Over thirty years of friendship at the NHC for Lynda

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When Executive Assistant Lynda Redshaw joined the Northern Consortium Do the Bartman from the Simpsons was topping the charts and John Major had been Prime Minister for a matter of months. She joined as a part time secretary thirty-three years ago and was one of only three people who worked for the organisation.

Lynda has seen the NHC transform into what it is today and is a fountain of knowledge, she’s the ‘go to’ person if there’s something you’re not sure about!

Where did you start your career?

I started work at Lumley Castle working in the office and taking banquet bookings. I then went to the English Industrial Estates Partnership (now Homes England) followed by working at Chester Le Street District Council where I was a shorthand typist and secretary for the Chief Technical Officer. It wasn’t until I was at NHC that I started using a computer rather than a typewriter!

What was NHC like when you started?

It was a lot smaller than it is today, there were only three of us. Now the organisation is so much bigger and higher profile. When I joined the focus was mainly on group meetings, and we were just starting to branch out into training and had a small procurement offering.

What have been your career highlights at NHC?

I’ve been involved with so many different projects, I used to love organising the Hitex Housing and IT exhibition. It was really useful for members to come along and evaluate different software companies. I’ve become an expert in coordinating office moves, I’ve done it six times! I also love organising the bursary lunch – it’s aways a special occasion and a real highlight each year for me.

What’s kept you at the NHC?

I’ve made lifelong, special friends at the NHC, and have shared so much laughter. I’ve been a mother figure to the younger people in the office and have been known as ‘Work Mum’ (or the office dragon for my gatekeeping skills!).

NHC is a lovely company to work for and support from work friends has really kept me going during some tough times. This especially the case now I’m a carer for my husband.

I’ve celebrated my 40th, 50th and 60th birthdays at the NHC and am looking forward to celebrating my 70th here!

 

 

Lord Callanan meets NHC members ahead of SHDF Wave 3

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The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) held a member’s roundtable with Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, to discuss the proposals for the latest wave of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). This was part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s continued engagement with the sector about SHDF funding.

The Minister and department officials were joined by a wide representation of the NHC’s membership, from local authorities, housing associations and ALMOs. The North has been leading the way on improving social homes and is ambitious to do even more to make homes warmer, more energy efficient and more affordable to heat.

Wave 3 is set to be the biggest funding pot yet with around £1.2bn announced between 2025-2028. DESNZ outlined that key changes have been made based on sector feedback and lessons learnt. For Lord Callanan, flexibility was the key word of the meeting, giving recipients more control over how they apply for and access funds. The hope is that more flexibility on funding will lead to an increased scale of delivery and contribute to strengthening skills and supply chains. DESNZ officials will be closely monitoring to see if changes lead to added value through long term certainty, area-based delivery, and more low carbon heating.

Members were also interested in practicalities of how funding requirements will work with on the ground delivery. Applications for funding are expected to open this summer, with work expected to begin in February 2025. The department will look to extend the application windows and lead in times to give the sector ample time to carry out assessments and set out their plans. Since the roll out of SHDF, NHC has set out how greater long-term certainty from Government is needed. Longer term funding commitments will allow the sector to increase delivery and build the much-needed supply chains required to decarbonise the country’s housing stock.

Many thanks to Lord Callanan and his team for engaging with Northern Housing Consortium members. We look forward to working with members as part of Wave 3.