£180bn student loans company initiates Darlington recruitment drive with 150 roles available

Opportunities are opening up for local people as the Student Loans Company’s Darlington office is seeking to fill 150 positions in a significant recruitment drive.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has urged job hunters or those looking for a new challenge to take advantage of the chance to work for the organisation, which provides loans and grants to more than two million students annually.

It is seeking new recruits to join the 1,480 staff already based at Darlington’s Lingfield Point, the heart of the operations for the organisation, which boasts a total of 8.5 million customers and manages a huge loan book of almost £180bn.

Applications for current vacancies, which include positions for Customer Advisors and Case Handlers, will close on 30 April.

These roles include assisting individuals through their student finance journey by providing information, answering queries and processing student applications as well as being responsible for assessing and processing applications for eligibility and entitlement.

Darlington local, Danny Howell, 26 (pictured left), is currently studying for a Degree Apprenticeship in software development after joining the business in 2018. He said: “I really wanted to develop and build on my knowledge and skills but with family commitments I didn’t think that was an option.

“Doing an apprenticeship with SLC is the perfect arrangement. I’ve been able to return to education, developing myself in an area I am passionate about, while still earning a salary which my family relies on. If not for this opportunity, I wouldn’t have been able to afford a return to full time study as a conventional student.”

Mayor Houchen added: “The Student Loans Company is a vital organisation that helps to change people’s lives, helping students invest in their futures by going on to achieve through undergraduate and postgraduate study.

“It’s an institution that’s been backing the region and its people for years, with a proven track record of proudly supporting its staff and their personal and professional development. These are good-quality positions that will set people up for a lifetime career.”

Chris Larmer, executive director, operations from the Student Loans Company, concluded: “It was a pleasure to welcome Mayor Houchen to our Darlington site, which plays a vital role in processing student finance applications for around 2m students each year.”