Foreword
The best partnerships come when both sides are completely bought-in to a set of shared goals.
That’s why it’s always a pleasure to work with organisations in the housing sector.
Castle Peak is a little over a year old, and in that time we’ve had the pleasure of working with a set of clients from the housing sector and with each of them I’ve felt that they just instinctively ‘got it’.
As an executive search firm focused on how organisations can embed diversity and inclusion, we sometimes find we have to guide clients to show why they should go beyond the standard recruitment approach for board and exec team roles, but with housing they are often already well on their way.
The sector is naturally rooted in the communities it serves, and recognises the need to reflect them in its leadership.
What’s especially heartening is that it remains true, even as the sector faces some significant challenges – that’s why we’ve titled this paper ‘progress under pressure’, because that’s what’s happening.
As we get to know our clients, it’s fascinating to see how they approach diversity in their organisations – how efforts are led, what specific programmes look like, what benefits they see as a result.
Conversations with the sector across the last year left me with a feeling that – although there was a long way still to go – housing was ahead of the curve on diversity and inclusion, and there were things that were going on which were worth understanding better.
This research looks to gather some of that information and share some insights on how housing sector organisations are going about creating more inclusive environments.
Through speaking to a set of industry leaders, including a number of our clients, we’ve taken the temperature of the sector, looking to understand the current situation, plans for the future and efforts across elements like the use of data, fostering a positive culture, and creating a pipeline of board talent.
