NIFHA Press Room
A Star Performance
Tuesday 23 March 2010
Ark Housing, overall winners of the NI Housing AwardsArk Housing Association recently won the ‘overall achievement in housing’ award at the inaugural Northern Ireland Housing Awards hosted by the Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland.
Ark Housing received the accolade having already topped the ‘Developing Skills and Capacity’ award category. Both awards were presented to Ark Housing in recognition of its work in creating a culture of innovation, creativity and continuous improvement within the organisation.
 | In accepting the award on behalf of Ark Housing Chief Executive, Tony Ruddy (pictured second left), said: “Ark Housing recognises its employees are our greatest asset. This success and our delivery of excellent service has been achieved by investment in developing dedicated, highly motivated and committed teams within the organisation. These awards recognise our belief that having our employees’ support and rewarding their dedication is central to our continuing development and improvement as a Housing Association. Everyone at Ark Housing shares in these awards.” |
To win the coveted awards Ark Housing demonstrated how they delivered their ‘Investing in Excellence’ scheme within the organisation. It is a bespoke learning and development programme designed to support and reward employees.
The programme is supported by Ark’s innovative ‘Performance Management Framework’ and the voluntary housing sector’s first ever recognition and rewards scheme ‘Incremental Performance Related Awards’. This scheme breaks from the traditional annual incremental pay awards system to provide reward and recognition to all employees and managers based on performance and competency based learning and skills development.
CIH President Howard Farrand said, "It has been a privilege to travel to Northern Ireland and hear at first hand the level of skill and innovation in practice across the housing sector. Northern Ireland is well known for the calibre of its housing professionals; CIH is proud to host awards that showcase the real outcomes which this sector can deliver for communities. I have been particularly impressed by the support shown by Ministers from two jurisdictions who attended the awards. My warmest congratulations go to all winners and runners-up in very competitive categories."
Ends
Notes to editors
- Ark Housing is a Registered Housing Association providing social rented accommodation. It provides accommodation throughout Northern Ireland for families, elderly people, those with disabilities, singles and others in housing need.
- It is the only Housing Association in Northern Ireland to own, manage and directly deliver support services to homeless families. This is delivered at their family centre in south Belfast.
- In order to achieve it a culture of continuous improvement Ark Housing took a ‘back to basics’ approach starting in 2004 when it began the road to achieving Investors in People. This was awarded in 2005 and since then they were re-accredited in November 2008 achieving 10 out of 10 from the Assessor.
- To continue their organisational development and improvement, Ark recently began the ‘Beyond the Standard’ programme with Investors in People.
- Ark Housing became the first Housing Association in Northern Ireland to be accepted as a registered training centre for the British Safety Council.
- Ark won the International Safety Award in May 2009 - the first Housing Association in Northern Ireland to be awarded this highly prestigious safety award.
Further information contact:
Tony Ruddy, Chief Executive, Ark Housing
T (w): 028 9075 2310 M: 077 4011 7889 E: tony.ruddy@arkhousing.co.uk
Unit 17/18 North City Business Centre, Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, BT15 2GG.
W: www.arkhousing.co.uk E: info@arkhousing.co.uk
“Ark Housing working in partnership to provide quality homes and strong community”
