Inside Housing: Regional Focus North West
Jeff Taylor, Business Director at Hays Social Housing, comments:
From a recruitment perspective, the social housing sector in the North West appears to be weathering the uncertainty in the economy well and there are still many opportunities available for both temporary and salaried workers across the North West region. For example, a number of ALMO organisations in the area have transferred over to fully-fledged Housing Associations, such as in the city of Salford, and changes such as these often create a range of opportunities for workers in the sector.
According to a recent survey by the CIH, one in two housing professionals is reporting an increase in demand for social housing as a result of the downturn in the economy which is putting increasing pressure on an already stretched social housing sector. As a result, the NHF has welcomed a report by the Communities and Local Government Committee which calls for a major increase in the availability of rented housing for people on low incomes.
According to the NHF, waiting lists for social housing in the North West have risen faster than any other region. To meet the heightened demand for social housing, the NHF have predicted that the region will need 4,000 new social homes each year, which should create opportunities for workers of all professions, and are calling on the Government to honour their commitment to invest in the sector.
2010 Decent Homes
There is still plenty of work to be done on improving the standards of existing social housing in the area if the 2010 Decent Homes deadline is to be met. The amount of work taking place on Decent Homes projects has generated a number of jobs in the area and there is also a demand for skilled and experienced workers from other sectors too. In general, all professions are sought after; however, housing officers, tenant liaison officers and housing assistants are particularly in demand.
Hays Social Housing is also currently receiving a high number of applications in response to online job vacancies – reflecting the ongoing trend of using the internet as a key tool in finding work or finding future employees. In terms of the skills demanded by employers for these positions, regardless of role, the ability to interact with tenants and be empathetic with their situation is still deemed the most valuable.
Salary Levels in the Region
Perhaps as a result of fluctuations in the economy, salary levels in the area have generally levelled out over the last six months and seem set to remain at the same level for the immediate future. A housing officer in the North West can expect to earn up to £23,000 and, at a more senior level, a housing manager can expect to earn anything up to £35,000. Specialist non-generic Housing Management roles are always challenging to resource for, for instance Homelessness Officers, so there are plenty of opportunities for workers in these areas.
Environmental concerns have been another a key issue in the sector over recent months. The Existing Homes Alliance is currently campaigning to reduce the impact of existing social housing on the environment. The growing awareness of the responsibility of the industry to reduce carbon emissions and make social housing more environmentally friendly may well lead to an increase in demand for industry professionals with experience in this area.
For further information, please contact Jeff Taylor on 0161 236 3221.
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