We're delighted to introduce bpha, a forward-thinking housing association, on a mission to build thriving communities where people can live happily in a home they can afford.

A welcome from the Chair

"Thank you for your interest in joining the bpha Board. This is an opportunity to contribute to the oversight of a successful organisation, that is proud to be driven by its social heart and purpose. Our new Board member will share the passion of both our employees and my Board colleagues to continue to provide quality, affordable housing and services that improve local communities and the environment.

This Board member will reflect our values and will contribute from their experience and expertise to the oversight of bpha, enabling the organisation to navigate through the significant challenges faced by the housing sector. We continue to focus on ensuring that we have robust and resilient governance and financial arrangements in place for the future.

Despite the financial, policy and political uncertainty and turbulence of the past many months, bpha is in good health. We have maintained a robust financial position, developed closer relationships with our customers, have high colleague engagement, a healthy development programme and a clear commitment and plan to reduce our carbon footprint and protect and improve the environment.

If you would like to become a Board member of bpha and help us deliver our vision, I would encourage you to apply and look forward to talking with you soon."

About bpha

bpha is a Bedford-based housing association, with a justifiably strong reputation in the social housing sector, which operates primarily in and around Bedford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. bpha is committed to providing customers with high quality, value-for-money services whilst continuing to develop more energy efficient, sustainable and affordable housing. The organisation is a leading provider and developer of affordable homes including general needs rent, retirement living, and homes for shared ownership.

bpha was formed in 1990 and has increased its stock from the original 7,280 homes to the current number of around 19,757. The company employs 485 people and the annual turnover is in excess of £171m, with £39m invested in maintaining and improving existing homes. bpha also continues to drive a strong track record of development, in 2022/2023 the organisation invested £53m into building new homes. 

bpha's mission is clear: to build and maintain quality homes and thriving communities by being increasingly efficient and effective and always considering the needs of those living in the homes it manages. Customers are at the heart of everything bpha does. It is a ‘social business’ with charitable aims. The organisation is run to achieve high ‘value for money’ standards, with all surpluses generated invested in existing homes, building new homes, and delivering new and improved services. bpha works with residents and others to develop thriving communities. The business supports a range of activities which help improve the quality of life for residents, bring people together and benefit the wider communities in which they live. bpha also offers additional support through tenancy sustainment, money advice and specialist supported housing services.

Whilst building new homes is important to the organisation, maintaining the properties it currently has carries an equal priority. bpha properties are cared for as they are people’s homes, as well as assets which must be protected for the longer term sustainability of the organisation. bpha's focus has remained on making sure that customers felt safe, comfortable and secure in decent homes, with reliable services, delivered with care.

bpha recognises that people are living in turbulent economic times and are determined to support customers and meet the challenges which lie ahead. This has included its specialist money advice team supporting 1,600 customers as the cost-of-living crisis had a substantial impact. As a well-managed and financially robust business, bpha has recently maintained an A+ rating with the credit rating agency and has the highest governance and viability ratings (G1 / V1) from the sector regulator. 87% of bpha homes are now in at least energy B and C, part of the organisation's commitment to ensure that its homes are fit for the future and efficient to run for customers.

The business always seeks to use its resources wisely to deliver more for its customers, maintain its existing homes to a high standard, tackle the environmental challenges which lie ahead and contribute to the supply of new homes. bpha's Committees (Customer, Audit and Risk, Finance, Treasury, Development, and Remuneration and Nominations) are at the centre of its strong governance approach.

For more information, please see the most recent Annual Report here. 

bpha seeks a commercially astute Non-Executive Director to join its experienced Board. The successful candidate will provide effective challenge to ensure the interests of stakeholders are protected, especially in relation to accounting, audit and accounting compliance. 

Non-Executive Directors are expected to communicate effectively with key stakeholders to ensure that bpha is able to meet its strategic objectives and support the needs of its residents. They will welcome the views of residents in decision-making, support the development of organisational culture and uphold its values, and promote and demonstrate leadership in relation to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Main responsibilities include:

• Preparing for, and attending, Board and relevant committee meetings
• Ensuring that an appropriate governance framework is in place
• Providing appropriate oversight, scrutiny, challenge and leadership to bpha
• Reviewing and contributing to the development of strategy
• Contributing to the critical and objective assessment of any corporate activity
• Setting the organisation's values and standards and ensuring that its legal and regulatory obligations are understood and met
• Bringing best practice to bpha, horizon scanning and being an ambassador for bpha with stakeholders

As a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the annual accounts and report preparation
• Ensuring the effectiveness of internal controls related to the annual accounts
• Assuring the independence of the external auditor (i.e. supply of non-audit services)
• Communicating the audit results on annual accounts to the Board of Directors
• Engendering and assuring a fit-for-purpose and transparent risk management approach

The successful candidate will bring a background in audit compliance and will have a deep understanding of regulatory requirements. With that in mind, it's likely that they will be an experienced senior internal auditor who offers broader experience on regulatory frameworks. This could have been in the housing sector or another regulated sector. Please note that this experience could be gained in a professional audit services firm but finance / accounting is not the main requirement for this role.

Additionally, it is expected that this person will have demonstrable experience of operating at a Board and / or Executive level on an Audit & Risk Committee.

More generally, they will bring good interpersonal skills, independence of thought and an ability to challenge constructively whilst making balanced and informed decisions. Experience in monitoring, managing and mitigating risk will also be required. The successful candidate will appreciate the complexities of working in a regulated business.

They will bring a strong awareness of the social, economic and political environment in which bpha works. An understanding of the needs and aspirations of bpha's residents, and of the local communities where they live is essential for this appointment.

Please note, bpha is committed to ensuring that its board composition reflects both gender and ethnic diversity. Please see the Diversity section for further guidance.

Paul Leinster CBE, Chair

Ian Ailles
Paul High
Katherine Horrell
Shirley Pointer

Steve Dickinson
Hari Punchihewa

Geraldine O'Sullivan
Richard Hill, CEO
Julian Pearce, CFO
Jeff Astle, Executive Director of Development & Sales

This role is remunerated and reasonable, pre-agreed, travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Time Commitment

There are normally six Board meetings each year including strategy and risk days. Board members are expected to sit on two Board Committees. Board Committees typically meet four times a year. The indicative time commitment of the Board Member role (estimated 28 days) includes these meetings along with preparation time and any ad hoc engagement, including training and professional networking events. 

Location

The organisation is based in Bedford and most Board meetings are in person. Committee meetings are held using a hybrid format. Therefore, the successful candidate must be able to travel to Bedford when necessary.

bpha recognises the value of diversity and inclusive culture for the success of its business goals and mission to build and maintain quality homes and thriving communities.

In the last 18 months, bpha has taken a number of purposeful actions to accelerate its EDI journey such as developed a three-year equality, diversity and inclusion strategy with a focus on people, culture and customer service, established an EDI Strategic group and colleague-led inclusion forums, taken actions to address gender pay gaps, and engaged colleagues with thought-provoking learning events and campaigns, to name just a few. Its Board is signing up for the NHF Chair’s challenge to prioritise diversity and inclusion for its leadership and at a board level.

bpha is dedicated to building a diverse workplace at all levels based on merit and its values. The organisation welcomes applicants for the Non-Executive Director from a range of backgrounds and walks of life who can bring different perspectives, visible and invisible diversity and lived experiences to the Board. The role of Non-Executive Director offers a great opportunity to bring diversity to the boardroom and influence its culture from the top.