The Principality Building Society has been crowned Business of the Year at the Arts and Business Cymru Awards for the second time, recognising the society’s commitment to the arts in Wales.
Wales’ largest building society was handed the prestigious 2014 Business of the Year award for its partnerships with the National Eisteddfod and Only Boys Aloud after previously winning the award in 2012.
It also won the Arts, Business and Long Term Support award in recognition of its 35 year support of the National Eisteddfod and was a finalist in the Arts, Business and Young People category for its continued work with Only Boys Aloud.
Pat Ashman, Principality Building Society’s Sponsorship and Events Manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have picked up two awards and to be named as Business of the Year for the second time by Art & Business Cymru.
“We are proud of our wide-reaching support programme that impacts on our communities across Wales and the borders. It’s a celebration of everything that is great about Wales – our sport, arts and culture and we hope to use it to enhance many more lives in Wales throughout the next few years.”
The Arts and Business Cymru Awards acknowledge and celebrate exemplary partnerships between a wide range of businesses and the arts across Wales.
A spokesman for Arts and Business Cymru said: “The judges were unanimous in naming the Principality, Business of the Year for its impressive, focussed approach to partnerships and its commitment to their sustainability.”
In February this year The Principality reported a growth in profits and mortgage lending.
Pre-tax profits for 2013 were up £3m to £28.7m, a rise of nearly 12% compared to the previous year.
The profits rise was driven by an overall mortgage lending increase of 10.7%. Gross mortgage lending is now at an all-time high of £1.1bn.