Kirsty Wells will take up her role of assistant director in early July 2024.

Kirsty’s appointment provides ARK with the opportunity to support social landlords at a pivotal time for the sector across the UK. Regulators are placing increasing focus on hearing from tenants and residents and landlords must consider how to address the ongoing challenges of a difficult operating environment due to rising costs, and growing pressures on both housing supply and the labour market.

Having worked in the sector for the last 28 years, Kirsty has considerable experience in working in Scotland and the devolved nations. She will join the team at a time when ARK is working more with clients in these areas of the UK. The organisation is currently working on the regeneration of Langlee in Galashiels with Waverley Housing and has also been working with Falkirk Council and its DLO. It has been working with various landlords in Scotland for a number of years.

Kirsty joins ARK from Housemark, where she has spent twelve years in various roles, latterly as director of consultancy.

Kirsty said: “I am excited to be joining ARK in the summer and looking forward to working with social landlords in Scotland and beyond.  ARK’s experience in the sector is vast across regulation, governance, strategic housing and housing management, asset management services, procurement and people services.

“This new opportunity will enable me to use the skills and knowledge I’ve gained from working at both the Tenants Information Service and Housemark over the last 25 years to continue to support social landlords with the current maelstrom they face in delivering services to tenants and meeting regulatory standards.”

Helen Scurr, director at ARK, said: “Kirsty will be a fantastic addition to the ARK team. Her skills and knowledge will be invaluable to many registered providers and she will be able to support them to meet the challenges of the new regulatory framework and ensure their organisations are high performing.”