Commsave Credit Union Crowned ‘Employer of the Year’ at Local Business Awards

Friday 26 January 2024

Commsave Credit Union were awarded the best employer in Northamptonshire announced at the SME Business Awards last weekend.

The competition was fierce, and the award’s judge told Commsave they were particularly impressed by its employee wellbeing package as it offers flexible working and job-sharing opportunities, investment in training and development and a generous healthcare plan.

Over the last year, Commsave has nearly doubled its staffing team and put in significant effort to develop and retain talent through the training and development and its successful apprenticeship scheme.

Richard Munro, interim CEO at Commsave Credit Union said: “We were delighted to be awarded Employer of the Year, especially as the standard of entries were so high and we were considered along with a range of excellent firms.  As a small firm we try very hard to engage with our staff team and prioritise their personal and professional development. Our board has provided resources to support staff through the current financial challenges.

“We are not complacent, and always striving to improve; at our recent annual Business Planning & Teamwork weekend staff had the opportunity to put forward their ideas of what more we can do.  I firmly believe in the adage, look after your staff and they will look after your members.”

As the credit union saw first-hand the difficulties exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, Commsave decided to reward staff by issuing a £2,000 ‘bonus’ in 2022 to help with the price increases in day-to-day expenses. Additionally, in February 2023 the credit union decided to give every employee -from to apprentices to management- a wage increase averaging at around 10%.

Furthermore, Commsave Credit Union has three dedicated and active mental first aiders within the organisation who are professionally trained and hold regular catch-ups. Not only do Commsave provide its staff with a wealth of benefits, the credit union also benefits the local community by giving all staff two days of volunteering a year to encourage giving back to the area.

James Richards, Business Development Manager at Commsave Credit Union said: “Commsave is committed to making our company a great place to work, so to be recognised in this way is a great reflection of all our efforts.”