In the 1960s buying your own home as a teacher was tough — many male primary school teachers earned so little that their own children qualified for free school meals. It was even harder for women: they needed male "permission" to open a bank account.

Teachers Building Society was launched in 1966 to help people in relatively low-paid jobs take out a mortgage. It was founded as a response to the belief that, without the prospect of owning their own home, teachers would leave the profession.

The society was ahead of its time. The founding management were so firm in their belief that any young teacher who wanted to buy a home should be able to that they made equality of lending a guiding principle, almost a decade before the Sex Discrimination Act forced other mortgage companies to follow suit.

Over the past 55 years, the mutual organisation, which is based in Wimborne, Dorset, has remained dedicated to the education community and its cause, helping teachers to buy homes through the provision of mortgages. Additionally, the society has continued to offer savings accounts, enabling teachers to support other teachers in buying homes.

Part of what makes it a great place to work is the determination of staff to continue the founders' mission of supporting teachers and its clear focus on doing responsible business. This is evident in its ethos of supporting people and the planet, its commitment to local community and sector-specific charities and its dedication to employee wellbeing and professional progression.