Almost 20 years in finance at the NHC
We spoke to Yvonne Surtees from our Finance Team about her time at the NHC and how the culture and focus on wellbeing makes it a great place to work.
What is your job title and how long have you worked at the NHC?
I started working for the NHC over 19 years ago as a Finance Assistant. In my early career the NHC supported me with my studies and helped me achieve an AAT Accounts and Payroll qualification. With experience and knowledge gained at the NHC I progressed my career to Finance Officer, and then on to Finance & Payroll Manager.
How would you describe the culture at the NHC and what has changed in the time you’ve worked here?
The flexibility the NHC offered when I first applied for the position was a big draw as I had a young family. As the years have gone by the NHC has become more flexible with agile working and has implemented the wellbeing programme promoting work/homelife balance – as well as mental and physical wellbeing. The wellbeing group arrange regular walks and other various activities during works time, this helps provide a good balance.
Our executive leadership team are approachable and supportive to all staff members and for me personally this is a high priority from my employer. Promoting positive and safe environment and allowing staff to be part of the corporate plan and core values really helps bring the workforce together.
Leading the NHC’s HR and wellbeing work for almost 20 years
We spoke to our HR and Wellbeing Manager, Kay Wiseman, about how she has developed her career at the NHC and some of her highlights.
What is your job title and how long have you worked at the NHC?
I have been with the NHC for over 19 years and started my career as an Administrative Assistant. As the NHC expanded, an opportunity arose for me to pursue a career in human resources and with the support of the NHC I gained a master’s in human resource management, and I am now HR and Wellbeing Manager.
What has been a highlight from your time at the NHC?
I have had many highlights throughout my time with the NHC, the most recent was with the help of our staff led wellbeing group we achieved the Gold Better Health at Work award which recognised the NHC’s commitment to promoting health and wellbeing to colleagues and our members.
How would you describe the culture at the NHC?
The NHC has a positive, flexible, and supportive culture with employee health and wellbeing at its core. The agile approach to work really helps me and my family’s needs.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work I like to spend time with family and friends, I also enjoy walking and going to the gym.
NHC responds to £300m Affordable Homes Programme top up announcement
The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) has welcomed the £300m Affordable Homes Programme top announcement but flagged the urgent need for a new longer-term fund.
Chief Executive of the Northern Housing Consortium Tracy Harrison said:
“Many of our members have reported that the £500m top up announced in the Autumn Budget was running out, so this extra £300m of funding is welcome news. With housing waiting lists growing fast in the North and over 12,000 households living in temporary accommodation we desperately need more social housing.
“However, we need a longer-term affordable homes programme to be announced as soon as possible, ideally as part of Chancellor’s statement on 26th March. The affordable housing development process is complex, and our members say it normally takes two to three years from obtaining a grant agreement from Homes England to completing a development. The lack funding certainty over the next few months risks identified sites not being progressed and puts government housebuilding targets at risk.”
The government announcement also features plans to:
- £50 million increase to the Local Authority Housing Fund to provide homes for those in need of better-quality temporary accommodation.
- Crack down on exploitative behaviour by rogue and criminal supported housing landlords – further details are expected shortly.
NHC joins Housing Minister and Business Secretary for discussion on planning reform
Our Chief Executive Tracy joined a roundtable discussion on reforms to the planning system with Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds MP and the Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook.
Tracy emphasised that the North is open for business, highly collaborative, and ready to help the government achieve its growth missions – including building 1.5 million homes. She also stressed the importance of a new Affordable Homes Programme being bigger to deliver on the government’s new homes target and structured in a way that delivers maximum benefits to northern communities. This includes provision for regeneration to tackle housing quality alongside homelessness, and devolution of funding so it can be targeted where it’s needed most.
In December, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) having consulted on reforms to the planning system earlier in the year. You can read our response to the consultation here.
The government ministers also confirmed that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would be introduced in the coming weeks.
Long Term Plan for Housing Roundtable
Our Executive Director of Policy and Public Affairs Patrick Murray attended a roundtable hosted by the National Housing Federation and Chaired by senior MHCLG civil servants, to discuss the Long Term Plan for Housing.
Patrick highlighted that devolution is a real opportunity to deliver on housing ambitions and that the North is ready to work collaboratively to ramp up delivery. He also said that housing-led regeneration should be central to the Long Term Plan for Housing, and that funding should be made available to support this.
Update on Awaab’s Law – Improving the quality of social housing
The Government has confirmed the timeline for the implementation of Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector, with the first set of changes to be introduced in October of this year.
The following measures will be introduced in a phased approach:
- From October 2025, social landlords will be required to address damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm to tenants, within fixed timescales. Timescales were put forward in the consultation but are still to be confirmed. They will also have to address all emergency repairs, whether they relate to damp and mould or any other hazard, as soon as possible and within no longer than 24 hours.
- In 2026, requirements will expand to apply to a wider range of hazards beyond damp and mould. We expect additional hazards will include excess cold and excess heat; falls; structural collapse; fire, electrical and explosions; and hygiene hazards.
- In 2027, the requirements of Awaab’s Law will expand to apply to the remaining hazards as defined by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), excluding overcrowding. The full list of hazards can be found in schedule 1 of the HHSRS (England) Regulations 2005.
Chief Executive of the NHC, Tracy Harrison, responded to the Government statement saying:
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to providing tenants and landlords with the necessary guidance to implement these important changes. We all share the same commitment to resident safety and housing quality. We will work with the government and the housing sector to make sure these new requirements are practical and achievable.”
Next steps
We’re waiting for the Government’s full response to the 2024 consultation, alongside the precise timings of each phase and further detail on guidance to support implementation.
The NHC will work with our members and the Government to contribute to the implementation of the measures.
The Government’s announcement comes following the conclusion of the Awaab’s Law consultation last year which the NHC responded to with input from our members.
NHC Spending Review response – regeneration alongside longer term funding and more local control priorities for the North
Building on extensive engagement with members and Government, we have submitted a detailed response to His Majesty’s Treasury’s call for feedback on government spending priorities ahead of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Our response sets out the role of housing providers in the North in unlocking economic growth and supporting the Government to deliver real change. It highlights the unique opportunities and challenges for members and communities in the North.
Our submission covers the importance of:
- Housing-led regeneration as a priority for the North, alongside investment in new and existing homes.
- Introducing longer term funding with more local control and flexibility, which builds on the North leading the way with devolution and genuinely enables delivery across different housing markets.
- Giving local and combined authorities the right resources to make a difference.
- Supporting social housing’s role in making Britain a clean energy superpower
Chief Executive of the Northern Housing Consortium Tracy Harrison said:
“The social housing sector in the North is ready to act. We sit at the heart of devolution and have a strong track record of collaboration. We can go further and faster in our bid to tackle the housing crisis, and deliver economic growth, with the right support from the Government.
“Housing quality is a big issue in the North, affecting the health and wellbeing of thousands of Northerners, particularly in the private rented sector. Regeneration must be at the front and centre of government policy, alongside building new homes. Our spending review submission calls for a dedicated funding stream of £1.37 billion over 5 years for place-based renewal, alongside continuing flexibility in a new Affordable Homes Programme to support regeneration.
“Our members are regulated on the quality of their homes and their service to customers so rightly must prioritise finite resources to these areas. This means that long term funding for improving existing homes and places will unlock more investment and capacity for building new homes.
“The spending review should embrace recommendations in the English Devolution White Paper and deliver more local control of funding. The North is leading the way with devolution and ‘one size fits all’ centralised funding pots often do not meet the diverse needs of Northern communities. The Government should also review how it measures value-for-money to capture the widest possible social and economic benefits and unlock more delivery in the North. We have also strongly advocated for local authorities to receive the right level of investment to take a leading role in tackling the housing crisis in their area.
“Housing Partnerships across the North have fed into and supported our spending review submission. If Government wants to make quick progress on its housing priorities, working with the NHC and our members will unleash established partnerships that are ready and willing to deliver on the government’s housing and growth agendas.”
The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced this summer and will set budgets departmental budgets for future years. In the run up to this we will continue to engage with politicians and civil servants highlighting how the housing sector in the North can work in partnership with the Government to achieve shared objectives.
You can read the full response or our executive summary here.
If you would like to discuss this submission further or be part of follow up work contact:
Patrick Murray, NHC Executive Director Policy & Public Affairs
Email: patrick.murray@northern-consortium.org.uk
The Northern Housing Consortium spending review submission has been backed by the Housing Partnerships across the North. A big thank you to:
- Greater Manchester Housing Providers
- Liverpool City Region Housing Associations
- North East Housing Partnership
- South Yorkshire Housing Partnership
- Tees Valley Housing Partnership
- West Yorkshire Housing Partnership
- York and North Yorkshire Housing Partnership.
