I have worked in social housing for over 30 years, from Housing Management Trainee in Dudley, West Midlands, to many years in Housing Management. This was followed by Customer Services and 7 years in Business Improvement, focusing on process improvement, change and delivering Together Housing’s digital agenda. I have been a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing since 1993.
I’ve been aware of the great work Horton Housing do in the area for a long number of years. I know they offer a variety of services including providing housing, training, care and support to people with vulnerabilities. I consider it an honour to be asked to contribute to Horton’s continued success.
I have led significant digital, change and transformation projects, such as improving the customer digital offer and redefining Together Housing Group’s digital strategy. My work in data and the application of AI has helped establish THG as a leader in the sector.
I am strongly committed to customer service, with experience in setting up and enhancing customer service centres. I always make sure that customers remain at the heart of decision-making and service delivery.
I think my biggest skill is my ability to get to the core of an issue and to translate often complex information and relay it in its simplest form. I’m a big believer in the power of an analogy.
One of my interests is football – I have been a Huddersfield Town season ticket holder for too many years! I am a qualified football coach and I’m currently coaching a local women’s football team.
I also enjoy music, especially live (taking advantage of the great Piece Hall) and cycling with a bit of assistance from an e-bike (you need a bit of help with my dodgy knees and the hills around here!).
Whether it’s social housing or football, I love being part of a team that is working together to achieve a common goal. I believe the if individual skills are recognised and nurtured, the whole can be worth more than the sum of it parts and achieve great things. I hope to play my part in helping Horton achieve its goals for its customers and learn new skills along the way.
I would say I am a practical, pragmatic, down-to-earth, plain-speaking Yorkshire man. I have a strong sense of place and community and enjoy applying my skills gained from over 34 years in social housing to build and develop these. On an individual basis I have strong emotional intelligence and empathy with a wide variety of people. I have an inner core of resilience, perseverance and ‘”bounce-backability”. Finally, and to cut through some of this formality, I do have a sense of fun and believe laughter is a good medicine in many circumstances.