The course provides students with a deeper knowledge and understanding of key areas in delivering housing services and was started pre-lockdown in 2020.

The training was originally designed to be delivered in-person but has been completed through on-line workshops thanks to the enthusiasm of staff and the support from SHARE and course tutor Jane Heppenstall.

Staff undertaking the training came from across the organisation with colleagues from housing, development and finance taking part. Having candidates from many different departments helped to add value to the learning process by sharing a diverse range of experiences.

It also contributed to delivering on Kingdom’s strategic objective of being an Employer Of Choice by delivering continuous professional development across the organisation.

Matthew Busher, Kingdom’s interim director of housing, said: “Kingdom is committed to supporting the continuous professional development of our team as there are clear benefits for our working culture and the services that our customers receive. The pandemic could have really thrown this course off track. But we had excellent support from SHARE and the team were so enthusiastic to continue. Congratulations to all 11 colleagues who achieved the qualification.”

Olwyn Gaffney, learning and development manager at SHARE, added: “It was great to be working with Kingdom to deliver the CIH L3 Qualification and little did we think that we would encounter Covid on that journey. However, everyone was very flexible in changing the mode of delivery to virtual learning. This went incredibly well and enabled the qualification to continue successfully. Following this, it is great to be working with a second cohort.”

On completion of the training staff provided very positive feedback of the course including the learning outcomes and quality of tutoring.

As a result of the excellent feedback, a second cohort of 14 colleagues drawn from five departments at Kingdom, as well as from two partners RSLs, has just begun their own virtual learning journey to complete the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing Practice in 2021.

Jane Heppenstall, course tutor at SHARE, commented: “Working with Kingdom through lockdown was such a positive experience- engaged, friendly and knowledgeable staff willing to adapt to a new training method and produce excellent work. The cohort should be proud of their achievement. I’m delighted to be working with Kingdom and partners again and I’m sure this group will follow in their colleagues’ virtual footsteps.”