Banking group Abbey has received a community award for its championing of deaf and partially deaf people in the workplace at its northern headquarters in Bradford.

The plaudit was awarded by The Royal National Institute for the Deaf to Abbey Customer Account Service Excellence (CASE) after being nominated by a colleague.

Craig Hudson, who nominated the firm, said: "My colleagues at Abbey have done a brilliant job at helping me settle into the team in the Bradford office since I joined in 2003.

"My manager, Kath, arranged deaf awareness training for my team and sign language training for several other colleagues - some of whom have since gone on to complete sign language qualifications - and an interpreter attends our weekly team meetings.

"My team members deserve RNID's Community Award not just for the support they've given me, but to the other deaf and hearing impaired people in the office who been just as impressed with the effort they've made."

Abbey employs ten hearing-impaired people in Bradford and runs workshops for hearing employees and employs an interpreter once a week.

Dr John Low, chief executive of RNID, says: "The Abbey CASE team has done much to improve the lives of deaf and hard of hearing people in Bradford. RNID has been working to overcome the barriers and stigma faced by deaf and hard of hearing people for more than 95 years.

"However, we cannot do this without the continued support of local people, who raise awareness of hearing loss in their communities, encourage best practice or dedicate their lives to helping deaf and hard of hearing people in some way just like the Bradford CASE team.

"If their story inspires you, you too can help change the world for the deaf and hard of hearing people you meet."