Phoenix named one of UK’s top employers for 2nd year running
Phoenix Community Housing, a resident-led housing association with just over 150 members of staff, has seen its ranking rise from ‘ones to watch’ to 1-star accreditation in the newly announced 2016 Sunday Times Top 100 Not for Profit Organisations to Work For.
The listing follows a substantial cultural change programme at Phoenix following its move in 2013 to a new community building in south Lewisham - The Green Man – where its office space is entirely open plan.
That has included:
- offering two days customer service training to every member of staff together with a ‘conscious leadership’ programme to foster better individual and team collaboration
- introducing a strengths based approach to recruitment and performance management
- launching a new social intranet to which 90 per cent of staff now contribute
- creating an Innovation Bank where cross-team groups of staff collaborate on projects selected by their colleagues.
- staging regular ‘Ask Jim’ sessions where staff can pose any question to Phoenix’s Chief Executive Jim Ripley
That is complemented by a wide range of staff benefits, including 30 days leave, a comprehensive learning and development programme and a ‘Phoenix fit’ programme to support staff wellbeing.
Phoenix is one of four community gateway housing associations in the country, with a clear model of resident leadership – its Chair and Vice Chair are Phoenix tenants and residents are the largest group on the Board – and which works with tenants and leaseholders to steer future priorities and scrutinise services. Last year it was named the UK’s 3rd best landlord in a poll compiled by the magazine 24housing.
Chief Executive Jim Ripley said: “We have a firm belief at Phoenix in engaging and involving residents in all that we do, and we want to create the best possible environment for our staff to deliver that model. We feel our staff and our residents are making real headway in transforming one of the UK’s most deprived areas into a place where people feel proud to live, and we want everyone to share in our passion for making a positive difference to people’s lives.
“We’re determined to break down staff hierarchies and encourage really effective collaboration between Phoenix members of staff, and between our staff and residents. Our listing in the Sunday Times Top 100 for a second year shows really high levels of staff engagement in that process, and I’m very proud of everyone who works here.”
Phoenix’s final position on the list will be announced on 24 February 2016.