I was at Forum 3, the big not-for-profit recruitment fair, and came back all fired up about how we need to work harder to get new people into the sector. I then read a piece saying as much in this week’s Housing Today!

You're right. I met so many people there, bright, young, enthusiastic, prepared to ditch good jobs and work for low pay so they could “make a difference”. And they were being turned away by housing associations who said they didn't have enough experience.

I thought about what we were looking for: good people skills, natural communicators, empathy for others, customer focus, fit with our values. How much of that do you get from just having done the job before?

Initiatives like the Bright Futures campaign (CiH, NHF, Housing Corp) are helping, but ill count for nothing if associations fail to offer people jobs. We need to be realistic about what skills are essential and what can be trained, and give people the breaks they need. We need to be shouting loud and proud about how great it is to work in housing is.

Una Buckley, senior communications officer Servite Houses

Source

Housing Today