17th October 2025
With our recent win of Employer of the Year at the North West Business Awards - we celebrate our third employment accolade of 2025!
We’re thrilled to have been named Employer of the Year at the North West Business of the Year Awards! This marks our third major employment achievement in 2025, winning Employer of the Year at the Stockport Business Awards earlier in the year, and becoming a Member of the Good Employment Charter, we couldn’t be prouder of the team that made it all possible.
The award was presented during a fantastic evening at The Midland Hotel in Manchester, where over 400 guests gathered to celebrate business excellence across the region. With such strong contenders in the running, we’re truly honoured to have been recognised.
Our Chief Executive, Darren Ditchburn, summed it up perfectly: "We're absolutely delighted to be named Employer of the Year at the North West Business of the Year Awards. This makes it a hat-trick of employment recognition this year! 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 recognition we've received this year is a reflection of our ongoing journey to becoming a truly values-led organisation - one where colleague wellbeing sits at the heart of everything we do. Since celebrating our centenary in 2024, we’ve seen record employee engagement scores and maintained an average tenure of over seven years. In fact, 43% of our colleagues have been with us for more than five years, which is something we’re incredibly proud of.
One of the ways we support our colleagues is through a strong focus on professional development. We’re passionate about helping our people thrive, which is why we actively fund and promote apprenticeships and qualifications across every department - from customer service and finance to IT and marketing. Whether someone is just starting out or looking to upskill, we make sure they have the tools, support, and opportunities to succeed.
This latest honour follows our Employer of the Year win at the 2025 Stockport Business Awards, and earlier this year, we were also proud to be accepted into the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter - a recognition presented by Mayor Andy Burnham. The Charter celebrates organisations that champion secure work, fair pay, inclusive recruitment, flexible working, health and wellbeing, employee engagement, and effective people management. Becoming a member reflects our deep commitment to creating a workplace where everyone feels supported, empowered, and able to thrive.
Winning Employer of the Year is a moment of pride, but it’s also a reminder of our ongoing commitment to our people and our purpose. We’re building something special here at the Vernon - a workplace where people thrive, and a community where we make a real difference.
Thank you to everyone who’s been part of our journey. Here’s to continuing to grow, support, and celebrate together.