Hannah Scarisbrick

I have over 20 years experience in search and leadership advisory services. I started my career in search with a small family business serving the not for profit sector. In 2010 I joined a leading UK search firm, where I progressed quickly over a period of 12 years and in 2018 I established its successful housing practice. I later gained valuable experience in the European team of a large US-headquartered search business working on international searches for large private sector companies, before returning to my previous company for two further years, where I continued to specialise in housing. Clients included large, commercial organisations involved in development and regeneration at scale, such as Clarion, Places for People, Hyde, VIVID and Abri, as well as for-profits like Man Group Community Housing, and a range of vital place-based and specialist housing providers in the space. I personally led on the design and delivery of board effectiveness evaluation for a number of large and high profile RPs.

Colleagues have given me feedback that I have helped them develop in terms of their knowledge, communication skills and career development plans. Candidates tell me that I have helped them articulate their skills, experience and leadership style in a clearer and more compelling way, and helped them consider potential paths to leadership.

I think the sector still faces significant challenges but there are lots of reasons to be optimistic, especially given the raised profile of the housing crisis amongst policy makers and an apparent commitment to supporting the sector to deliver new homes at scale.
The sector is resilient and will continue to play a vital role in housing people and developing new homes.

I like The Rest is Politics podcast and The Rest is History. I also enjoy comedy podcasts, especially The Ellis & John Podcast (Ellis James and John Robins). Even though I have an English degree, I am embarrassed about how few books I get through in a typical year! I read Lessons in Chemistry recently and enjoyed that and I am now reading All the Light You Cannot See by Andrew Doerr, which won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

My very first job was during school holidays in the office of a factory which made the plastic inserts for boxes of chocolates and biscuits! I was doing data entry and generally trying to be useful! My first job after university was as a PA in a family-owned fine art print publishing company based in Chelsea.

I like the ‘Pomodoro’ technique, whereby you give yourself a set amount of time to get something done; it helps keep me focused.

I have two boys, Frank (11) and Ted (8) who are my focus outside work. I am married to Michael so family life is busy and boy-filled!

I like keeping fit (I rediscovered exercise about 3 years ago) and have developed a really embarrassing mid-life obsession with skipping aka jump rope. It keeps me fit and challenges me to learn new tricks and skills to keep my brain healthy. I pretty much try to recruit everyone into the jump rope community!

My dad told me, in advance of a difficult meeting, “be strong, be clear”. I like that. I use it a lot when I am advising clients. As consultants, it is our job to guide our clients with strength and clarity. We should take pride in challenging clients, when necessary and appropriate, as well as supporting them.