TWO Keighley-district companies are celebrating success in a coveted awards scheme.

Ecology Building Society and Computershare both scooped accolades in the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards.

Silsden-based Ecology won the smaller lenders’ mortgage product innovation category, for its pioneering work providing mortgages for affordable homes in London.

The society was the first lender to support the London Community Land Trust scheme, under which properties are sold at prices pegged to average local incomes rather than the open market.

And the Ecology’s chief executive, Paul Ellis, scooped a leadership award.

He has been with the society for 25 years and during his time at the helm, has overseen an increase in assets of more than £150 million.

Ecology chairman, Steve Round, pays tribute.

He said: “I am immensely proud that Paul’s outstanding contribution to sustainable finance over the last quarter of a century has been recognised.

“Under his leadership, Ecology has proven that values-based and purpose-driven finance work, with continued success throughout that time.”

At the same awards ceremony in London, Computershare’s loan services division took top spot in two categories – for non-lenders’ best debt and arrears management strategy, and community services.

The company, which employs hundreds of people at sites in Crossflatts and Skipton, was also highly commended for corporate social responsibility and use of technology.

Computershare Loan Services manages over £67 billion of assets in the UK, more than half of all the country’s outsourced mortgages.

Chief executive officer, Andrew Jones, said: “I’m delighted to see our work recognised at the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards.

“These wins reflect the hard work of our colleagues at sites across the country, as well as showcasing the industry-leading practices that have seen us named as the leading and largest third-party servicer of mortgages in the UK.

“I’m particularly pleased to see recognition of the great emphasis we place on using emerging technology to serve our clients and their customers, the high levels of support we provide to borrowers who need help and the great charitable culture that helps define Computershare – both in our local communities and in our work around the globe.”