had to commit to a rigorous judging process that has really showed the very best of the North West and how the economy is facing up to a huge number of challenges. The judges heard not only incredible stories of resilience and innovation, but also how the spirit of togetherness and fairness runs through so many businesses.”