The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) appointed Richard Ennis as Director of Finance and Corporate Services. The appointment completed recruitment of the HCA's team of directors.
Richard Ennis joins from London Borough of Ealing, where he is currently Executive Director of Corporate Resources, and will be responsible for all operational issues at the HCA. He is due to take up his new position, based in the Agency's Victoria office, in April.
The HCA is the single, national housing and regeneration agency for England. It brings together the development and regeneration expertise of English Partnerships, investment functions of the Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities, with major delivery programmes of Communities and Local Government.
The Director of Finance and Corporate Services is responsible at the HCA for finance, HR, IT, legal services, corporate assurance, facilities management, health and safety, and procurement.
The HCA also appointed leading commercial development expert and former chairman of Lend Lease Europe, Nigel Hugill, as Special Advisor to its Chief Executive Sir Bob Kerslake.
The three-month appointment will entail Mr Hugill providing advice on the commercial aspects of a range of innovative housing and regeneration development projects and additional support to the HCA in establishing new and flexible financial models for intervention in difficult economic conditions.
Prior to taking up this appointment, Mr Hugill had worked extensively in the commercial development sector at senior level. Most notably, this included helping secure Lend Lease as preferred developer for Stratford's Olympic Village, and for the £1 billion regeneration of London's Elephant & Castle.
Eighteen months of training will underpin a major national reorganisation of Abbeyfield's directly managed housing services division.
In broad terms, the training programme will cover housing management and related functional training for over 250 directly managed staff in 16 venues across the UK.
CSHS will write and deliver 15 bespoke course titles for the project. Twenty-two initial respondents were whittled down to seven finalists, from which CSHS were chosen to deliver the training.
CSHS will also be working with Abbeyfield in offering their staff the chance to work towards an NVQ qualification. The courses will also be open to staff and volunteers from Abbeyfield member societies, who will have the chance to increase their skills and gain recognition for their knowledge.
Information Notes
Established in 1990, CSHS provides professional training and support to people involved in the provision of Sheltered and Supported Housing. The organisation runs educational programmes, short courses and conferences, nationwide.
Through CSHS validated programmes and additional services, the organisation offers a portfolio of specialist support services and professional development opportunities for all those involved in this rapidly changing sector.
CSHS is part of the Cornwall College Group, a major UK academic institution.
Abbeyfield is one of the largest voluntary sector UK-wide providers of housing and care for older people, committed to alleviating loneliness while maintaining independence.
Founded in 1956, Abbeyfield has grown to include over 700 houses managed by professional staff and volunteers, providing support, care and friendship for over 7,500 residents.
