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Our Head of Business Development, Claire Bailey-Jones has broken down barriers to reach the position she now holds: and now, thanks to a new role as board member for the Women In Social Housing (WISH) network, she is looking forward to opening the door to more women within the industry.

Who are WISH?

WISH is a designated Community Interest Company dedicated to attracting new female talent to the UK housing sector, supporting women in their career progression, and working towards gender equality – in particular, reducing the gender pay gap within housing. The network now operates across 10 regions across the UK, and boasts more than 500 subscribed members.

Claire has joined WISH as a board member for the network’s North West region, where she intends to bring her professional and personal experience of being a woman working in a male-dominated field to the role, and to continue her passionate advocacy for women and other underrepresented groups in the workplace.

Women in Novus (WiN) network

Her work with the WISH network will complement the steps taken by the ‘Women in Novus’ (WiN) network which was founded last year, and which Claire immediately joined as an active and vocal member when she took up her role with the contractor last summer. We have recently announced a four-point inclusion plan addressing matters such as parental leave and support for those experiencing the menopause, as a direct result of lobbying by the WiN initiative.

Nicola Brown, Chair of North West WISH (Women in Social Housing), shares her delight in welcoming Claire Bailey-Jones to join the North West WISH Board:

‘This is an exciting time for the North West region, we have started 2022 as we mean to go on with our first in person event celebrating International Women’s Day this week. WISH bring women who work in and around the sector together, to network at all stages of their careers; women supporting women’. Claire joins us at a pivotal time of growth, with Fiona Astor from Magenta Living, Amy Tagoe from MSB Solicitors, Maya Robertson from Beever and Struthers and Helen Scott from Torus.”

Commenting on her appointment to the WISH board, Claire said:

“I am delighted to be selected as a WISH board member for the North West region. As a senior leader in the sector, and the only female representative on my surveying degree, I know first-hand the importance of driving diversity and opening opportunities for under represented groups to enter the sector. I believe that everyone should be able to bring their ‘whole self to work’ regardless of age, gender, race, religion or sexuality and want to be an advocate to breaking down barriers that restricts entry to our sector.

“As an active member of our own WiN network I am looking forward to collaborating with WISH to bring synergies to the industry that challenge the status quo. I feel strongly about empowering women to take up leadership roles and am always looking at ways to mentor and support people already working in social housing and relish this opportunity to do more of this essential work.”