This week is #NationalCareersWeek and I caught up with Stephen who shared his thoughts on his career at Hightown.
1. What led you to choose a career in Housing?
I first joined Hightown on the graduate scheme. This was a really great way to gain a good understanding of what working in Housing involves. Before I came across the scheme, I hadn’t considered it as a career. It wasn’t spoken about at school or at careers fares, but it is such an important part of our society. I’ve always felt strongly about playing a part to combat homelessness in society, so working for a housing association really appealed to me. I also live in a shared ownership property through another housing association, which piqued my interest and I have enjoyed learning about the other side of the coin.
2. How would you describe your career at Hightown?
The graduate scheme helped me to learn about how all the different departments work individually and together, which has really helped me strengthen my understanding of the Association and personal development.
I enjoyed my placements across all the departments during my first year on the graduate scheme. One thing I enjoyed about Home Ownership was being given real responsibility for managing a small patch of 200 properties from the start. In the second year of the graduate scheme, I chose the Home Ownership team as one of my six months placement and I was given a larger patch which I again enjoyed. This prepared me with great experience to become an Assistant Home Ownership Officer in April 2023. The assistant role was a great stepping stone before becoming a Home Ownership Officer in September 2023. This was a much faster transition than I had anticipated!
I feel proud of myself that I made these transitions in such a short space of time. I am so grateful to Hightown and the Home Ownership team that they have this pathway for the graduates and the support which comes with it. Prior to starting at Hightown, I was working in a supermarket and wasn’t sure where I wanted to go career wise. All I knew was that I didn’t want to stay there!
3. What do you enjoy about your job?
I enjoy helping people. Whether it’s with current residents who are staircasing to own more or all of their property, helping residents to sell their home or helping applicants to purchase their homes. There’s a wide variety, but I enjoy it all!
4. What would you say to someone considering a career in Housing?
A career in Housing is a great thing to pursue. You meet so many different and interesting people and you make a real difference to people’s lives. There are so many positives of working in Housing. Hightown really care about helping you succeed.
