Darlington Building Society is the best building society in the UK to work for, according to the results of an independent employee engagement survey for the 12 months ending 30 September 2023.

As well as retaining its two-star ‘Outstanding’ accreditation for the fourth consecutive year, results also name Darlington Building Society as the best building society to work for nationally, and the third best regional financial services employer. That’s no mean feat with such tough competition.

Helen Easton, Director of People and Culture at Darlington Building Society said:

“What an achievement, to be recognised for a fourth year running as an outstanding place to work. It truly is testament to the dedication of all our colleagues, and the shared belief that we are all working towards making the Society the best place for each other and our members. Best Companies means a lot to us as an employer because it is an independent and nationally recognised institution.

“Never ones to rest on our laurels, we will be entering the New Year with lots of ideas and feedback, so that our colleagues continue to feel heard and fulfilled at work.”

And the buzz extends beyond these fantastic results for the Society:

  • In November, it relocated its flagship Darlington Branch to a prominent location on High Row, listening to member feedback and doubling down on its commitment to the High Street.
  • An inflation-busting pay rise for all employees in 2024 was announced at its recent annual colleague conference.
  • A “MyDay” benefit was reconfirmed for 2024 to support mental wellness. It enables employees to take a day off in addition to their annual leave allowance, to rest, recuperate and recharge.

As a key employer in the region, and 167 years of experience, Darlington Building Society understands that in order to succeed, it must innovate. With that in mind, it is taking steps to deliver a flexible working policy by increasing employee headcount -both at its Head Office and across its nine branches - to support agile working. Almost a tenth of its employees (8.8%) have submitted flexible working requests so far.

There is a considerable focus on personal development for employees in the New Year, the Society will be helping to build the region’s leaders of tomorrow whilst continuing to “grow its own talent”.

For the wider community, the Society donates 5% of its profits to charities and good causes around the region. So when it thrives, so does the local community.

With so much progression and innovation, Darlington really is a great place to be in 2024 and beyond.