Why they won - full details of the Women in Housing Awards 2019 winners

LESLEY BURROWS, THE CALICO GROUP

• As chair of Calico, Lesley has overseen a transformation in its size and scope
• Lesley’s strong leadership skills and compassion have contributed to the formation of partnerships
• A passionate and determined advocate for the sector, Calico, and its customers and staff

Lesley was born on a Calico Homes housing estate and her relatability and sincere compassion shines through in her work. She began working with The Calico Group in 2009, and eight years ago became chair.

Since then, the group has gone from having no development programme to building 550 new homes in the next three years, and from a group of two organisations employing 300 staff to the group’s current structure of seven companies employing more than 900 people. Lesley’s strong leadership skills and genuine compassion have contributed to this success.

Lesley is incredibly supportive of others and manages the role of chair without any ego. This creates an environment which builds confidence in others, encouraging all involved to seize opportunities and deal with challenges in an open and transparent way.

Her passion and enthusiasm for The Calico Group and for the staff and customers is infectious, and Lesley adds a monumental amount of energy and commitment to the board.

“Lesley’s support and encouragement has enabled Calico to be successful over an extended period, inspiring us, individually and as a collective, to be the best that we can be,” says Anthony Duerden, chief executive of The Calico Group.

The judges said

“Lesley is purpose-driven and single-minded, and she is giving a lot back to the place where she herself grew up. We thought she’s the sort of woman we would really like to meet”

This category was judged by

Barbara Brownlee, executive director of growth, planning and housing, Westminster City Council

Polly Neate, chief executive, Shelter

Colette McKune, chief executive, ForViva

MARGARET WILKINSON, ACCORD HOUSING ASSOCIATION

• A 40-year career typified by Margaret’s commitment to community-led planning
• She has helped thousands of residents play an active part in regenerating their neighbourhoods
• Through her expertise and compassion Margaret has built an exceptional reputation sector-wide

Margaret Wilkinson has worked for the Planning for Real (PFR) unit – a nationally recognised community planning process – for almost 40 years. The process allows residents to register their views on a range of issues, to work together to identify priorities, and in partnership with local agencies go on to develop an action plan for change.

Margaret works internally with Accord teams, but also across the sector as a whole, providing consultation for commissioners, including other housing associations and local authorities nationwide. She works independently and therefore single-handedly keeps PFR alive. Margaret’s reputation throughout the sector is exceptional; she is highly regarded and relied upon for her knowledge, expertise and compassion.

She has helped thousands of residents throughout the UK to play an active part in the regeneration of their neighbourhoods and the development of their communities. Her aim is for every project to empower local residents so that they are fully involved in the process of change, their voices are heard and they have an active role to play.

Margaret is celebrating her 70th birthday this year but, fortunately for Accord, has no plans to retire.

The judges said

“Margaret has shown a huge commitment over 30 years working with tenants and communities on Planning for Real, and her approach to community empowerment is a powerful example to others”

This category was judged by

Raj Patel, chief executive, Housing Diversity Network

Terrie Alafat, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing

PROPERTY PLUS

• Housing Plus Group’s repairs and maintenance team is committed to improving diversity
• Applications from women, BAME and LGBTQ communities have increased as a result
• These changes have gone down well with clients, too; the team has a satisfaction rating in the high 90s

The skills gap in the construction industry is worsening and the risks of labour shortages post-Brexit is a real concern for the sector. Compounding the problem is the widest gender imbalance of any industry, where less than 14% of workers are women.

Property Plus has acted decisively, initiating an ambitious programme of change to recruit and develop a workforce reflecting the demographics of its customer base and safeguarding its future as a sustainable social enterprise. The result is a significant reduction both in gender imbalance and the gender pay gap, as well as a workforce with a broader age profile and more diverse composition.

Property Plus has successfully increased applications from women, and from BAME and LGBTQ communities. Individual development plans have supported an improved representation of women in supervisory and management positions, while family-friendly working policies ensure parents can optimise their career prospects. Women are now represented in every core area of operation in Property Plus.

The changes have proved popular with customers. Satisfaction ratings are consistently in the high 90s, with specific praise expressed about the presence of women operatives.

The judges said

“We liked the breadth of their commitment and clear focus on diversity. Offering higher-level qualifications including degree level is unusual, and requires a high level of investment by the organisation”

Highly commended

Women in Construction project, Celtic Horizons

This category was judged by

Melanie Leech, chief executive, British Property Federation

Denise Fowler, chief executive, Women’s Pioneer Housing

BACKUP

• A charity with a 90% success rate in moving young people into sustainable housing
• Launched a fundraising campaign last year based on Our House by Madness (with the band’s support)
• The resulting video was very well received, and resulted in a sizeable jump in donations

BACKUP was established in 1992 as Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme. This charity offers accommodation for 100 young people aged 16 to 25 at any one time and provides support linked to all manner of needs and risk to more than 350 young people every year through eight projects, seven of which are residential.

BACKUP has a 90% success rate in moving the young people it helps onto secure and stable housing. But the support offered by BACKUP also enables its clients to reduce their debts, gain employment and improve their mental health, as well as tackling domestic abuse, offending, substance misuse and more.

In 2018, the charity changed its name to BACKUP and launched a marketing campaign to help raise its profile.

As part of the campaign, the charity got in touch with the band Madness for permission to use their song Our House. This was granted with all fees waived, and BACKUP used it in a music video to promote its services.

The video has been viewed more than 30,000 times. It received excellent feedback and has boosted local recognition of the BACKUP brand. Last year, the charity’s fundraising income increased from £50,000 to £66,000.

The judges said

“The judges felt this was simply a brilliant project that is totally relevant to one of the big issues of the day. A worthy winner”

This category was judged by

Jim Strang, chief executive, Parkhead Housing Association, and president, Chartered Institute of Housing

Stacey Dingwall, policy lead, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

TANZEEM AHMED, POPLAR HARCA

• A refugee herself, Tanzeem today champions women from marginalised communities
• She fights for racial equality and helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Her employment and training team puts 250 people into work and 300 into training every year

Tanzeem arrived in the UK from Uganda as a refugee with very little. Racism was at its height in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the UK, and as a young Asian woman Tanzeem faced it first-hand. This was just one of the challenges that has helped to shape her into a resilient and compassionate woman who champions women from marginalised communities.

Tanzeem has a strong history throughout her career of championing race equality and meeting the needs of disadvantaged people in the social housing sector by leading award-winning projects. Today she leads Poplar Harca’s employment and training team and her achievements have gone above and beyond.

In just over five years, Tanzeem has established a team that consistently puts over 250 people into jobs and gets more than 300 people into accredited training every year – and has managed all this with a small team and a very limited budget.

What makes her stand out from the crowd is her desire to work with those who are farthest away from employability and find them sustainable jobs. She manages the team on a shoestring budget, yet achieves many times more than employment organisations with triple the resources.

Note: Tanzeem’s award was collected on her behalf

The judges said

“Tanzeem has worked with a range of community groups and her contribution is recognised across London. She has had a huge and wide impact over many years and is recognised for delivering results”

Highly commended

Joanne Tilley, EMH Group

This category was judged by

Raj Patel, chief executive, Housing Diversity Network

Terrie Alafat, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing

Sponsored by

STONEWATER ASIAN WOMEN'S REFUGE, STONEWATER

• This project helps women with no access to public funds who are fleeing domestic abuse
• The team has developed a new system to help these women based on strong professional relationships
• The project has a 100% success rate in helping clients gain indefinite leave to remain

The Stonewater Asian Women’s Refuge, which opened its doors in 2008, was created to meet the specific needs of South Asian women and children fleeing domestic abuse.

Women and children from South Asia who are fleeing domestic abuse and with no recourse to public funds are extremely vulnerable due to their immigration status. They are not entitled to any statutory support, leaving them at high risk of homelessness and destitution.

Stonewater has developed a new system to help these women towards a goal of independent living. It has built relationships with many professionals, including an immigration specialist who works pro bono. Staff have adopted a proactive role in this process and share the workload of collating evidence from all key professionals to support each woman’s application for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) status. They ensured the professionals were aware of the evidence requirements from the referral stage, and redesigned their referral forms to ensure that they aligned with this new process.

This innovative approach has resulted in a 100% success rate for applications for ILR, meaning that all of these women and children now have an opportunity to live a safe and independent life, rather than being faced with the stark choice of destitution or abuse.

The judges said

“Stonewater has taken a courageous, innovative and replicable approach to empowering women who cannot access support – in part through challenging other professionals to deliver services in a different and expanding way”

Highly commended

Safespots, Wythenshawe Community Housing

This category was judged by

Raj Patel, chief executive, Housing Diversity Network

Terrie Alafat, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing

Sponsored by

HYACINTH FOSTER, HOMES FOR HARINGEY

• Hyacinth established Project 2020 in 2012, in response to the London riots of 2011
• Last year, Hyacinth and her team helped 66 residents find work
• An inspiring and positive advocate for some of the most vulnerable groups in society

Hyacinth Foster runs an initiative called Project 2020, which was launched in 2012 in response to the riots that took place across London in 2011. The hub was initially set up to engage and support young people aged 16 to 24 that were not in employment, education or training. Since then, the project has widened its offer to help all residents in Haringey.

Hyacinth is a real inspiration to her team, colleagues and other staff. She leads by example and is always focused on excelling in all that she does. In 2018/19 Hyacinth and her team helped 66 residents into work, and assisted 81 young people aged 10 to 19 to participate in a wide range of activities.

She supports a group of 15 hard-to-reach women back into work by running a coffee morning and offering them employment support.

When Hyacinth’s name is mentioned, people understand that there will be action and a positive result. Her passion for her work has been commended by colleagues within Homes for Haringey, the local council and partner organisations – as demonstrated when she was named manager of the year at Homes for Haringey’s staff awards last year.

The judges said

“Hyacinth has demonstrated a commitment to working with some of the hardest-to -reach groups, with lots of examples of creative approaches and impact. We liked her mentoring and support for other women. Inspirational”

Highly commended

Julia Pitt, London Borough of Croydon

This category was judged by

Raj Patel, chief executive, Housing Diversity Network

Terrie Alafat, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing

HELEN ROURKE, MANNINGHAM HOUSING ASSOCIATION

• Helen oversaw a transformation in fortunes during her first 18 months in the post
• A true leader, respected and held in high esteem by both her colleagues and board members
• As well as its governance and financial strength, Helen’s drive has changed Manningham’s culture

Helen is director of finance and company secretary for Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association. She joined Manningham at a very difficult time and at a point in its history where a lot of people might have shied away. The organisation had been downgraded to a G3 (non-compliant rating) for governance and a V2 for viability.

Within 18 months of her arrival the regulator had regraded the organisation to a V1 – the top rating. Helen achieved this through her determination to see the organisation become a success again.

She encountered some tough challenges along the way,
from having to restructure what had been an all-male finance team that had been in place for more than 20 years to build a team that had a good blend of skills and experience and with better female representation.

Helen is a true leader who inspires confidence and respect among her colleagues and is held in high esteem by the board. She has the ability to bring people along with her in a positive way and her team love her. Helen has not only transformed Manningham’s finance team; her personality, behaviour and values have been a terrific force in helping change Manningham’s culture, too.

Helen’s award was collected on her behalf

The judges said

“Helen stepped up to the plate when others may have hung back. Her financial skills are clearly fantastic and are aligned to exceptional people skills. This has enabled her to turn around the performance of her association”

This category was judged by

Melanie Leech, chief executive, British Property Federation

Denise Fowler, chief executive, Women’s Pioneer Housing

HANNAH HARVEY, SAFFRON HOUSING TRUST

• Hannah has delivered strong results and put customers at the heart of her organisation
• She mentors other housing professionals and helps charities, too
• Hannah is also a role model for busy working parents everywhere and for the LGBT community

Hannah is executive director of operations for Saffron Housing Trust. Front and centre during her progressive career have been her results, her ability to juggle community, charity, personal and corporate priorities, and the pride she takes in mentoring and supporting others. As a working mum with four children, including her son who has a disability, her energy and commitment to others is humbling.

During her first six months at Saffron, Hannah has halved letting times and transformed the approach to involving customers in the business. As leader of an ambitious transformation programme, meanwhile, she is driving cultural change with her energy and positivity.

Bob Walder, chair at Saffron, describes Hannah as having made an immediate positive impact, creating a new corporate plan, driving a change agenda following a challenging time and making the organisation accountable to customers.

Involving, engaging and inspiring others is part of Hannah’s DNA, and this can be seen through the cultural shift she has driven at Saffron, her mentoring work with other housing professionals and how she mobilises people to deliver charitable and social goals. She also somehow finds time to run marathons and coach a local junior football team.

The judges said

“Hannah delivers impressive results for the business while undertaking a range of external activities such as mentoring, charity work and volunteering – all while juggling significant family commitments. She is a role model and an inspiration”

Highly commended

Jitinder Takhar, Local Space

This category was judged by

Nicola Dibb, executive director and founder, WISH (Women In Social Housing)

Gina Amoh, chief executive, Inquilab Housing Association

CHARLOTTE HERRING, ONE HOUSING

• Charlotte has transformed a failing ASB service into a high-performing, resident-focused unit
• Her work on raising awareness of domestic abuse and safeguarding has changed lives
• Her leadership style has changed the organisation’s recruitment and culture for the better

Charlotte has been with One Housing since May 2017 and has rejuvenated a failing anti-social behaviour (ASB) service into a committed, performing operation that puts residents first.

She has developed a domestic abuse and safeguarding service and has changed the way One Housing works, including its internal approach towards community safety. She has also ensured that residents have been at the heart of every decision and service improvement.

Charlotte is creative, innovative and uses a wealth of resources to deliver high-quality results. She always deals positively with challenging situations and can be relied upon to go above and beyond.

Thanks to her internal blogs and awareness-raising around domestic abuse, One Housing staff members have come forward who have been or are victims of domestic abuse and have been directly supported by Charlotte.

One of those members of staff now represents her team on the One Housing domestic abuse forum for frontline staff, which Charlotte set up to ensure colleagues have a say in how the service is run and what support One Housing can offer.

She is a visible, inspirational and motivating leader, and a role model to others.

The judges said

“Charlotte has mainstreamed safeguarding, and particularly domestic abuse, into the work of her housing team. Her leadership style attracts talent to the organisation and has had a massive impact on its culture”

This category was judged by

Pritti Allen, head of communications, EMH Group

Clarissa Corbisiero, director of policy and external affairs/deputy chief executive, Community Housing Cymru

Alison Inman OBE, chair, Broadland Housing Association

LAURA TUTTON, ORBIT

• Laura has driven vast improvements to Orbit’s void turnaround times
• She has been instrumental in revolutionising Orbit’s customer inspector process
• She is always willing to go the extra mile for the organisation and her colleagues

Within her role as Orbit’s area maintenance manager for all Midlands void properties, Laura has helped to enhance Orbit’s ‘void standard’ while working to reduce the organisation’s average minor voids turnaround by two days and its major voids by four days over the past two years.

But throughout a career spanning more than a decade, Laura has been a part of multiple projects at Orbit, all of which have looked to improve the lives of her customers and give them homes they can be proud of. It is no secret that she is absolutely committed to the housing sector.

What makes Laura stand out at Orbit is the support she offers to the wider business, without ever being asked. No matter how high her own workload is, if Laura is asked a question she will always endeavour to find an answer, knowing that in the diverse world of housing it is essential that all business areas help each other to, in turn, help its customers.

Laura’s contribution to Orbit and the housing sector has been nothing short of exceptional. Despite working within a male-dominated environment, Laura is one of the loudest voices at Orbit; she is always looking at ways to improve internal processes and deliver better experiences for her customers.

The judges said

“We were impressed with the breadth of Laura’s impact across the entire organisation. Laura demonstrated she could run a good-value and effective service and the application shows a connectivity that deeply impressed the judges”

Highly commended

Natalie Palmer, Metropolitan Thames Valley

This category was judged by

Pritti Allen, head of communications, EMH Group

Clarissa Corbisiero, director of policy and external affairs/deputy chief executive, Community Housing Cymru

Alison Inman OBE, chair, Broadland Housing Association

DIGITAL INCLUSION TEAM, CLARION HOUSING GROUP

• An all-woman team that has made a real difference to the lives and skillsets of thousands of people
• The team has had an extremely busy year, with multiple achievements under their belts
• They have consistently demonstrated values such as empathy, flexibility, courage and resilience

This team is made up of a multi-talented and diverse group of women of different ages and from a variety of social and ethnic backgrounds. They have worked together – and with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders – to enable thousands of Clarion residents to acquire digital skills to help improve their lives and employment opportunities.

The team has accomplished a number of significant and exceptional achievements in the past year, which have made a huge impact on the lives of Clarion’s customers.

These include working with supplier and community partners to deliver more than 3,800 hours of digital skills training to 1,700 learners; running a digital champion volunteer programme that has supported nearly 800 people; and establishing a digital skills training programme.

As one of the service users who has benefited from the latter puts it: “Coming to this centre and using the services from learning the computers, to getting help with a DBS check and extra support from staff, it made me a very independent and confident woman. Since coming to this centre all doors have opened for me.”

The judges said

“The benefits of this team’s approach are well evidenced. Diverse team members have demonstrated creativity and innovation, and the culture of the team working together shines through”

This category was judged by

Raj Patel, chief executive, Housing Diversity Network

Terrie Alafat, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM, GALLIFORD TRY PARTNERSHIPS

• This team was nominated based on its outstanding contribution to its parent organisation
• The team designed, wrote and delivered a new and well-received website
• The team raised £90,000 – against a target of £50,000 – for World Child Cancer in a fundraising campaign

Few teams can have had such a dramatic impact on a major business in such a short space of time. Reflecting on where this organisation’s internal and external communications were a little more than a year ago, and comparing to where they are now, is miraculous.

The team’s impact on the business has been dramatic; in less than a year, Galliford Try Partnerships has developed a major presence in relevant media and is regularly visible at conferences and events, while internal communications systems have been put in place to ensure the company’s 950 employees are up to speed with its strategy and direction. The sheer volume of new practices put in place in the past 12 months is remarkable.

Two achievements particularly stand out. First is the development, design and creation of Galliford Try Partnerships’ first ever independent website; the comms team developed the creative concept for the new website, produced all of the copy and managed its delivery. Reactions to the new website have been outstanding.

Secondly, the team has developed Galliford Try Partnerships’ first charity of the year: World Child Cancer. The team co-ordinated and managed a 12-month fundraising campaign, raising more than £60,000 – well above their target.

The judges said

“This team has shown an impressive use of communications to promote their organisation but also to drive cultural change, including encouraging women in construction and housing – and with a strong focus on social value activities, too”

This category was judged by

Nicola Dibb, executive director and founder, WISH (Women in Social Housing)

Gina Amoh, chief executive, Inquilab Housing Association

THE NAOMI PROJECT, OASIS COMMUNITY HOUSING

• A committed and exceptional team who are helping turn around the lives of vulnerable women
• As well as a home, this project provides opportunities for its clients through local partnerships
• The Naomi Project successfully housed 20 women in the past year alone

Eight vulnerable young women live at the Naomi Project at any given time, supported by a core team of five dedicated staff. Founded in 1984, the Naomi Project was the start of what is now Oasis Community Housing, a Christian charity that responds to homelessness and its causes.

The young women who live at Naomi Project are often fleeing domestic abuse or coming from foster care, and frequently have poor mental health.

But when they come to live at the project, the staff team go above and beyond to win their trust and make them feel safe, so that they can process the trauma they have lived through and rebuild their lives. Together they make sure that Christmas is Christmas, attend parents’ evenings for any of the young women in education, put on a weekly Sunday lunch and help the young women to fulfil their potential.

Residents are offered a safe home, counselling, and then given as much opportunity as possible, through the project’s links to local colleges, community centres and The Prince’s Trust. The project has housed 20 young women in the past year, with the vast majority achieving positive move-ons.

The judges said

“This project really wowed the judges. We felt the warmth of the team shine through the application and their commitment to supporting people to turn their lives around. It doesn’t get any better than this”

This category was judged by

Pritti Allen, head of communications, EMH Group

Clarissa Corbisiero, director of policy and external affairs/deputy chief executive, Community Housing Cymru

Alison Inman OBE, chair, Broadland Housing Association

COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION TEAM, LONDON BOROUGH OF BARKING AND DAGENHAM

• This team has driven a 122% increase in homelessness preventions in Barking and Dagenham
• It has also supported 658 asylum-seeking families
• The team worked across the council to ensure tackling housing insecurity is everyone’s responsibility

The homelessness prevention team’s mission is to resolve early, place homelessness in every conversation, and make addressing housing and homelessness concerns the responsibility of everyone within the wider council and in the community.

The team is comprised of Katherine Gilcreest (head of service), Lauren Stretch (service manager), six relationship managers and 16 frontline officers. Almost all staff in this team are women.

At a time of unprecedented pressure on local authorities’ housing and homelessness services – Barking and Dagenham has seen a 97% increase in homeless approaches over the past year – this homelessness prevention team has delivered real progress; in its first year, the number of homelessness preventions in the borough has increased by 122%.

The team has also been instrumental in engaging and inspiring others across the whole organisation, to ensure addressing housing insecurity is the responsibility of everyone, regardless of service area. This means homelessness and housing options are now placed front and centre of all customer journeys, and everyone plays their part in preventing homelessness.

Joined-up working like this helps keep people in their own homes, providing individuals and families with the platform from which to address other challenges in their lives.

“This team is delivering exceptional results in the face of a decade of cuts. The judges loved that the team really embraced prevention and supported the whole of the authority to make prevention a priority”

This category was judged by

Pritti Allen, head of communications, EMH Group

Clarissa Corbisiero, director of policy and external affairs/deputy chief executive, Community Housing Cymru

Alison Inman OBE, chair, Broadland Housing Association

Sponsored by

LOREBURN HOUSING ASSOCIATION

• A small housing provider with an outsized level of ambition and drive
• An inclusive approach to recruitment and existing employees has driven transformational change
• Two-thirds of Loreburn’s workforce is female, as is its CEO and three-quarters of the management team

Loreburn Housing Association is a small organisation with 120 staff – but its ambition and drive are of a different order of magnitude. This is a truly inclusive employer that embraces equality and diversity; 66% of the workforce is female; more than half of its managers are women, as are Loreburn’s chief executive and three-quarters of its executive team.

Loreburn’s employees describe it as a fun and inspiring place to work. This provider holds triple Investors in People awards and offers its staff generous terms and conditions, a range of benefits such as private healthcare and away days, as well as various training and development opportunities.

It hasn’t always been like this, however. In 2015, Loreburn emerged from a period of regulation, and describes its journey since then as challenging but rewarding. This has included a modern and strategic review of the organisation’s vision, values and key objectives alongside a major transformational change programme.

Today, Loreburn continually seeks the views of its workforce and implements their suggestions. Employees were recently offered the opportunity to take part in the business’ strategic planning process, for example. Loreburn now enjoys a reputation for valuing its staff, and for being a progressive employer which puts innovation at the forefront of all it does.

The judges said

“This organisation has gone through a tough period; not only has it come through this, it has managed to create a genuinely new and dynamic business in the process”

This category was judged by

Jim Strang, chief executive, Parkhead Housing Association, and president, Chartered Institute of Housing

Stacey Dingwall, policy lead, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

MARIUM BEGUM, POPLAR HARCA

• Marium’s determination to help older leaseholders and non-native English speakers has changed lives
• She has been integral to improving relationships with the Bangladeshi community
• Thanks to Marium’s work, residents with financial problems now contact Poplar Harca for support

Marium Begum is a collections officer with a mission: to educate residents to help them tackle poverty and increase their financial resilience.

She is an example of how putting the customer at the heart of service helps resolve longstanding arrears by recognising the need for extra support and the challenges many residents can face. Marium is committed to supporting Poplar Harca’s most vulnerable, and volunteers her time and skills to the wider community. She has been integral in building relationships with the Bangladeshi community and uses her bilingual skills, supportive nature and knowledge to build trust with this under-represented community.

As one example, Marium visited an older leaseholder who owed Poplar Harca more than £7,000. This person was extremely vulnerable and lonely, with ill mental health. Marium visited her weekly over a three-month period, even assisting with housework and shopping. Over the months Marium became her trusted confidant and convinced her to open up to the idea of accepting support and advice. The resident’s situation has been resolved as a result.

Put simply, more residents who are struggling financially now keep in touch with Poplar Harca. Marium’s approach to income management has made a significant difference to vulnerable homeowners and has improved her employer’s financial performance.

The judges said

“Marium has made a tangible difference to a group of residents who were previously isolated and very vulnerable. She has gone above and beyond to inspire changes that wouldn’t have happened without her”

This category was judged by

Barbara Brownlee, executive director of growth, planning and housing, Westminster City Council

Polly Neate, chief executive, Shelter

Colette McKune, chief executive, ForViva

KIMBERLEY WHEATLAND, SOVEREIGN

• Kimberley has turned her life around with hard work, commitment and enthusiasm
• She has made a passion for carpentry a career – and has undergone a personal transformation, too
• Kimberley is also a determined and vocal ambassador for women in a trade environment

Kimberley is a big fan of carpentry. She’ll talk enthusiastically about it when you meet her and on social media: “Hung this door today!” is a typical online post. And she has even shared that enthusiasm with housing minister Kit Malthouse. But just two years ago, Kimberley – or Kimmie, as she is known – was in a very different place.

In her mid-20s, Kimmie found herself struggling with depression. She was looking for a new focus. She had always loved carpentry but nobody seemed willing to give her the chance she needed – that is, until she applied for Sovereign’s adult learners programme.

Armed with pictures from her home carpentry project, she impressed everyone with her passion for carpentry and working with wood, and with how much she wanted the opportunity.

Kimmie has grown into the role, developing both her skills and confidence. She is now a fantastic ambassador for women in a trade environment, sharing her story and speaking enthusiastically about women in trades to anyone who will listen. Kimmie joined Sovereign as a reserved 20-something, shy and unsure of herself; today she is an energetic spokesperson, proud of her work and committed to promoting women into trades.

The judges said

“Kimberley’s personality and pride in her work shine through. She is a fantastic example of a woman achieving in a traditionally male occupation, who clearly rises to every challenge with huge positivity”

This category was judged by

Barbara Brownlee, executive director of growth, planning and housing, Westminster City Council

Polly Neate, chief executive, Shelter

Colette McKune, chief executive, ForViva

Sponsored by

CAROLINE McGROGAN, FORTEM

• Caroline is a valued and trusted leader, easy to get on with and extremely professional, say her peers
• She is dedicated to supporting women on her team to gain skills needed to advance their careers
• Her leadership is characterised by inspiring and supporting her staff, fostering real team spirit

As general manager of Fortem Cares, Caroline is both an expert in her field and somebody who truly cares. “She’s a whirlwind – a driving force,” says Laura Murphy, central support manager at Fortem, who has worked with Caroline for four years. “She’s achieved great things – and she wants the people around her to achieve great things, too.”

Being approachable is important to Caroline. “When I first became a manager, I told myself I was always going to speak to people honestly,” she says. “If you’re open and sincere, people react to you positively.”

For Caroline, leadership is about inspiring and motivating others, and bringing a team together. Every month she gathers her team, as well as its subcontractors and representatives from housing provider PA Housing, for a ‘toolbox talk’. This is when she passes on feedback from happy customers and fills everybody in on their collective performance.

As one of Fortem’s three female general managers, Caroline is keenly aware of the need to support the 14 women on her team to gain the skills and experience they need to move forward. As she explains: “I want everybody to be able to get on with their roles in the best way they can, so we can achieve what we need to as a team.”

The judges said

“Caroline is a pioneer in a part of the industry where only 2% of trades are female. She’s a role model; we need more women in construction and more women like her in particular”

Highly commended

Sarah Maylor, Curo

This category was judged by

Barbara Brownlee, executive director of growth, planning and housing, Westminster City Council

Polly Neate, chief executive, Shelter

Colette McKune, chief executive, ForViva

EMMA WEBB, THE FERRY PROJECT, CHORUS HOMES, PART OF PFP

• Emma’s story is inspirational – starting as a cleaner, she now manages a team of 10
• Despite being confronted with personal challenges, Emma’s dedication to her job has never wavered
• She has personally supported more than 500 people in moving back towards independence

Emma is from Wisbech, the most deprived town in Cambridgeshire with some of the lowest levels of educational attainment in Britain. Emma joined the Ferry Project, a small homelessness charity, as a cleaner in April 2008, and quickly demonstrated that she had skills. She became a casual support worker, a night worker and then a full support worker.

In 2015 she started to manage the team on her support shift; in 2017 she became support team leader, managing a team of six, and in January this year she became support and employment manager. She manages a team of 10, who together support around 1,000 people a year who are either homeless or unemployed.

It became clear that Emma’s son had health problems while he was in primary school. It took several years to diagnose the issue. During this time Emma was working full time supporting homeless people and fighting for her son to get the best possible treatment.

Through all these personal difficulties, Emma has given herself fully to her work supporting single homeless people. She has shown care, compassion and dedication to her clients; under her care they grow and become independent. She is a truly remarkable woman.

The judges said

“Emma’s story inspired us with her sheer determination in overcoming personal difficulties and working her way up from a first job as a cleaner to become an inspiring manager. She’s a true inspiration”

Highly commended

Sarah Hernandez, Derventio Housing Trust

This category was judged by

Barbara Brownlee, executive director of growth, planning and housing, Westminster City Council

Polly Neate, chief executive, Shelter

Colette McKune, chief executive, ForViva

ANNE HINCHEY, WALES & WEST HOUSING

• Anne has transformed service delivery since becoming WWH’s first female chief executive
• Under her leadership, WWH has achieved Investors in People’s platinum standard
• Anne is a tireless advocate for women in housing and for the communities she and her organisation serve

Since becoming the first female chief executive at Wales & West Housing (WWH) in 2006, Anne Hinchey has absolutely focused on what really matters – the 22,000 residents living in WWH homes.

She has designed an operating model that puts residents at the heart of everything the organisation does. She has replaced traditional ways of working with a demand-led approach, leading open, honest conversations which find out what matters to residents rather than shaping services from a cost perspective.

Her thought for residents can be seen everywhere, whether in doubling WWH’s development programme to build 1,500 more homes in the next three years; driving a £35m investment programme, employing local contractors to make WWH homes cheaper for residents to heat; regenerating deprived Welsh communities; or putting money back into communities to support residents.

Doing the right thing is at the heart of everything Anne does. She is generous with her time and in sharing her knowledge. Her door is always open to anyone wanting advice or support and she empowers all her staff to be the best they can be – to grow and develop within the organisation.

Anne is one of the country’s greatest ambassadors for women in housing.

The judges said

“As her application and testimonials demonstrate, Anne is clearly a very strong and inspirational leader”

Highly commended

Elena Whitham, East Ayrshire Council

Sponsored by

SUE SHIRT, STONEWATER

• A visionary and innovative leader who has inspired countless individuals throughout her career
• Sue is dedicated to providing opportunities for colleagues – especially women – to thrive
• Sue’s leadership in the aftermath of last year’s Novichok poisonings was especially impressive

Sue is executive director for customer experience at housing provider Stonewater. Her achievements in a male-dominated world are even more remarkable because she has climbed the career ladder while bringing up two children, largely as a single parent, often leaving her struggling to make ends meet.

Sue is a passionate champion of social housing, dedicated to making a difference and opening up opportunities for customers and colleagues. Her vision, drive and ambition have propelled her to progressively more influential roles but her humanity, zeal and commitment remain unchanged. She never loses sight of her beginnings, approaching challenges with down-to-earth pragmatism, compassion and empathy.

Over the past year Sue has proved herself to be a caring leader and force to be reckoned with in extreme circumstances when Stonewater tenant Charlie Rowley fell ill and his partner Dawn Sturgess died in June 2018, after coming into contact with the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury. Sue immediately stepped up to assess what support the community needed and ensured it was delivered, while arming herself with detailed information the authorities might need.

At one point, Sue worked up to 60-hour weeks and made regular eight-hour round trips. She was the first Stonewater representative to enter the affected homes when handed back – as she never asks others to do something she won’t.

The judges said

“The leadership that Sue showed in the aftermath of the Novichok poisoning in Salisbury really resonated. She led by example, putting herself in risky situations and not expecting her staff to do anything that she wouldn’t do herself”

Highly commended

Diana Charman, PA Housing

This category was judged by

Pritti Allen, head of communications, EMH Group

Clarissa Corbisiero, director of policy and external affairs/deputy chief executive, Community Housing Cymru

Alison Inman OBE, chair, Broadland Housing Association

Sponsored by

Inside Housing gathered a panel of knowledgeable, inspirational judges to go through the entries and sift out the very best for the Inside Housing Women in Housing 2019 shortlist.

Entries in each of the 22 categories were assessed by a group of judges relevant to the achievement being recognised, who narrowed them down to a shortlist of finalists. The winners of each category were announced at a ceremony at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on 10 October.

The judges, who are leaders in their fields, met to debate the shortlist before selecting the winners.

Terrie Alafat, chief executive, Chartered Institute of Housing

Pritti Allen, head of communications, EMH Group

Gina Amoh, chief executive, Inquilab Housing Association

Barbara Brownlee, executive director of growth, planning and housing, Westminster City Council

Clarissa Corbisiero, director of policy and external affairs/deputy chief executive, Community Housing Cymru

Sasha Deepwell, chief executive, Irwell Valley

Nicola Dibb, executive director and founder, WISH (Women In Social Housing)

Stacey Dingwall, policy lead, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Denise Fowler, chief executive, Women’s Pioneer Housing

Alison Inman OBE, chair, Broadland Housing Association

Melanie Leech, chief executive, British Property Federation

Colette McKune, chief executive, ForViva

Polly Neate, chief executive, Shelter

Raj Patel, chief executive, Housing Diversity Network

Jim Strang, chief executive, Parkhead Housing Association, and president, Chartered Institute of Housing

Sally Thomas, chief executive, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Inside Housing’s Inclusive Futures campaign aims to promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion.

We are pledging to publish diversity audits of our own coverage.

We are also committed to proactively promoting positive role models.

We will do this through the pages of Inside Housing. But we will also seek to support other publications and events organisations to be more inclusive.

Our Inclusive Futures Bureau will provide a database of speakers and commentators from all backgrounds, for use by all media organisations.

We are also challenging readers to take five clear steps to promote diversity, informed by the Chartered Institute of Housing’s diversity commission and the Leadership 2025 project.

Click here to read more or to sign up for more information

THE INCLUSIVE FUTURES CHALLENGE

Inside Housing calls on organisations to sign up to an inclusive future by taking five steps:

Prioritise diversity and inclusion at the top: commitment and persistence from chief executives, directors and chairs in setting goals and monitoring progress.

Collect data on the diversity of your board, leadership and total workforce and publish annually with your annual report. Consider gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, age, and representation of tenants on the board.

Set aspirational targets for recruitment to the executive team, board and committees from under-represented groups.

Challenge recruiting staff and agencies to ensure that all shortlists include candidates from under-represented groups.

Make diversity and inclusion a core theme in your talent management strategy to ensure you support people from under-represented groups to progress their careers.

THE CASE FOR CHANGE

34%

of housing association chief executives are female

1%

of housing association executives have a disability

1.6%

of housing association board members are LGBT

Women make up 46% of the UK workforce, but Inside Housing research found that they are under-represented on housing association boards (36%), executive teams (39%) and among chief executives (34%).

Almost a fifth of working-age adults have a disability (18%), yet associations reported only 1% of executives and 4.5% of board members with a disability. Many were unable to provide details.

Nationwide, 14% of the working-age population come from a BME background, climbing to 40% in London and Birmingham. Yet our research found that 6.8% of board members identified as BME, compared with 4.5% of executives.

Statistics on representation of LGBT people in the workforce are in short supply, but official statistics suggest that 2% of the total UK population identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, rising to 4.1% for 16 to 24-year-olds. Our survey found that 1.6% of board members and 10 executives were LGBT – but most organisations were unable to provide figures.

Click here to read the full research

INSIDE HOUSING’S PLEDGES

We will take proactive steps to promote positive role models from under-represented groups and provide information to support change.

We pledge to:

Publish diversity audits: We will audit the diversity of the commentators we feature. We will formalise this process and publish the results for future audits twice a year.

Promote role models: We will work to highlight leading lights from specific under-represented groups, starting in early 2018 with our new BME Leaders List.

Launch Inclusive Futures Bureau: We will work with the sector to compile a database of speakers, commentators and experts from under-represented groups. The bureau will be available to events organisers, media outlets and publications to support them to better represent the talent in the sector.

Take forward the Women in Housing Awards: Inside Housing has taken on these successful awards and will work to grow and develop them.

Convene Inclusive Futures Summit: Our new high-level event will support organisations to develop and implement strategies to become more diverse and inclusive.

The media plays a key role in championing diverse role models, so we designed a project to measure Inside Housing’s track record.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE RESULTS