Chris Mathieson

Equipping employees with the relevant skill set and knowledge enables them to work with tenants in a person-centred way to deliver services that best meet their needs. 

The Housing Professionalism Commitment complements Grampian’s significant efforts to uphold continuous workplace learning and development from all its employees. The standards are used as a key resource in Grampian’s employee performance framework conversations. 

This year saw the launch of GOALS, Grampian’s own centre of excellence for learning and development. GOALS encourages professional growth and offers opportunities to learn through formal and informal approaches. Learning achievements are shared and celebrated and feed into Grampian’s commitment to meet the needs of all its partners. 

Opportunities for employees include attainment of CIH qualifications, access to The Skills Network’s nationally recognised qualifications and participation in the GEM programme which develops future leaders in housing.  

One of the most exciting elements of GOALS is that it reaches out to tenants, offering them access to The Skills Network’s extensive fully funded distance learning qualifications.

The initiative is proving successful with eight tenants currently working on a qualification with The Skills Network. Courses are ideal for filling skills gaps or personal development and have helped tenants change career and gain promotion. 

Tenants also have opportunities to attain new skills and experience by becoming involved in Grampian’s tenant scrutiny opportunities, joining its Board Member Apprenticeship Scheme or applying for employment and apprenticeship opportunities.

Combined with the other help provided by Grampian, these initiatives create a holistic support package is available for tenants. This includes benefits advice, debt management, housing support and energy advice to truly address all the barriers to work. 

Chris Mathieson, Grampian Housing Association’s head of people experience said: “Grampian is delighted to uphold and promote the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland’s Housing Professionalism Commitment.

“While its work in this area continues, Grampian feels it is adding its own small detail to a much broader national and international landscape.

“Offering learning and development opportunities to our employees should come as standard in housing. Offering those opportunities to tenants and customers, not only speaks to those principles of fairness, opportunity, empowerment but very much feels like the right thing to do, paying it forward and doing everything Grampian can do as a customer focussed landlord to address inequality and poverty.” 

Adding Grampian’s signature and endorsement to the Commitment felt right for any number of reasons. Back in October 2023, the United Nations Development Programme cited UNESCO research highlighting the ‘transformative power of education in the fight against poverty’[1] and the role of education, qualification and skills attainment in helping to break poverty cycles, economically empower individuals, grow the pool of dignified and good work to foster improved social mobility.

That international message is echoed closer to home through the Scottish Government’s own Priorities for Scotland. This includes aspirations around eradicating child poverty and growing Scotland’s economy, including building the skills needed for tomorrow’s economy.

For the housing sector, registered social landlords hopefully perceive a more localised alignment through the Scottish Social Housing Charter with well-know and familiar terminology around standards, outcomes, equality, eliminating discrimination, ensuring equality of opportunity and that all important role in building strong local communities.