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Interview: Kath Menzies

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The last word

The last word

WINNING WAYS

After winning the inaugural Housing’s Next Generation competition, Kath Menzies speaks to Mark Lawrence about what it meant to her to win, her housing career to date and why other organisations should nominate their talented young professionals for this year’s competition.

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When thinking back to Housing’s Next Generation competition, Kath Menzies says the whole thing was “exciting” but admits a lot of it was daunting.

The Housing Services Officer from Link Housing Association won the inaugural competition, writing her name into the housing history books. Despite not being far into her career, she’s already travelled the length of the country experiencing different housing roles, as well as gaining experience in other sectors such as the police force. But she doesn’t believe this gave her an advantage in the competition. “Although I have experience around the country and can fit into different environments and am resilient to change, the competition was still a challenge and the topics we spoke about weren’t always directly relevant to my position. “And public speaking isn’t a strength of mine, I’d say. The first presentation and the final presentation were daunting, but I’m so glad I pushed myself to go and do it.” Starting her career in housing when she was just 16, Kath began as an apprentice and for the past seven years has changed job yearly, working in different temporary posts around the country, in both England and Scotland. She expands: “I am very driven. Since I started work I’ve volunteered on a charity basis; worked in the police for a few years; and did as much as I could to get as much learning as possible while I had no family connections.” When asked what drives her, she says passion comes from her upbringing: “I am driven by the desire to provide good customer service internally and externally. “I grew up in a family business, a guest house hotel, and we catered to homeless people at that time so housing has been a part of my life since I could walk. “My parents instilled into me at a young age that there’s a spectrum of people in life; some are dealt a good hand, and some are dealt a bad hand. There’s a different level of luxury in people’s lives and I’ve always wanted to see what I can do to help meet people’s needs.” Among her roles in housing, Kath has been part of the anti-social behaviour team “My parents instilled into me at a at Falkirk Council; relocated to London to young age that there’s a spectrum be an anti-social behaviour officer at Poplar HARCA; and moved to Scottish Borders of people in life; some are dealt a Housing Association where she was a good hand, and some are dealt a housing officer. She kept this job title but bad hand. There’s a different level transferred to Stirling Council after that, before moving back to London to join a of luxury in people’s lives and I’ve private lettings firm. always wanted to see what I can do She soon returned to social housing though, where she joined Mary Hill Housing to help meet people’s needs” Association, and then went on to take her place at Link Housing Association, where she still is now. She’s massively passionate about how beneficial the different experiences were, operating in different locations and with different pressures. “What’s great is that I could go to different places and compare how everyone else worked. I could take all the good bits and use them as learning for the next place. I’ve got lots of friends across Scotland and in England who I can contact for advice or help. “It’s really been an excellent way to learn as you’re pushed into new environments and every housing association is different; the way they operate; their pressures; and it’s a dead exciting way to keep bettering myself. I’d recommend it to anyone.” Looking back towards the competition, Kath says she learned about achieving things outside of her comfort zone and that “it’s worth pursuing things that may not necessarily be directly relevant to my day-to-day tasks”. She describes how it felt to be part of the competition: “I thought it was all really exciting. It

was new and there was an opportunity for learning; to meet new people that are of similar age and ambition.

“The whole thing was exciting, whether it was finding out if you got through, what the next stage was, what the next topic was. I was thrilled throughout the whole thing, but it was daunting. You’re putting yourself open to the world for judgement. Would people vote for you in the blogs and agree with what we had written?

“One of the questions was around have housing associations bitten off more than they can chew? Some people said they had; I said they hadn’t. So, you’re open to criticism and praise, and you don’t know how that feedback will come back.”

And what about winning? How did that make Kath feel?

“It made my 2020; it might have even made my decade!

“In the final, I thought everyone gave really good presentations, so the bar was fairly even. I didn’t think it was easy to call. I knew that after my presentation I was happy with how it went, and the topic I presented on was strong.

“My manager, my Head of Housing, and Chief Executive all gave me very positive feedback. So, I knew that after my presentation even if I didn’t win, I was really happy with what I had done – and to win on top of that, I was elated.

“I was super pleased to win. Words couldn’t describe it. Whatever happened, I couldn’t have done better, and I felt I gave my best, which is all I can ask for. I was chuffed the judges also felt I performed well.

“My organisation reacted very well, had emails from the Chief Executives, directors and we are now going to try and

“What’s great is that I could go to different places and compare how everyone else worked. I could take all the good bits and use them as learning for the next place. I’ve got lots of friends across Scotland and in England, who I can contact for advice or help”

“I had a greater confidence in myself as my manager supported me, but then I gained confidence throughout the competition too as I progressed. I have come out of the competition a more confident, more ambitious housing officer than when I went in. I think that’s a really good quality of the competition”

implement some of the ideas I presented on. I am going to start working on some projects that bring those ideas to life, which is really exciting.”

And it’s clear that throughout the competition and after it, Link Housing Association have been supportive and invested in Kath, a bright young housing professional.

What would she say to organisations thinking about putting someone forward for the competition?

“Definitely put people forward. There’s a confidence that you can get in your staff from supporting them to go into the competition.

“I had a greater confidence in myself as my manager supported me, but then I gained confidence throughout the competition too as I progressed. I’ve come out of the competition a more confident, more ambitious housing officer than when I went in. I think that’s a really good quality of the competition.”

And finally, Kath ponders about her best piece of advice from all her travels in housing and the different roles she’s had.

She takes some time to think before saying: “Take people’s experience now while they’re here. Learn from people who have gone before you. There aren’t many complications in housing that haven’t happened before or been seen by those who have worked in the organisation for longer.

“As I travelled through these organisations, I took people’s experience and put it in the back of my mind so when I cross that bridge, there are always solutions to problems.”

If you’d like to nominate someone for Housing’s Next Generation competition, click here.

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