On Thursday, 25 September, we had the privilege of receiving the Best SME People Management award and being named as a finalist for Employee Experience at the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) People Management Awards 2025.

Winning the award for Best SME People Management and being recognised as a finalist for Employee Experience is a true testament to our culture and the dedication of our colleagues. 

Building on a strong foundation that’s brought us previous successes in health and wellbeing, culture, and people management, this latest recognition highlights the growth of our building society. Achieving this accolade reinforced our reputation as a purpose-led organisation and an employer of choice.

This victory for our Society and colleagues is more than just about an award – it’s about what the recognition represents:

► A culture of trust, collaboration and care.
► A commitment to supporting colleagues’ growth and wellbeing.
► A shared belief that doing good for our people creates lasting impact for our communities.

Now in their 30th anniversary year, the CIPD People Management Awards are recognised as the benchmark of excellence in HR, Learning & Development and Organisational Development. 

Hosted at JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London, this year’s event welcomed over 800 people to celebrate innovation, creativity and the very best in people management.

With 21 categories recognising outstanding achievements in people management, the awards showcased the teams and organisations that embody the values and standards in the CIPD Profession map. The people and businesses honoured at the event all prove that work matters, professionalism matters, and people matter.