Mercian's Key Appointment to Drive Forward Community Investment in the West Midlands
Mercian Housing, an innovative West Midlands housing association, has appointed Sharon Gilligan to the position of Housing & Community Services Director to drive forward its housing management, maintenance and community investment agenda.
Sharon’s key role in Mercian will be to improve its housing and property services for the benefit of 3,400 tenants and leaseholders who live in Mercian’s homes and develop new services to regenerate the communities and help people achieve their life aspirations.
“Firstly, we are merging our housing and property maintenance teams to allow us to give a more complete service to our customers who will benefit from having one point of call for all their housing needs,” said Sharon. “This will enable housing officers to spend more time working in communities where they can make a real difference and residents can take a pride in”.
Sharon continued: “As a housing association with a strong presence in the West Midlands and in particular in Birmingham, Coventry and Walsall, we have a greater role to play than just providing social housing. We want to extend our services to the wider community to help people build their future and realise their potential.”
Sharon’s focus to deliver Mercian’s community investment agenda is to partner with other organisations to help people obtain employment and secure training opportunities to improve their skills and knowledge. She will also lead Mercian in tackling financial exclusion by improving access to affordable financial services for people who need them most.
Sharon brings 23 years experience in the housing sector gained by working in Birmingham City Council as well as in Castle Vale Housing Action Trust (CVHAT) and other housing associations. In CVHAT Sharon oversaw one of the largest regeneration projects in the West Midlands. The £250million project improved the quality of life for over 10,000 people in the Castle Vale area.
Laurice Pointing, Mercian’s Chief Executive said: “Mercian is very committed to providing excellent services and becoming customer focussed for the benefits of our current and future residents. Sharon brings a wealth of experience in improving neighbourhoods and working in partnership with other organisations to help people lead better lives.”