Phoenix retains Investors in People Gold

We are very proud be acknowledged as one of the UK’s best employers after attaining Investors in People Gold accreditation for a second time.

The Investors in People assessment, which took place in exceptional circumstances following the coronavirus lockdown, found that staff believed Phoenix’s resident-led approach was central to achieving its vision of building a better future for south Lewisham – the location for our 6,300 homes.

Phoenix was judged to achieve advanced performance in eight of the nine indicators in the Investors in People framework, with some areas of employment practices ranked as high performing – the highest possible standard available. Fewer than one in 5 organisations accredited by Investors in People achieve the Gold award.

There are around 170 staff employed directly by Phoenix, with further staff employed through its subsidiaries the Phoenix Repairs Service and private letting agency Home Makers. We have a commitment to employing local residents wherever possible to support community regeneration efforts, and that includes participation in the Mayor of Lewisham’s apprenticeship scheme.

More recently Phoenix has offered internships to six students with learning disabilities through a scheme called Project Search, aimed at supporting more young people with learning disabilities into the workplace.  

High performing areas identified in the Investors in People assessment included:

• The organisation’s values are at the heart of everything it does. They shape the way it operates at every level.
• People make decisions based on values rather than self-interest.
• People use their initiative to lead and take ownership over delivering the organisation’s objectives.
• Roles are designed in order to meet the changing needs of communities, organisational strategy and employees.
• Leaders are aware of future challenges for the organisation and consciously develop their own capabilities, and partner with stakeholders to respond to these.
• The organisation has a positive impact on the communities it serves.

Phoenix Community Housing Chief Executive Jim Ripley said: “I’m so proud of colleagues across Phoenix for achieving the Gold rating and at such a challenging time.

“The commitment to being an excellent employer goes back to the tenants who founded Phoenix as one of the first resident-led housing associations in the country. Those tenants wanted the very best service from the staff and knew that an excellent working environment and conditions were key to that.

“The assessment process has made us determined to become even better and we will now be working through the recommendations in an effort to become truly excellent.”

Phoenix was originally awarded Gold accreditation in 2017. The renewed Gold accreditation will be in place until February 2023, with progress reviews taking place at regular intervals in the meantime.