About Housing Solutions Group

A Management Development Project team has been established, and the “How to Succeed and Grow Management Development programme” was launched in November 2010 and ran until November 2011. The programme involved monthly management modules, project work and individual learning. Twenty-one people managers graduated in November 2011 and seven of the graduates have been promoted to more senior management positions since embarking on the programme. Since the HSG programme commenced, they are now holding three times as many disciplinary hearings and standard setting meetings. Although this is not something that they want to see continuing to increase, it is a good indicator that managers are confidently dealing with under performance. A second HSG programme was launched in September 2012.

A central feature of their CSR programme is designed to help their residents get off benefits and into work. To achieve this they introduced a Business Start-up training programme for residents who were keen to start their own business. The Course was designed to give residents the skills, confidence and the support to start their own business. The programme was run in partnership with the Aspire Foundation, a charity that works to unlock the potential of people who’ve often been written-off by society. It was funded as a Big Society Initiative by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM), as it was seen locally as something that would deliver lasting social impact for people who are currently relying on benefits. In June 2012, Fifteen unemployed residents graduated from the 12 week course with business plans in place to start their own business. At a Dragons Den style presentation, at their graduation ceremony, in partnership with the RBWM, the graduates were awarded grants and possible contracts totalling nearly £8,500 to help them get their businesses going. The money will be used to help buy essential equipment and pay for insurance and training. The range of businesses that will be created by the graduates includes a craft shop, dog walking business, ironing businesses, maths tutoring and photography. Plans are in place to run a second course in 2013. Residents have said that the Business Start-Up training has changed their lives.

In addition to the annual pay review in 2011 they replaced their Corporate Bonus with an individual recognition scheme. This is a scheme whereby individual excellent performance or excellent demonstration of company values is recognised by the line manager. Line Managers have access to a budget to reward staff members who have gone the extra mile, for example those who may have helped out another team, provided outstanding customer service or delivered above and beyond the expectations of their role. To say “thank you” the manager may give them a bottle of wine, bunch of flowers or something more specific.