Providing the foundations for brighter futures: Bernicia

Bernicia

www.bernicia.com
LinkedIn: Bernicia Group

‘By positively impacting one life at a time, we can strengthen communities and help unlock the potential of the North East.’

As an opening statement, it’s compelling stuff.

But there’s more: Bernicia’s bold new corporate strategy sets out as it means to go on.

Built around the ‘Bernicia effect’ – a laudable construct with opportunity at its heart – it’s a dynamic document that doubles up as an inspiring manifesto for social mobility, community engagement, effective collaboration and burning ambition.

It’s not your typical corporate-focused rallying call.

Then again, John Johnston’s not your typical chief executive.

During a 38-year career with Bernicia, the former housing officer has been privy to every aspect of a diverse business that continues to push the boundaries in social housing.

The face – and voice – of Bernicia understands better than most the foundational value of a settled home.

He says: “Everyone now recognises that secure housing is one of the most important and fundamental building blocks for a good life.

“It leads to a happy and healthy life – a safe, warm and affordable home contributes massively to people’s quality of life and their life chances.

“People with good homes go on to have more fulfilling lives, secure better jobs and access better opportunities.

“They pay more taxes and they’re healthier – there’s less of an impact on the NHS and social care, and so they reduce the overall welfare bill.

“A good home makes everything else possible.”

John spent his formative years in the Northumberland towns of Ashington and Newbiggin.

He was distanced from privilege and opportunity, but was perfectly placed to hone the work ethic that has always informed a proven approach to business.

He tells N magazine: “People tell me I grew up in an area suffering from relative poverty and deprivation.

“I never felt that way. I felt loved. I felt supported. I had a great childhood.

“I made some great friends who I still keep in touch with today.

“I learned my work ethic because of – not in spite of – those circumstances.

“But what I want to make sure is that those kids who are growing up now across Northumberland and the North East have the same opportunities as everybody else in the UK.

“I know that sometimes the world can be a challenge if you don’t believe you belong.

“My childhood made me resilient. I’ve got an in-built drive to try to help people.

“And the one thing I’ll say to the next generation is never think that anybody’s better than you.

“They’re not. It’s an illusion.

“When you get to know them, you’ll find out that they’re no better than you after all!”

Hardship, of course, can play a significant part in driving the inferiority complex John’s determined to debunk.

He promises Bernicia – whose housing stock spans Berwick to Redcar – is committed to helping reverse the region’s alarming levels of child poverty.

That starts, he says, with building the affordable housing required to slash waiting lists and counter debilitating homelessness.

He says: “Picture children living in temporary accommodation and not having the friendships or that social interaction I had.

“Imagine kids not having a place where they can do their homework and not knowing whether they can put down roots or even go to school.

“The North East has got some of the highest levels of poverty.

“A third of our children grow up in poverty, which breaks my heart.

“And if we can make a change – working with partner housing associations, local authorities and the North East’s combined authorities – and help break that cycle, then that’s what we’re here for.”

Collaboration is a key tenet of the ‘Bernicia effect’.

Developing a progressive approach alongside the North East Combined Authority and the Tees Valley Combined Authority is a central strand of Bernicia’s corporate strategy, and John is a big believer in strength in numbers.

He says: “Working with the combined authorities to align things like transport, education and skills, job creation and health provision, with where we’re going to build the new homes, is vital.

“There’s a famous saying that if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go further, go together.

“A big strength of our new five-year strategy – and where we are as an organisation now – is that we collaborate.

“That means working with strategic partners such as Homes England, the combined authorities and our local authority partners, but also as a team of housing providers.

“We have the North East Housing Partnership, which is 20 housing providers across the region working together.

“I’ve just taken over as the chair of that organisation, and it’s a fantastic example of how, as a sector, we can be stronger together.

“We launched our new prospectus in April.

“It talks about development and regeneration, and how we’re going to step up the supply of new homes in the region by working together.

“It describes homes where people can thrive and live better lives.

“That taps into employability, aspiration and confidence.

“We also talk about trying to tackle loneliness and isolation.

“And there’s an emphasis on quality homes and investment.

“We are also committed to providing homes and services for all, including for those that require some additional support at a key stage in their life journey.”

John adds: “The North East Housing Partnership is a great example of how, as a region, we understand how we can make meaningful progress.

“We get it and we get on.

“The needs of our fellow North Easterners transcend any sense of ego or individual ambition.

“We put that to one side a long time ago; it’s not about John Johnston or Bernicia.

“It’s about what can we do in partnership with the combined authorities to transform our region’s prospects and opportunities.”

Bernicia has pledged to invest £400 million into North East homes, neighbourhoods and communities between now and 2031.

Crucially, John and his colleagues want the people at the heart of those communities to become key stakeholders in an ambitious five-year plan – controlling their own futures and fuelling fresh ambition.

But what does that look like in practice?

A reskill, upskill and redeploy project supports military service personnel and their families by offering training and employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, its care leavers programme balances skills development and training alongside person-centred support.

Bernicia’s estate-based community hubs and learning hives deliver skills programmes, while partnerships with the Northern Learning Trust, local employers, the voluntary sector and education providers prepare tenants for work.

John is particularly proud of an apprenticeship programme that boasts a 90 per cent-plus retention rate, which is far above the national average.

He says: “By September this year, five per cent of our staff will be apprentices.

“We have 660 employees, and we’ll have 33 or 34 apprentices.

“One in six of our staff started out as apprentices here.

“It’s something we take great pride in: watching talented people move into full employment and progress through the business is special.

“We offer a wide range of apprenticeships to the local community.

“Our trades centre trains all disciplines, including joiners, plumbers and gas fitters, but across the wider business we give people starts in housing and estate management, finance, computing, IT, people services, learning and development, recruitment, compliance and health and safety.

“Our success is built on not only providing the apprentices with the technical skills they need, but by giving them pastoral support.

“A fair chunk of our apprentices will be Bernicia tenants and most of them live in our communities.”

From Berwick to Redcar, the Bernicia effect is taking effect.

Thousands of people across scores of communities are benefiting from investment in homes, the delivery of value-for-money services and collaborations focused on supporting opportunity across the North East.

John adds: “I firmly believe there is as much potential in this region as anywhere else in the country.

“And I’m convinced that safe, secure, affordable homes are the first step towards unlocking that potential.”

For more information about Bernicia, its corporate strategy and its commitment to seeing the communities it serves thrive, visit www.bernicia.com