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Applications invited for key Unity leadership positions

Unity Homes and Enterprise is recruiting a Group Chair and new housing board members.

The Leeds-based BME housing association, formed in 1987, manages more than 1,350 high quality affordable properties across the city and in Kirklees.

It holds the highest ratings for governance and viability from the Regulator of Social Housing and has just been shortlisted in four separate categories for the Northern Housing Awards 2023.

In addition to its role as a landlord and provider of housing services, Unity helps people set up and run their own businesses, enter employment, and access training, education and volunteering opportunities.

The new Group Chair will take over from Shruti Bhargava who steps down later this year after holding the post since 2015.

Whilst previous non-executive experience is not essential for the successful housing board members, they should have first-hand knowledge of either governance, human resources, legal operations or health and safety.

Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive, said: “These roles offer fantastic opportunities to shape and support Unity Homes and Enterprise’s vital work and make a real difference to people’s lives.

“We are in the second year of our new Corporate Plan that sets out our strategic vision until 2026.  Our services are improving, we are attracting regional and national recognition for our work, and we are working with partners to develop creative solutions to problems in local communities.

“The Group Chair is a key position in our governance structure, helping to ensure Unity’s progress continues, the board fulfils its regulatory responsibilities, the organisation stays on course with its financial plans and we manage risks.

“The new housing board members will bring their own particular areas of expertise together with an unwavering commitment to succeed on behalf of the tenants whose needs we strive to meet.”

Applications close at midnight on 14 May 2023.

More details – including recruitment packs – are available on the Unity Homes and Enterprise website.

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Picture  Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise Chief Executive   Notes to editors Unity Homes and Enterprise Unity Housing Association was formed in 1987 with the objective of building a strong, BME-led, community housing association to address the needs of black and minority ethnic communities in Leeds.  The initial focus was on Chapeltown, but this has widened to other areas of the city including Harehills, Beeston, Holbeck, Chapel Allerton and Pudsey.  Alongside two schemes in Huddersfield, a new affordable housing development has recently been completed in Cleckheaton.  With a turnover of £6.8 million and an annual investment in new and existing homes of around £6.5 million, Unity now manages over 1,350 properties for tenants from all communities and ethnic backgrounds. In 2000 the association established its not-for-profit subsidiary company, Unity Enterprise, to support local entrepreneurial activity.  It now provides 142 affordable business units for more than 80 diverse businesses across three centres in Leeds. Unity Employment Services (UES) was set-up in 2011 to support Unity tenants and their surrounding communities in accessing employment and training opportunities.  It has since supported more than 1,700 individuals into work and training.

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