EDGE Forward

EDGE Forward was launched in February 2005 to provide support in career development to people who work in the housing sector. The scheme is open to any housing employee in our region who has been put forward by their organisation.

It is a fully inclusive scheme which seeks to assist employees to overcome barriers to career progression. Approximately 30 people benefited from the programme in 2005-6 and more than 40 are participating in the current year.

The programme has been well received and many positive comments have been received. One mentee on the 2006/7 programme said:

Edge Forward has given me the opportunity to stand back from my busy day to day schedule and examine my strengths and weaknesses, what sort of employee and manager I have become and how I want to shape my career for the future. My mentor has been genuinely inspiring and has reignited my enthusiasm for my career and the work I do. He's given me an honest assessment of the impression I make on others, offered me the benefit of his experience in housing, helped me develop solutions for specific management issues and shown me (by example) what a huge impact a strong leader can have on a team.

As a result of Edge Forward 2006, I have become increasingly self-aware of my management style, have set myself and my team higher standards to meet and defined my long term career ambitions. I've also begun to think more strategically and influence policy at a higher level. Essentially, it's given my confidence a boost and I'm more committed than ever to staying within housing and working my way up into a more senior role.

My experience of the mentoring scheme has been really positive and I'm hoping to be involved in the steering group next year and become a mentor for others in the future. Examining your personal qualities in such an open way isn’t an easy option by any means, but if you are prepared to be honest and work hard at self-improvement, it’s a great way to learn.

Gill Cook, Research and Development Officer, is a member of the EDGE Forward Steering Group and can be contacted by telephone on 01767 685850 or by email at gill@aragon-housing.co.uk for further details.