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.
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.
Housebuilding In the North: Achieving Government Goals
Alan Boddy, Chief Executive of County Durham Housing Provider Livin, spoke at a joint Northern Housing Consortium and Campbell Tickell session looking at how organisations in the North can be major contributors to the government’s new homes goals.
Alan is currently Chair of the North East Housing Partnerships (NEHP) Regeneration, Development and Placemaking workstream, and Chair of Spennymoor Town Board. He is pushing forward the region’s housing ambitions through partnership working. He has been intrinsic in drawing together a regional schedule of further and faster sites for new homes.
Alan shared this work at the event. Below is Alan’s summary of his presentation:
How housing associations can contribute to housing targets
As a collective the NEHP owns more than 214,000 homes across the North East playing a crucial role in meeting housing need. Housing Associations operate in the right space and take a place-based community-led approach to providing additional homes, using existing supply chains to maximise the number of homes delivered for both rent and affordable home ownership.
Rooted in communities housing associations have a deep understanding of housing need and are delivering targeted solutions. They are looking at ways and means of regenerating existing low demand, poor quality homes, adding social value, as well as providing additional new homes.
Partnership working with local authorities and other stakeholders to build homes – including accessing different funding opportunities
In the North East the NEHP is working together to make the most of existing relationships. They are working together and not against each other.
A longer-term Affordable Home Programme (AHP) and an improved medium to long term rent settlement would provide greater certainty of funding. Joint ventures and partnerships, such as the NEHP, create greater potential for sharing risk and increasing development capacity.
NEHP registered providers are currently gearing up to work together to take advantage of recently announced government funding including the £500m AHP top-up, the Warmer Homes Social Housing Fund and additional funding to remediate brownfield land.
Housing association housebuilding strategies
Housing association’s strategies must strike the right balance between investing in existing stock and building new homes; focusing on affordability; and building energy efficient homes to reduce running costs and align with net zero goals.
Regeneration funding is needed to revitalise communities in the North. Regeneration funding without the prerequisite of additionality is essential for some communities.
He called on the government to urgently address the Right to Buy which is ‘crippling’ stock numbers. He also highlighted the need for longer-term investment in greener homes to avoid leaving a problem for the next generation to solve.
This is a blog is our Housebuilding in the North series. We plan on publishing more from the speakers of the sessions soon. You can watch the event on our website here.
Great culture and making an impact
Member engagement manager Satty Rai has been with us for over 17 years. She feels the NHC is the best it’s ever been. She is excited about her current role, supporting housing partnerships, which puts her at the heart of devolution.
What has been a highlight from your time at the NHC?
I have had many highlights throughout my time at the NHC, but if I had to select one that stood out, it would be the projects I am currently working on. I’m supporting Northern Housing Partnerships and providing the secretariat function. This has strengthened my own connections and knowledge of devolution; it is a very exciting time for me, NHC and our members.
How would you describe the culture at the NHC?
Positive, engaging, flexible and respectful.
What have you learnt while working at the NHC?
I have developed my skills in community engagement, including a deep sense of empathy and compassion. I like being able to work in a very agile way, it’s great to be able to respond to a changing landscape very quickly.
I’ve gained extensive knowledge of housing and regulation, project management and have thrived in a collaborative team environment which supports personal growth. Most important of all has been seeing and hearing how the work of the NHC and our members change communities for the better across the North.
What has changed at the NHC over the time you’ve worked here?
So much, including lots of new faces at all levels. The NHC has come a long way and is at its strongest position yet. We’re really bringing to the forefront the voice of housing across the north, raising awareness across government departments and influencing policy change. I’m pleased this work is making a real different to NHC members and northern communities.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy spending times with family and friends, trying to keep fit and I love a good audio book or podcast.
From holiday cover to a career she loves
Nicola joined our procurement arm, Consortium Procurement, in 2012, initially providing holiday cover. Now fast forward over 12 years and she’s still here, pleased to be part of the procurement family working as a Contracts Officer.
How would you describe the culture at the NHC?
Our strengths are targeted and supported by those in leadership roles who also make sure our work life balance is a priority. The work is meaningful and accommodating to our own individual styles.
What has changed at the NHC over the time you’ve worked here?
‘We can and we will’ – it’s impossible to mention just one as we continue to move forward and adapt to all that comes our way with such a way of thinking. The one change which impacted my own life the most was the agile working and its ability to allow me to adapt my work around helping my elderly parents.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love to cook, watch movies and binge watch series regularly – a little too much! Horror movies are my favourite with the old classics still being at the top of my list. My 20-year-old daughter likes them too but has me watch them with her during daylight hours on the weekend so they aren’t so scary – where’s the fun in that?
