The chief executive of Skipton Building Society has pledged to develop its district employment as part of a plan to build on the company's national success.

John Goodfellow said his predictions for the coming year, following a hugely profitable 2005, were positive.

And he said the head office in Skipton was a major employer and a contributor to the company's achievements.

"We want to try to develop that business in Skipton," he said.

He said the company had no radical plans, but instead aimed to meet targets by continuing in the same vein.

"We will continue to do what we do now and do it better and to do more of it in driving the business forward," he said.

Mr Goodfellow attributed the achievements of the building society, which is the most profitable in the UK, to strong products and good subsidiary companies.

"We have got a range of businesses, and if you look at each one of these they have had an outstanding year," he said.

The Skipton Building Society has 79 branches across the UK. The company's results were announced yesterday, as reported in the Telegraph & Argus.