Grampian Housing Association employee wins Rising Star category at Northern Star Business Awards 2024
Nicole Thompson, Neighbourhood Officer at Grampian Housing Association has been recognised as a future star who is destined for great things at the Northern Star Business Awards 2024
The awards are run by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce in association with Brodies LLP. In the Rising Star category nominations were sought for individuals who had made a significant impact on their organisation.
Carol Reid, Director of Customer Services at Grampian Housing Association said:-
“Nicole regularly goes over and above in her role of neighbourhood officer and in my view, she epitomises everything that an effective neighbourhood officer should be. Nicole ensures she is a “known face” to her tenants. She usually comes away from surgeries with a list of complaints and issues as long as her arm, but goes about solving them in her own creative way.
“I am delighted that her positivity and real “can do” attitude has been recognised through this award.”
One of Nicole’s tenants said:- “Congratulations and very well deserved it is too. You caught me as I was falling, caught me quickly enough to quite literally save my life. Your intervention and help in getting me noticed by all the correct organisations was, as I said, literally life-saving. You are a shining star, within an organisation that too is very willing to help its tenants.”
The Rising Star award comes on top of Nicole being voted by staff as Grampian’s Great Colleague of the Year in 2023, presented annually to the Association’s most inspiring colleague.
Nicole’s career has seen her working mainly in housing and social work environments. Her main highlight has been finding a career where she is able to feel daily job satisfaction, provide support to tenants facing various challenges and to learn and develop every day.
Nicole said:- “I have found a company I feel privileged and fortunate to be a part of and which works within the same values I look for in a job. What is important is the difference I can make to improve people’s lives by supporting them.”
The varying opportunities Nicole has had and the different people she has been able to support has enabled her to continue to fulfil her passion. Another was being on the children's panel where she found it incredibly rewarding to be in a position, out with work, to promote childrens’ voices and ensure their well-being and safety.
At Grampian Nicole has responsibility for a patch of approximately 485 properties in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. She organises her work ensure that tenants needs are at the forefront of her day and that she can be seen in her schemes on a regular basis. She reaches out to tenants how may not have been in contact before simply to check in and make sure they are coping well.
One of Nicole’s many successes was visiting a single parent who had lost their spouse. They had their own health issues and were in a very challenging situation, living with no food, electric or heating and was struggling to organise benefits and manage debts.
Nicole provided support to sort benefits, set up payment arrangements for debts, clean up the property, access support with electric and food costs and sourced clothing for the family.
GHA had been awarded £20,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund for its “Heat and Eat” initiative and was able to provide an air fryer and heated blanket as well as food parcels. This enabled the tenant to save on electric and for the family to cook meals together.
Grampian Housing Association and Barratt complete first phase of new affordable homes in Elgin
In a partnership with the Association and Moray Council, Barratt hands over the final affordable homes at its Findrassie, Elgin development
Tenants of Grampian Housing Association are happy to be receiving the keys and moving into their new energy efficient homes in the Findrassie area of Elgin.
The homes, which were officially handed over today (Wednesday 10 April 2024), are the latest to be developed by Grampian Housing Association in partnership with Moray Council and Barratt & David Wilson Homes North Scotland.
Gemma Russell, one of the new tenants said: “It has been great so far and has made a massive difference to my children. Having more space has improved relationships within the family.
“I had been waiting on more suitable accommodation for over two years due to overcrowding in my previous home. The area is really quiet, we are close to shops and easy access to the town centre. This move has had such a positive impact on all of our lives.”
Speaking about the handover of last new homes in this phase, Craig Stirrat, chief executive of the Grampian Housing Group said: “We aim to not just build great homes but also aim to ensure that our current and future tenants enjoy desirable, high quality places to live where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive and grow.
“We are extremely delighted to have worked with Barratt to deliver these impressive new affordable homes in this tenure neutral community of Findrassie.
“The homes represent Grampian’s ongoing commitment to the communities of Moray with one third of its 3,900 strong social rented property portfolio located throughout the area.”
This phase of 25 properties is designed to meet the diverse needs of the growing population of Elgin. It comprises of one detached house, 13 terraced houses and 11 wheelchair accessible bungalows which are a mix of two, three and four bedroom properties along with one five bedroom property.
The total scheme cost of £4.5 million attracted £2.39 million in grant from the Scottish Government with the balance funded by the Association.
The next phase, which is well under way ,comprises of 16 one bed apartments due for completion in Autumn 2024.
Scott Pettitt, technical director, Barratt & David Wilson Homes North Scotland, said:
“It is great to see this next phase of Barratt’s supply of affordable homes reach completion and be handed over to Grampian Housing Association. These new homes are high quality and have a strong sustainable focus, which reflects more accurately how we live today and how we will live in the future.
“The sustainable design, construction and placemaking we have built into the development are key to realising the Findrassie masterplan vision. We are incredibly proud of what we have delivered for our client, Grampian Housing Association and for the Elgin Community.”
Notably, Martin Rait, site manager Barratt & David Wilson Homes won a NHBC Pride in the Job “Quality Award” for this development.
Findrassie lies to the north of Elgin and is a new community surrounded by excellent facilities and a high-quality environment. The Findrassie landscape-led masterplan was the subject of a design forum review facilitated by Architecture and Design Scotland (A&DS). It reflects the traditional built form and open space of Elgin. It has also been categorised as ‘well-considered’ by A&DS with the partnership working between Moray Council and Pitgaveny Estates, the landowner and cited as ‘national best practice’.
Fiona Geddes, housing strategy and development manager, Moray Council said:
“Both Grampian Housing Association and Barratt & David Wilson Homes are valued partners in the delivery of new build affordable housing to help the Council to meet local needs.
“The completion of this phase of the development is welcomed as it provides an increase in supply of housing suitable for older people and people with disabilities who require ground floor accommodation. Larger family sized homes intended to alleviate overcrowding and homelessness have also been included.
“We wish households moving in, happiness in their new homes and hope they will become part of a vibrant new community.”
Grampian has a long-standing mission to provide new affordable homes across the North East of Scotland for social rent in high quality places to address the housing supply crisis.
GOALS - New centre of excellence for learning and development launched by Grampian Housing Association
The learning and development opportunities offered by Grampian Housing Association have been brought together in its new GOALS initiative.
Formally launched to staff this week, GOALS demonstrates the Association’s commitment to continuous learning by equipping and supporting colleagues to achieve career growth during their time with Grampian.
The latest colleague to benefit is Jessica Adams, Neighbourhood Officer who has been selected to participate in the GEM Programme. Jess will undertake the CIH Level 4 qualification whilst benefitting from wider mentoring and learning events to give real insight into the world of housing and the challenges it faces.
Chris Mathieson, head of people experience at Grampian Housing Association said:-
“GOALS, our new centre of excellence for learning and development demonstrates the Association’s clear commitment to develop and create opportunities for both our people and our tenants.
“For colleagues, lifelong learning and development provides new skills, experiences and qualifications which help navigate the world or work; motivating, encouraging and leading future learning all of which delivers enhanced service to tenants.
“GOALS also meets the needs of our tenants and highlights the life-changing impact which new learning, skills and qualifications can have on tenants, their families and their local communities through improving employability opportunities, household incomes and overall wellbeing. At Grampian, we encourage everyone to have goals because everyone matters.”
Opportunities for colleagues include the range of e-learning qualifications through the Association’s unique partnership with The Skills Network which offer
nationally recognised qualifications.
In addition, frontline colleagues are undertaking formal CIH qualifications to equip them to deliver the very best services to tenants and customers.
As part of the Association’s health and safety compliance all colleagues are undertaking WorkRite e-learning modules covering topics such as manual handling and lone working as well as in other areas of compliance such as preventing fraud and anti-money laundering.
The Association has two ILM qualified workplace coaches to help colleagues unlock their potential and shape future careers.
GOALS also encompasses exciting opportunities for tenants. As well as having access to The Skills Network to access free distance learning qualifications the Association has partnered with Skillzminer, a new employability tool and jobs platform, helping tenants who want to move to a new job, re-enter the employment market or access their dream job.
The Association’s tenancy sustainment services are there to support tenants if their personal or financial issues are holding back their learning and development ambitions.
Tenants interested in working for Grampian can take advantage of student placement and workplace opportunities. The Association also participates in the Kickstart Scheme with the Department of Work and Pensions offering short paid job placements to young unemployed people.
Rent increase 2024/25
This week we are sending emails/letters advising tenants about the 7.7% rent increase which will take affect from 1 April 2024.
Tenants were consulted on the proposed rent increase in December 2023 and the results are shown below.
'The Noise App' - 1 month trial
Starting today, Monday 22 January, Grampian Housing is running a 1 month trial of ‘The Noise App’.
‘The Noise App’ helps you record any persistent noise nuisance where you live and report it to your Neighbourhood Officer.
You can download ‘The Noise App’ for free via the App Store for iPhone or The Google Play Store for Android phones.
You will need to register and set up an account choosing Grampian Housing Association as your housing provider. Your request will be reviewed and if confirmed you can begin using the app and send recordings through.
Please note you must agree to terms & conditions when downloading the app.
For more details on ‘The Noise App’ visit https://www.thenoiseapp.com/#/
