About Colne

The Chief Executive has been in post for 16 years. In that time, Colne has grown in all areas and has diversified with great success. It continues to operate and compete well in a difficult environment and has remained a top quartile performer in many key areas. This is only possible with a committed and passionate leader. The Chief Executive is very visible and is accessible to all staff. He remains close to the heart of the business, which is all about delivering additional homes and providing excellent services. He delivers a consistent message or support and encouragement, backed up by a detailed knowledge of the business and individuals' roles in it. Currently, the Eastern region National Housing Federation representative, he gives Colne a national profile despite its size and area of operation. In particular, the Chief Executive allows and encourages managers and staff to train and develop, to pursue their particular interests and grow their roles as, in turn, Colne grows and develops.

Colne offers health insurance for staff pre April 2012, with all new staff now offered Health care cash plan as part of its benefits package. Other benefits include payment of the cost of eye sight tests and a contribution of £75 per annum towards new glasses when needed, 50% or £15 monthly payment towards gym membership, provision of a 'fruit day' once a week for all staff, annual flu jabs, bicycle loan for members of staff who wish to use a bike to attend meetings. Colne appointed a health champion in 2010. This has produced regular email briefings from the health champion on a range of issues from healthy eating to managing stress. Staff were also offered a free health check as part of a Health and Well being roadshow it hosted in September 2013, which included tests for cholesterol, measuring blood pressure and individual advice on healthy lifestyles following completion of a questionnaire. Between January and March 2013, Colne also arranged a virtual walk to one of the charitable organisations it provides a payroll service to, Recycle, whose bicycles are shipped to South Africa, with the winning team being awarded with vouchers for a treatment at the local health spa. The local ACE partnership, has also attended staff meetings in the past 12 months and provided presentations on alcohol awareness, healthy eating and stress awareness and coping mechanisms. Colne also has detailed personnel policies for managing stress, including the option of referral to, and funding of, counselling and support services.

Colne is a community based, not for profit organisation. In additions to its core activities of providing and managing good quality homes, Colne has also invested in the local community in a variety of ways - the most innovative and effective of which is the Colne Community Builder fund. Originally set up in 2009, the fund uses money gift aided to Colne by its development company, Iceni Homes, to help support local voluntary groups and projects.