This week, Orwell Housing Association held its first bi-annual leaders day since 2019. Designed to give Orwell leaders a unique opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences, address current and future challenges within the organisation, as well as discuss what being an ‘Orwell’ leader really means in practice.

All colleagues with any line management responsibility are leaders within Orwell and around 90 colleagues were invited to attend.

The day touched on four different areas of leadership: identifying management and leadership traits, what being an ‘Orwell’ leader really means, what's stopping you being the best leader you can be and how will we know when we are there? Colleagues collaborated in small cross-organisational groups and at the end of the day were asked to make a leadership pledge around what they were going to do differently going forwards. The group will work together beyond the day to support each other in keeping these pledges.    

Michelle Harrison, Director of People and Culture at Orwell Housing, said, “We are passionate about investing in our people, always striving to be the best organisation and employer we can be and a company people are proud to work for. Key to this supporting our current and identifying potential future leaders, supporting their development, and investing in people who are innovative and passionate."

"We recognise the impact talented leaders have on organisation and consequently on the communities we work to support, and, at Orwell Housing, we dedicate significant time and resource to attracting, developing and nurturing talented people. Through days like this, along with our Orwell Academy, we work hard to foster this ethos and harness and develop the people we have among our teams."

Wendy Evans-Hendrick, CEO at Orwell Housing added: “There is a real need to continue to provide skills and development opportunities to all our colleagues. Days like these are invaluable in terms of bringing together colleagues from across the organisation to develop and hone core skills and provide crucial support networks and inspiration to peers."