A new horizon for Progress

Published by lpriest for Progress Housing Group in Housing and also in Communities

The Leyland-based Housing Association that helped make housing history with one of the first voluntary transfers of housing stock in the country will this month seek a new Chairperson.

Philip Jones, Chair of Progress Housing Group, is starting to look forward to his retirement from the Group next year. In preparation for this Philip is ensuring that the Group recruits a new chair early so that they can pick up where he leaves off and drive the Group forward to new heights.

Progress Housing Group, owns and manages over 9,000 homes. As well as owning 6,000 homes for social rent, it also owns and manages a further 3,000 homes for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs making it one of the UK’s largest supported housing providers. In addition, it also manages a women’s refuge, purpose-built schemes for people facing homelessness and a highly successful Property Services division.

When he first joined Progress Housing Group in 2006, Philip worked as the Company Secretary for the United North West Co-operative Society and through mergers with other societies saw it grow to the largest co-operative society in the country. 

 As Chair of the Leyland-based group of housing associations, he has helped Progress Housing Group grow from a £27m annual turnover to over £50m today. This has been achieved through an active development programme, along with providing innovative new projects such as the Leeds Private Finance Initiative and the partnership with New Fylde Housing, which joined the Group in 2009.

The Group now works in over ninety local authority areas and actively promotes its social purpose through the development of locally based initiatives such as the provision of community centres, employing welfare benefits and energy efficiency advisers and the establishment of a £1.5m fund for community projects.

Philip Jones comments: “As Chair of the Group for the past five years I have had the great privilege of seeing how we have grown and innovated to meet our customers’ needs. By putting the tenants and communities at the heart of all we do we have achieved great things both with and for people. As I look ahead to when my term of office ends in 2012 I will wish the next Chair every success in taking the Group forward to achieve even more for our tenants and communities.”

Jacqui De-Rose, Progress Housing Group Chief Executive, said: “Philip has been an excellent Chair and will be a hard act to follow. It is typical that he is thinking ahead to ensure that the Group recruits a successor in good time so that the new Chair is well prepared to drive the group forward when he retires. We are looking for a dynamic and committed individual who shares our strong values. Anyone wishing to find out more about the Group along with this and other opportunities can do so on the Progress Housing Group website, or call me to discuss the opportunity”

More information about the position is available at www.progressgroup.org.uk or by phoning 01772 450600.