North-east social landlord Osprey Housing has come up with a novel way of improving diversity in its boardroom team.
Lauren Allan, assistant technical co-ordinator, Barratt Developments, and Niamh Johnston, a solicitor at law firm Brodies, are the first two apprentice recruits to the voluntary board at Osprey. Both are young professionals from the Aberdeen business community. Both are aged 24.
Lauren Allan’s ‘amazing opportunity’
Born in Carluke, Ms Allan graduated from Robert Gordon University in 2020 with a degree in architectural technology.
Speaking about her new role at Osprey, she said: “This was an amazing opportunity which was recommended to me by one of my colleagues. I couldn’t pass up the chance to understand the workings of a board at such an early stage in my career.
“All that I’ve have learned has been invaluable and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow throughout the rest of my apprenticeship.”
Niamh Johnston says Osprey’s values match her own
Ms Johnston studied at Bucksburn Academy before graduating from Aberdeen University, with a law degree, in 2020. This was followed by her diploma in professional legal practice in 2021. She recently qualified as a solicitor at Brodies, and is part of its banking and finance team in the Granite City.
On her new boardroom role at Osprey, Ms Johnston said: “I have always been interested in real estate, particularly property law, as well as the third sector and the work of housing associations. I wrote my university dissertation on aspects of charities and leases. It is great to have this opportunity within an organisation whose values align so closely with my own.”
We felt a broader-based board would more closely reflect and connect to our wider tenant base.”
Stacy Angus, chief executive, Osprey Housing
Explaining Osprey’s inclusive approach to corporate governance, chief executive Stacy Angus said: “Voluntary boards are often made up of retired professionals, primarily due to their availability of time and also their valuable experience and skills gained in their working careers.
“Our tenant base is diverse, including those living alone, families and homeless applicants, those moving here for work, older people and those with special needs, such as homes adapted for wheelchair use. It is, therefore, important we strive for diversity on our board.
“We felt a broader-based board would more closely reflect and connect to our wider tenant base. So we designed our apprenticeship scheme to offer board-level experience to outstanding younger people.”
Ms Angus added: “Not only does it offer the apprentices considerable personal development opportunities, whilst improving the age demographics of Osprey’s board, but it also ensures we have a varied skill set and representation of current workforce experience.
“Osprey has always invested heavily in learning and development, supporting our people to reach their potential. We advertised the board apprenticeship positions and received an amazing response, in terms of application numbers and, more importantly, candidate quality. There are a lot of great people out there who would jump at the chance of becoming a board member, whatever the type of business or organisation involved.
The CEO continued: “Lauren Allan and Niamh Johnston both matched our culture and vision – to make a difference every day. They have the right balance of skills and ambition, and their approach to sustainability and social impact fits well with Osprey’s own ethos.
“Joining a board was a great step in my own career. It’s a win-win for all involved, and we are planning to roll out the apprentice opportunity on an annual basis.”
The board apprenticeship scheme was the brainchild of Clare Ruxton, Osprey’s director of corporate services.
Ms Ruxton said: “We wanted to hear some more diverse voices in our boardroom so we could better understand the communities we serve. We also noticed that in the Aberdeen area it is difficult to gain experience and knowledge of what it is like to sit on a board.
“We are very excited to be able to offer this opportunity for Lauren and Niamh to gain first-hand experience, through observation, of the workings and dynamics of our board, with a view to giving them the tools to become effective members in the future.”
Osprey Housing. based in Westhill, near Aberdeen, currently has about 1,800 social rented homes across the north-east on its books.
Telling figures highlight why action on UK boardroom diversity is needed
According to consultants SpencerStuart, the average age of board members at UK quoted companies in 2022 was 59.9 years. The average age for a chairperson was 65.
Although there have been significant improvements in the number of women on boards, particularly in the FTSE 100, only around one-third of members are women.
CEOs are typically 55.6-years-old and chief financial officers are only three years younger.
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