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We are delighted to welcome two new Non-Executive Directors to our Group Board, Emma Kenny and Priya Khullar. Both Emma and Priya are experienced board members with extensive expertise in customer experience, as well as sharing our commitment to making a social difference. We look forward to working with them to continue to provide affordable, good quality, safe homes that our customers love.
Today we've published our new Sustainability Strategy in recognition of the cost-of-living crisis, the impact of climate change on customers and recent world events. Developed with customers, colleagues and other stakeholders, our new Strategy sets out clear objectives and targets for each of its four pillars: Our Customers, Quality Homes and Places, Our Planet, and Our People. These range from delivering social value and positive customer interventions, to achieving net zero carbon, and reducing its gender pay gap. You can read more about our approach by visiting: https://orbitgroup.org.uk/sustainability/
We've proudly received the Defence Relationship Management (DRM) Employer Recognition Gold Award from the UK Ministry of Defence in recognition of our support of the defence and the Armed Forces community.
We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Andrew, currently Chief Executive of the UK’s largest debt advice charity StepChange Debt Charity, as the new Group Chief Executive of Orbit. “Social Housing is one of the most important and challenging sectors in the social purpose environment. With so many competing demands, from building safety, decarbonisation and raising the bar of social housing, to supporting customers through the cost of living crisis, it requires a deep understanding of the heavy social obligation which comes with creating thriving communities, along with a strong financial focus, and I am hugely looking forward to playing my part.” - Phil Andrew
Orbit Homes are launching a brand-new educational programme called 'Building Buddies', whereby primary school children will get an exciting insight into how new homes are built. ‘Building Buddies’ is aimed at children aged 7-11 and will see local schools invited to experience unique hands-on visits, where children can develop their knowledge and skills by safely exploring the site, speaking to Orbit colleagues and learning the importance of health and safety.
We are actively working with Business in the Community to become a more responsible business in these challenging times. Being a responsible business with strong social values is critical to helping our customers and colleagues navigate the current issues facing society and tackling long-term global issues.
As part of our Better Days programme, we support customers by running several support services to ease the pressure on households, including Debt Support through our PayPlan partnership. Since April 2022, our debt support project has helped 266 customers to manage debt, totalling £531,509.
In a recent article, Tim Linnell, Senior Technical Co-ordinator for Orbit Homes and British Army Reservist, shares his experience of combining military commitments with his role. “I’m required to participate in a two-week deployment exercise each year to demonstrate and maintain my skills to ensure I can operate effectively should the call come. Orbit offer an additional five days paid leave to Reservists, so this really helps me to take the time out that I need to fulfil my commitments.” – Tim Linnell Read the full article...
Orbit launches Sustainable Finance Framework Orbit has launched its Sustainable Finance Framework, setting out a clear link between its financial and funding strategy and its sustainable priorities for the future. Aligned with the International Capital Market Association’s Social Bond Principles, Green Bond Principles, and Green Loan Principles, the Framework demonstrates how Orbit’s borrowing will be used to make positive social and environmental sustainability impact in the short, medium and long term. Under the framework, funds are allocated to specific projects and objectives, ranging from decarbonization and energy improvements to existing homes, the provision of new affordable homes and placemaking, to tackling poverty, increasing biodiversity and improvements to public realm. Interim Chief Executive, Jonathan Wallbank, comments: “Sustainability is core to our purpose, vision and Orbit 2025 strategy. This framework will help us clearly demonstrate this and enable us to clearly illustrate how we’re delivering value for money for our customers and communities.
Orbit has commissioned fuel poverty charity National Energy Action (NEA) to deliver direct support to its housing customers through the ongoing energy crisis.. NEA, who estimate that 6.7 million households in the UK could now be in fuel poverty, will be working alongside the social housing provider and housebuilder to provide a specialist telephone energy advice service to Orbit customers most in need, helping them with energy grants, fuel debt applications, liaising with energy suppliers, and changing tariffs or payment types. In addition, Orbit and NEA will host face-to-face Winter wellbeing events and hand out 1,000 ‘Winter warmth support packs’ containing useful products and resources for people struggling with their bills. Furthermore, NEA will be providing 70 of Orbit’s frontline colleagues with energy advice training so that they are better equipped to support customers who are struggling.
