WELL done Nationwide! The building society has published its best ever results, with pre-tax annual profits increasing from £168m to £677m.

Nationally, this could be seen as an indicator of better times ahead – Nationwide is a major financial institution and good news such as this can at the very least give the country a much-need confidence boost.

But locally, this means so much for Swindon. Nationwide is the town’s largest employer, with a workforce of 6,500, and the company has quite rightly been quick to praise to part staff have played in achieving this result.

Swindon, like the rest of the country, has had a difficult few years. The problems at the once thriving Honda car plant are well documented, and we have reported with depressing regularity job losses at firms large and small around the town.

So when a big player like Nationwide announces a four-time increase in profits, it should give everyone a boost.

Chief executive Graham Beale said: “Our excellent financial performance shows Nationwide has emerged from the financial crisis in better shape then ever. Looking ahead we will maintain the strength of our business while investing to support future growth.”

Those words ‘future growth’ gladden the heart – such confidence hasn’t been experienced for a long time and Nationwide’s results indicate Mr Beale is quite right in predicting a brighter future.

As much as anything, Nationwide is a company Swindon can be proud of – for looking after its staff and, as a mutual building society, looking after its members, and helping people establish some sort of foothold on the property ladder.