Newcastle Building Society partners with military charity for new employability project
Walking With The Wounded and Newcastle Building Society launch partnership to boost ex-forces career opportunities
Military charity Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) and Newcastle Building Society have announced
details of a new partnership to help Armed Forces veterans build meaningful careers in the world of
financial services.
The joint initiative will see the North East’s largest building society offer bespoke employability
support to enhance the recruitment of WWTW service users. The charity delivers award-winning
employment, mental health, care coordination and volunteering programmes in collaboration with
the NHS to get those who served, and their families, back on their feet.
The partnership will also see the Society commit to a donation of £30,000 every year to support the
charity’s employment programme, and create veteran employment opportunities, tailored to
Newcastle Building Society.
It is expected that over the course of the initial five-year partnership, around 100 veterans will secure
sustainable, meaningful employment at the Society.
Newcastle Building Society employs more than 1,300 people in the region, through its headquarters
at Cobalt Park in North Tyneside and its network of 30 branches across the North East, North Yorkshire
and Cumbria. More than 600 colleagues are employed through the Society’s fintech subsidiary
Newcastle Strategic Solutions, which provides savings management and technology services for
established savings providers and challenger banks across the UK.
Andrew Haigh, chief executive officer at Newcastle Building Society, said: “We’re delighted to
announce details of this brand new partnership with one the UK’s leading armed forces charities. The
North East is a key region for forces recruitment, and Walking With The Wounded provides essential
assistance to veterans on their return, including tailored support to improve employment outcomes
and help them reach their full potential.
“Our commitment to communities includes a pledge to provide all colleagues with an inclusive
working environment and to welcome people from a variety of social backgrounds and life
experiences. The Society will be enriched by the experience and ability of those who join us as
colleagues through the partnership. In turn, we hope veterans will benefit from the supportive,
welcoming culture and real opportunities for career growth offered by our organisation.”
Newcastle Building Society is a gold level signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, a guarantee to
support those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families. This includes offering
flexibility in working hours and leave around deployment and offering support to colleagues who are
members of the Reserve forces.
Through its hub in North Shields, WWTW provides support to ex-military around mental health,
housing, access to welfare and employability, empowering them to regain their independence, thrive
and contribute in their communities.
Tommy Watson, director of operations (North), at Walking With The Wounded, said: “WWTW is
excited to be working in partnership with Newcastle Building Society to deliver a new veteran
employment pathway. This partnership will create more sustainable employment opportunities for
veterans in the North East and enable those who have struggled with their transition from the Armed
Forces to forge a new rewarding career in the financial services.”
The partnership forms part of Newcastle Building Society’s ongoing multi million pound commitment
of support to communities in the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.
