A day in the life of... Laura Elliott Retrofit project manager Northampton Partnership Homes
Employee since: November 2016 Location, location, location: Northampton Previous Employment: Director, Artspace Charity
5:30
Me time I like to get up earlier than I need to and before the rest of the family gets up. I enjoy the calm of being able to read a book or get some ‘life admin’ done.
8:30
Straight to site First stop, I call into the site office for our whole house retrofit project. This programme will deliver approximately £8m of retrofit works in 2021/22 as a result of the recent Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund award and double that in 2022/23.
9:00
Cuppa and a chat Next, I get out for a walkabout and door-knock to find out how the work is going from the residents’ perspective. This is the highlight of my day. I love being able to resolve minor issues there and then and to hear all the positive feedback we’re getting about the works.
12:30
Tailored works Now, I need to visit specific properties with the architect. As part of the whole house retrofit process, an individual design is required for each property.
13:30
Refuel for the afternoon I like to grab a bite to eat locally with the design team and our sustainability manager.
14:00
Back to the office I need to write up notes and minutes from the morning while it’s all fresh in my mind. I also make sure that diary notes on the housing system are entered so that it’s clear to other colleagues what’s happening on the project.
16:00
Clearing the inbox This is the point in my day where I make sure that I’ve replied to everyone who needs information from me and chased those people who I need to send information.
17:00
What’s for dinner? My perfect day Time to head home and hear how my little boy’s day at school has gone. I’m lucky enough to live with a chef, so there’s always something A lazy start, drinking a delicious on the table, featuring homegrown food from our bucketload of Earl Grey tea with allotment. poached eggs and spinach. This would be slowly followed by a long 22:00 Winding down walk or a freshwater swim. And if Bedtime is always welcome in our house. The best way for me we’re talking about a truly perfect to switch off after a busy day is curling up with a good book. I’m day, I’d end up at a beer festival currently reading The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel. But if I full of lovely people, great could recommend the perfect book for fellow housing professionals, brews and live music. I’d say to seek out Estates by Lynsey Hanley. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to work in housing and it still inspires me to get up for work every day.
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HOUSING QUALITY MAGAZINE MAY 2022
