Case Study: Yorkshire Building Society boosts employee recognition and trust with O.C. Tanner Yearbooks

Yorkshire Building Society - Customer Case Study

Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) is a 150‑year‑old, culture‑first lender with over 3 million customers that ranks among the UK’s best employers. Although recognition was part of YBS’s culture, their previous program only honored long‑service and customer‑facing colleagues (not HR, finance, and other supporting roles), leaving many employees feeling undervalued.

YBS partnered with O.C. Tanner to launch personalized Yearbooks and milestone pins, shifting recognition to start at three years and at milestone years thereafter (5, 10, 25, 30, 35, 40). The Yearbook software made it easy to collect leader and peer messages and photos—within six months there were 3,700 comments and 1,100 photos across 600 yearbooks—and pins worn in branches boosted customer trust. The result: a low‑cost program that broadened recognition, strengthened inclusion and appreciation, and delivered tangible cultural benefits.

Yorkshire Building Society

Michelle Elsworth

Recognition Lead