Andy Thomson

Member of the Forum and CEO Bridgewater Housing Association

What is your role in the Organisation?

I am the senior officer within Bridgewater Housing Association Ltd. I provide strategic and inspirational leadership and direction to support and encourage all staff to contribute meaningfully to achieve innovative, value for money services for our customers

I help develop and deliver on the organisation’s corporate strategy, business, financial and risk plans, and our overall governance framework including organisational performance, reporting directly to the governing Board.

I promote Bridgewater housing association to  maintain  its good reputation and to ensure we remain respected player within the housing sector and in particular, locally with our FLAIR (Federation of local associations in Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire) colleagues and other partner organisations.

Organisation aims/accomplishments & which communities your organisation is empowering

Bridgewater Housing Association is a “not for profit” charitable social enterprise which provides housing and services at an affordable price to people on low incomes.  We are a membership organisation, and each member receives one share in the Association which allows them to participate in the running of the organisation.  Any “profits” which are made by the organisation are re-invested in the properties which we own and the services which we provide.

The organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees who are volunteers and who are not paid.  They come from all walks of life but have one thing in common and that is that they either live in Erskine or have an interest in it.  Anyone who is a member of the Association can become a Board Member of the organisation and play a more involved part in the running of the Association.

Today Bridgewater manages around 851 social rented properties, together with 500 lock up garages and provides a factoring service to nearly 2700 owner occupiers, including looking after the equivalent of 40 full size football pitches in common environmental maintenance, as well as a management service to tenants of other organisations living out with Erskine.

Our vision is to be “A customer focussed organisation which delivers the best affordable housing and services to people who need them”.

Our mission for Bridgewater is to “Get it Right for Every Customer”

Our values underpin everything that we do. These are:

• Doing what matters most with and for our customers.
• Putting customers first.
• Getting it right first time.

Our core customer base are the tenants and owner occupiers of Erskine.

How can people connect with your organisation?

Call us on 0141 812 2237

Facebook @BridgewaterHA

Twitter @BridgewaterHA

Website www.bridgewaterha.org.uk

Email admin@bridgewaterha.org.uk

Who are you outside work?

When I’m not working then I’ll be spending time with my family or socialising with friends.  Watching movies and attending gigs is some of the things we do as a family.  I enjoy socialising and having a nice bite to eat as well as going to the gym and watching football (I’m too old to play now!).