Sue Hayes responds to the findings from the 2026 Building Society Diversity Report

As a sector built on purpose and community, building societies have always understood that our strength lies in our differences. In the diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives that shape how we serve our members. 

This year’s Building Societies Diversity Report shows continued progress towards greater representation and inclusion across our sector. Gender balance at senior levels continues to improve, and the pool of women progressing into key leadership roles is broadening, reflecting conscious effort across many societies to make leadership more accessible and visible. 

There are also encouraging signs that diversity is being recognised in broader terms, from ethnicity and age to social mobility, disability, neurodiversity and sexual orientation. While data in some of these areas is still fresh and emerging, the act of proactively collecting and reporting it is representative of the important cultural shift being taken. Greater transparency helps us understand where progress is happening, where barriers persist, and how we can collectively do better. 

We know there is still more to do. Broader representation at the most senior levels remains uneven, and the data shows that ethnic diversity in leadership still lags behind the communities we serve. The direction of travel is positive and, more importantly, intentional. 

At Nottingham Building Society, we believe diversity is not a compliance exercise but a catalyst for innovation, better decision-making and long-term sustainability. The mutual model gives us a strong foundation for social mobility and fairness. These are values that must continue to guide the sector’s future. 

By working together, sharing insight and holding ourselves accountable through reports like this, we can make sure building societies remain not only trusted financial institutions, but also places where everyone has the opportunity to belong, to lead and to thrive. Places where we truly represent all of society and its diversity. 

When we reflect the communities we serve, we build more than balance sheets. We build trust, opportunity and lasting change. 

Sue Hayes 
Chief Executive 
Nottingham Building Society 

You can download the full 2026 Building Society Diversity Report here.