More than 600 jobs are to be created in and around Skipton thanks to the rapid expansion of the town's building society.

In almost a year Skipton Building Society's £9.1 million headquarters extension will be complete and the company will begin taking on more than double its existing workforce.

It has recently entered the top ten of building societies and a growth in the number of branches across the country has enabled company directors to commit to the area.

Already Keighley contractors Turner Constructions have finished the steel framework for the three-storey building, which will be stone clad.

When complete the offices will house well over 1,000 administration staff and management, drawing on Skipton and the wider Craven district for employees.

David Hudson, head of facilities at SBS, said: "While the existing building can accommodate an additional 35 to 40 people, the new development will house an extra 600 staff. We already have 420 employees at The Bailey site, but hope to be able to create around 600 new jobs.

"We have been able to invest in this new expansion simply due to the growth of the company."

Skipton Building Society is opening four more branches in the next two months, including one in Reading and another in London.

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