7th October 2025
We're proud to be named Employer of the Year at Stockport Business Awards, celebrating culture, wellbeing & community impact.
We’re delighted to announce that we have been named Employer of the Year at the Stockport Business Awards 2025!
The Employer of the Year category celebrates organisations that create supportive, engaging, and inclusive workplaces. Judges were looking for evidence of motivated, innovative teams aligned with strategic goals and company values.
That’s why our journey from a traditional financial services employer to a modern, values-led organisation stood out; it's been driven by our people. In 2025, we achieved our highest-ever employee engagement scores, and our average tenure is now over 7 years, with 43% of colleagues staying with us for over five years.
Our Chief Executive, Darren Ditchburn, said: “Our organisation is built on our people - their dedication and talent drive our success. Our strong values and inclusive culture have made the Vernon a great place to work.”
We’re proud to be a Real Living Wage employer and a member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter. We support professional development across all departments, funding apprenticeships and qualifications. Since 2022, we’ve grown from 86 to 99 employees, with plans to reach 107 by 2027 as we expand our branch network across Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
Our commitment to our people extends beyond the workplace. In 2024, our colleagues contributed over 563 hours to local charities through paid volunteering days. We also launched the Vernon Charitable Foundation, awarding £64,000 to local causes in its first year, and expanded our Community Stars programme, distributing £12,000 to grassroots organisations.
We’re also passionate about helping the next generation understand money. Our financial education programme, delivered with WizeUp, reached 1,456 students across eight local schools.
Winning Employer of the Year is a proud moment for us - but it’s also a reminder of what makes the Vernon special: our people, our values, and our community. Thank you to the Stockport Business Awards for this honour and thank you to every member of our team - this award is for you.