Ref:PRHPG036                                                                                 Date: 5 December 2024

Long-standing chair of Housing Plus Group set to retire

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Housing Plus Group has announced the retirement of its board chair, Steve Jennings.

After seven years of dedicated service, he is stepping down as the organisation prepares to merge with the Wrekin Housing Group.

Guiding the Group during a period of significant expansion resulting from a previous merger shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic, Steve's unwavering support helped it stay true to its values.

Throughout a period of rapid change,which included the successful integration following the merger and a series of pandemic-related lockdowns that had a significant impact on colleagues and customers, he helped to build a strong, dynamic and responsive organisation.

Steve championed performance improvement and encouraged more involvement from customers while creating an ambition around engaging groups and individuals in our care and housing services.

He has also played a key role in negotiating the forthcoming merger to ensure the creation of a stronger, more resilient organisation that will benefit customers, employees and the wider community.

Sarah Boden, Chief executive, Housing Plus Group, reflected, "With Steve's visionary guidance we have been able to create a strong, dynamic and cohesive culture to benefit our customers, their homes, lives and the communities we serve.

"As a former chief executive himself, Steve inspired us to draw together as the HPG family, with the customer experience at our core, developing a shared culture across our people and our governance arrangements.

"We wish to thank Steve for being a powerful advocate for our customers and services and for leaving behind a legacy of positive change."

Steve Jennings commented, "It has been an honour to serve as chair of the Housing Plus Group and work alongside such dedicated fellow board members, colleagues and customers. I wholeheartedly thank them for their support and hard work,which has enabled us as ‘one team' to achieve so much.

"I am confident that the new Housing Plus Group will be stronger and better able to address future housing challenges, provide quality services and be a highly influential presence across Shropshire, Staffordshire and Telford and Wrekin. I wish the new merged organisation every success for the future."

The formal merger is expected to take place in January 2025 when all the legal and regulatory requirements have been completed, at which time The Wrekin Housing Group will become part of the new Housing Plus Group.
 

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Housing Plus Group has announced the retirement of its board chair, Steve Jennings. 
 

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Background for editors

Housing Plus Group is a leading provider of homes across a range of tenures, to meet identified housing needs. We also deliver regulated care services and technology-enabled support to help people live independently in their own homes. We offer rewarding careers for around 1000 colleagues, many of whom live in the communities we serve.

We are focused on building a resilient organisation providing even better services for customers and are inspired and guidedby our values: Communication, Learning, Accountable, Respectful, Inclusive, Trust and You.

Following recent significant growth and change at Housing Plus Group, we are delighted to have been recognised with 1 Star accreditation by Best Companies, reflecting very good levels of workplace engagement and a great place to work.

Our dedicated and diverse colleagues are critical to our success. We value our people and offer them challenging and worthwhile careers providing a sense of achievement in a vital sector. It is important that we offer opportunities to inspire our people to help us to make a positive difference to our customers' homes, lives and communities.

Our Group comprises: Homes Plus, Care Plus, Property Plus, Severn Homes and County Town Homes. More information can be found at:www.housingplusgroup.co.uk

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) requires that all registered providers confirm compliance with the Regulatory Framework, Governance and Financial Viability Standard. Housing Plus Group complies with this standard, holding the RSH highest rating for governance, G1 and V2 for viability. Please visit www.gov.uk to find out more.

Further information  

Mara Hargreaves  
Head of marketing and communications
Housing Plus Group   
Mobile (p): 07967 967 466
mara.hargreaves@housingplusgroup.co.uk

Ruby Davies
Marketing and communications officer
Housing Plus Group 
Mobile:07485 922776
ruby.davies@housingplusgroup.co.uk

Martin Farrow
CHANGEWORKS Communications
Mobile: 07771 970025
mfarrow@changeworkscom.co.uk