The Challenge
Southern Housing were looking to recruit a non-executive with extensive knowledge of how digital systems could be used to improve customer/resident services to join its Residents Committee. They wanted to engage somebody with a commercial background, ideally with experience at a major B2C organisation, and they were happy for it to be their first non-executive role (and would offer support and training accordingly). The challenge was to find somebody with this commercial outlook who would be able to operate effectively in the more highly regulated, socially responsible, publicly scrutinised world of social housing.
The Solution
Utilising our extensive networks across a wide range of sectors, combined with a proactive search campaign, NSCG’s lead consultant on the assignment – Keith Butler – interviewed over 20 candidates for the role, focussing not only on their experience in the digital space but also on their stakeholder management skills, ability to constructively challenge at board level, whether they had an inquisitive mindset, and their understanding of the challenges facing the social housing sector. NSCG also took steps to ensure that the shortlist included candidates from diverse backgrounds.
The Result
Southern Housing interviewed three candidates and the Director of Governance stated that all three were strong contenders, with a good mix of experience and enthusiasm. The role was offered to a candidate with a successful track record in digital strategy and customer experience in FMCG, energy and financial services.
“We used New Street Consulting to recruit an independent member for our Resident Services Committee. They took the time to understand the knowledge, skills and experience we were looking for in an ideal candidate. We were keen to broaden the diversity of our committee and they reflected this in the list of candidates they sourced for us. Their search and selection resulted in impressive high calibre candidates to the point that we were spoilt for choice. I would not hesitate to recommend New Street Consulting as a very capable non-executive search and selection consultancy.”
Eugenie Turton, Southern Housing Board member and Resident Services Committee Chair