Martin Collett, Chief Executive
Reflecting on a busy year, I am proud of what we have achieved despite economic uncertainty. We remained focused on delivering affordable rural homes and quality services, strengthened our finances, and set a clear path for the years ahead.
StrategyThis year saw the launch of our ambitious new five-year Business Strategy, placing residents at the heart of our activities, enhancing the quality and sustainability of our homes, and further embedding value for money across all operations. Despite sustained financial pressures and increasing regulatory expectations, our clear strategic focus positions us well to meet future challenges and maximise opportunities.
ResidentsOur residents' voices have never been more central to our decision-making. Through the full implementation of our Resident Engagement Strategy, we deepened our understanding of residents' priorities, shaping key improvements in our repairs service, grounds maintenance arrangements, and environmental initiatives. The recruitment of resident Board Members further reinforces this commitment, ensuring resident perspectives guide our governance and strategic decisions.
HomesThis year marked one of our busiest periods of investment and development activity. We completed 31 new affordable rural homes and advanced construction on a further 64 properties. In parallel, we undertook significant investments in existing homes, underpinned by comprehensive stock condition data. These efforts, combined with securing major external funding for environmental upgrades, demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing safe, affordable, and sustainable homes for current and future residents.
FinancesDespite economic headwinds, we maintained strong financial stewardship, carefully managing borrowing and liquidity to comfortably meet all our funder covenants. Our updated financial business plan demonstrates robust resilience, as reflected by our compliant financial viability rating from the Regulator of Social Housing. Strategic asset management further strengthened our financial position and supported ongoing investment in our homes and services.
AdvocacyOur role as a national advocate for affordable rural housing remained strong. Through impactful research, proactive parliamentary engagement, and collaborative partnerships, we continued to raise awareness of the critical housing needs in rural communities. Our refreshed Communications Strategy significantly enhanced our visibility and influence, ensuring rural housing challenges remained at the forefront of policy debates.
Sustainability and TechnologySustainability took centre stage this year, with our new Sustainability Strategy guiding significant environmental enhancements across our organisation. Securing substantial external funding will enable a major retrofit programme, supporting our goal of achieving EPC rating C or better across all homes by 2029. Additionally, our ongoing IT transformation reached a key milestone, with the selection of a new housing management software provider set to deliver significant operational efficiencies.
PeopleOur exceptional team remains integral to our success. Through continued investment in professional development, improved internal communications, and a refreshed appraisal process, we have further enhanced our positive workplace culture. Guided by our strengthened commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, we will continue fostering a supportive and engaging environment for all staff.
Looking AheadThe past year’s achievements reinforce our strategic approach and resilience. I extend my sincere thanks to our dedicated Board, our passionate staff team, supportive partners, and engaged residents. Together, we remain committed and confident in our ability to build thriving rural communities, delivering homes and services that positively shape the lives of those we serve.
A highlight of the year was successfully recruiting resident Board Members, whose presence will now directly shape our strategic decision-making. This milestone completes our resident engagement framework and ensures the resident voice resonates clearly at the highest levels.
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