Broadland’s Maintenance team was ‘Highly Commended’ at the 2018 Women in Housing Awards in Manchester. Our Better Together project also reached the finals of the awards.
The judges praised Broadland’s 2017-18 achievements in the Maintenance Team of the Year category. The Maintenance team is headed by Louise Archer (Executive Property Director) and managed by Kelly Harris (Head of Repairs Service, Maintenance). Although predominantly male, the team now includes three women operatives: Nikki Farrugia, gas engineer; Claire Walker, electrician; and Kay Gotsell, plumber.
Among the Maintenance team’s achievements this year was to carry out 82 emergency repairs during the ‘Beast from the East’. The heavy snow storms in February 2018 particularly affected Broadland’s remote rural properties, but no tenant was left without a fully working heating system.
Tenant satisfaction with repairs remains consistently high. The average repairs satisfaction rate for 2017-18 quarter 4 was 84%, reaching 86% in February 2018.
Broadland’s Better Together project also reached the finals, in the ‘Improving Women’s Lives’ category. Better Together is Broadland Housing’s award-winning campaign to combat loneliness in Norfolk communities. The team’s entry included several case studies that demonstrated how they are supporting socially isolated women of all ages across the county. Well done to both teams!