Asset managers and glass ceilings: Wayne Gethings, The Wrekin Housing Group

An asset manager’s to-do list is bulging with weighty projects all driven by the desire to ensure compliance, maintain stock and expand stock. Delivering on these aims is vital for all successful housing associations, so how can this focus be turned into opportunities for asset managers?

All housing associations want to provide safe and decent homes and asset managers are at the forefront of delivering this. Landlords must understand their stock better than ever before in order to maintain a financially sound, socially aware and environmentally conscious business.

At The Wrekin Housing Group, we have taken an active asset management approach where we have been reducing the percentage of poor performing assets from our stock. This has reduced demand on maintenance services as well as providing income to fund our ambitious development programme.

This approach has allowed us to focus on compliance which is requiring more and more time, not just from asset management teams but also executive teams and board members. The increased scrutiny has to be a good thing - it has highlighted weaknesses across the sector. Weaknesses that can often be linked back to sub-optimal data and information handling. How many housing associations can truly say, at the press of a button, the makes and models of fire doors fitted or the structural finishes of all balconies?

With all this focus and scrutiny, what is really surprising to me is how few asset managers are making it to the top tier of housing association leadership. It’s six months since my appointment as Group Chief Executive and in that time I have met less than handful of colleagues who have progressed from this background. I find this interesting and I’m now exploring why this is and how asset professionals can break through the glass ceiling into chief executive positions.

Wayne Gethings will be speaking on "Creating strong leaders" at HOMES UK on 28 November at 10:00-10:45 alongside Debra Yudolph and Andrew Bulmer.

Register for free to attend.

*A fee applies to commercial organisations