We are delighted to announce that Northern Group has won Best Brand to Work For at the Creativepool Annual 2026 Awards.
The Creativepool Annual brings together leading brands, agencies, creative companies and industry professionals to celebrate some of the best work and businesses from across the creative industry.
For Northern Group, being recognised as Best Brand to Work For is particularly special because we’re proud to have built a team of friendly, reliable and passionate industry experts who represent the brand and our values incredibly well.
Building a business around our people
Founded in 2008, Northern Group has grown into one of Manchester’s recognised property brands, with nearing 50 people working across property management, residential and commercial lettings, sales, investment and property development.
While the business has changed significantly over the years, our belief that great businesses are built by great people has remained the same.
We don’t see culture as a perk or an initiative, it's something we work on every day. From how teams collaborate and communicate to the opportunities available to employees, we want Northern Group to be a place where people can build careers they’re proud of, so creating the right environment for them is an important part of building the business.
At Northern Group, we provide feedback, find solutions and take ownership of our work. As an SME, our people have the opportunity to make a visible difference, work closely with senior leaders and see how their contribution impacts the wider business.
We want Northern Group to be a place where people can build careers they are proud of, while helping us continue to build a property brand known for expertise, professionalism, excellent service and a different approach to the industry.
Opportunities to grow
One of the benefits of working across such a diverse property business is the range of opportunities available to our teams.
Employees can gain experience across different areas of the business, including residential and commercial lettings, property development, , marketing, finance, maintenance and operations. This creates opportunities to take on new challenges and explore different career paths.
We’re also proud to promote from within wherever possible, with many of our managers and senior leaders having started their careers in more junior positions across operations, property management, finance and marketing.
Professional and personal development is an important part of this. Our team are encouraged to pursue industry qualifications, including ARLA PropertyMark accreditation across our lettings and management teams and AAT qualifications within our accounts team, alongside role-specific training and ongoing CPD.
We also invest in practical, on-the-job development. Managers work closely with their teams to build knowledge skills and confidence, while cross-department learning allows employees to understand more about the wider business. There’s also opportunities where applicable to attend networking events and industry events for our staff to continue developing knowledge and skills.
As Northern Group continues to grow, our teams are able to take ownership of projects, contribute ideas and see the impact of their work across the wider business.
A culture that brings people together
For us, a strong workplace culture is about creating an environment where people feel supported, trusted and able to be themselves.
Our teams work closely across departments, sharing knowledge and collaborating on projects every day. Our property management team works alongside lettings to provide a smooth experience for landlords and residents, while finance, maintenance, marketing, development and operations all contribute to the wider customer experience together.
Being together regularly is an important part of our culture. We have daily meetings, monthly one-to-ones and an environment where managers and senior team members are accessible for support and guidance. While some flexibility can be arranged depending on individual roles and circumstances, we believe there is real value in face-to-face collaboration and the relationships that develop from working together.
We also make time to celebrate outside of our day-to-day work, with team socials including Northern Group's spring and autumn events, summer and Christmas celebrations, and trips abroad to destinations including Malaga and Marrakech alongside our sister company, Colony.
Recognition is another important part of our culture. We believe people should feel valued for the contribution they make, so we regularly celebrate individual and team achievements across the business.
These relationships and experiences are part of what makes the Northern Group brand feel like Northern Group. Our brand isn't just how we present ourselves externally, it's how our people interact with each other and with the customers and communities we work with every day.
Supporting our people
Creating a great place to work also means recognising that our employees have lives outside of work.
We aim to support a healthy work-life balance through flexibility where possible, a culture built on trust and open communication, and an approach that recognises the different circumstances of our people. Our city centre office is based in Ancoats, with parking included, putting our teams at the heart of one of Manchester's most established property and business communities.
Wellbeing is also an important focus, our benefits include a monthly wellness voucher, enhanced annual leave that increases with length of service, employee discounts and access to Colony events, alongside regular team and social activities.
Proud to be a Best Brand to Work For
Winning Best Brand to Work For at the Creativepool Annual 2026 Awards is a fantastic recognition of the environment our team has helped create.
It reflects the combination of opportunity, ambition, trust and community that we want to define the Northern Group experience.
As we continue to grow, our commitment remains the same, to create a workplace where talented people can develop, contribute, feel valued and enjoy the journey along the way.
Interested in becoming part of the Northern Group team? As a growing business, we’re always on the lookout for talented individuals with a passion for property.
Explore our current vacancies and upload your CV, or if you can’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to email your CV and covering letter to recruitment@northerngroup.co.uk.