Leeds Building Society: Why we care about Fair Tax
Leeds Building Society is the UK’s fifth largest building society and received the Good Business Charter accreditation in 2023. The mutual’s purpose of putting home ownership within reach of more people – generation after generation, has remained fundamentally unchanged since it was founded in 1875, and it continues to help people save money and get onto the property ladder 150 years on.
On accreditation, we were particularly impressed by the Society’s commitment to Paying Fair Tax. It not only commits to do so and share this on its website, as is required of all Good Business Charter and Fair Tax Foundation accredited organisations, but it also speaks out on the importance and benefits of businesses paying fair tax.
Championing tax transparency and paying our fair share
Nicola Glover, Senior Strategy Manager at Leeds Building Society, said:
“At Leeds Building Society, we strive to be responsible in everything we do, whether that’s in supporting our members, communities, colleagues or the environment.
Our ESG strategy guides our decisions in our ambition to put homeownership in reach of more people, and we are proud to have been accredited with the Good Business Charter in December 2023, which recognises and champions responsible business behaviour.
We also became the first national high street financial institution to receive the Fair Tax Mark in December 2018 and we have recently been reaccredited for the seventh consecutive year – a testament to the hard work and procedures put in place by our teams across the Society. To be recognised for continuing to do the right thing when it comes to tax transparency and paying our fair share of tax is important to us and the accreditation is recognition that we continue to champion a level playing field for businesses. Businesses must play their part in contributing to a fairer economy for all. Tax transparency is a clear reflection on how businesses conduct themselves.”
The positive impact of paying fair tax
As part of Good Business Fortnight 2025, Leeds Building Society is our Fair Tax Friday Champion. Along with our Partner, the Fair Tax Foundation they were keen to communicate the importance and benefits of responsible and fair tax practices for all businesses.
We interviewed Andrea Harrison, Leeds Building Society’s Director of Finance Operations, to discuss why they’re proud to have their Fair Tax Mark and Good Business Charter accreditations and what it means for their members.
Communicating fair tax commitments
In this interview, on Leeds Building Society’s website, Andrea clearly sets out the organisation’s commitments publicly.
Why we care about Fair Tax | Article | Leeds Building Society
Good Business Charter and Fair Tax Mark
While the GBC do not require businesses to Fair Tax Mark accredit, we do follow the same requirements in terms of fair tax commitments and transparency in our Pay Fair Tax component of the charter, and a number of our accredited organisations see clear benefits of having both accreditations.
When asked about advice for others considering the Good Business Charter and Fair Tax Mark, Andrea Harrison, Leeds Building Society’s Director of Finance Operations said:
“Do it! As well as being the right thing to do, it sends an important signal to customers, employees and suppliers that your organisation is committed to responsible business practices, is paying its fair share of tax and can be trusted.”