Empty Homes Network

Presented at our annual Conference in May, the EHN Awards serve to recognise and celebrate the work that empty homes officers, team and practitioners do on a daily basis, and enable them to promote their successes through national recognition. This year was no different, with some incredible examples of projects, case studies and people, who have displayed fantastic attributes to bring empty homes back into use in their areas.

In The Rising Star Award, sponsored by Fraser & Fraser, we look to recognise newcomers who display the same qualities that we seek when giving the 'Empty Homes Practitioner of the Year' Award’, but are considered to be at the earlier stages of their local authority or empty homes careers. We recognise that Empty Homes Practitioners often work alone or within teams of wider specialisms, so feel their achievements over the past 12 months are equally worthy of national recognition.

Highly commended in this category is Alan Tubman, of Sunderland City Council and congratulations to him and his work for the empty homes team.

Awarding joint winners for their incredible efforts and achievements over the past twelve months, the award panel said of the first winner, Jake Body of No Use Empty: Kent…

“Having joined No Use Empty: Kent as an apprentice from School in 2018 and with Covid providing the opportunity for Jake to earn himself a permanent contract with the organisation, Jake’s impressive attitude to empty homes work has seen him thrive throughout the pressures of an increased workload, and taking the responsibilities in his stride.

Jake’s evident ability to listen, learn quickly and take guidance from his team, has enabled him to build partnerships and relationships, whilst his enthusiasm to develop personally and learn about all aspects of the service and its mechanisms has allowed him to liaise will all users of the service as though he had been in post for years.”

And of our second winner, Jamie Wagenaar of Caerphilly County Borough Council….

“Having undertaken the decision to change career direction and move into the public sector, Jamie’s experience with property, his personable nature with colleagues and the public, coupled with his transferred knowledge and skills, have clearly made him a huge asset to the authority and it’s newly formed empty homes team.

As well as being creative in the marketing and promotion of the team, Jamie has been instrumental in supporting other teams and departments in sourcing property on behalf of the homeless and refugee support teams.”

Congratulations to Alan, Jake and Jamie, for your hard work and efforts over the past twelve months. Your national recognition is fully deserved!