On Thursday 19th March, we brought the Midlands housing sector together at the Library of Birmingham for something we’ve been working towards for a long time… the first People in Housing Awards.

What started as a conversation has quickly become something much bigger.

As social housing recruitment specialists, we see first-hand the effort, resilience and care that goes into keeping communities running. The People in Housing Awards were created to recognise exactly that — the people behind the work.

And the response exceeded every expectation.

More than just an awards night.

From housing associations and local authorities to contractors and sector partners, the room was filled with the people shaping housing across the Midlands.

But this wasn’t just about handing out awards.

It was about creating a moment for the sector to come together, celebrate what’s going well, and recognise the people behind it all.

With PJ Ellis hosting the evening, the energy stayed high from start to finish, bringing humour, honesty and a proper Midlands feel to the room.

Recognising the people behind the work.

The quality of entries across all categories made judging incredibly competitive.

A huge congratulations to all of our 2026 winners:

• Midlands Housing Team of the Year – Bournville Village Trust
• Women in Housing Leadership – Fallon Warren (Amplius)
• Apprenticeship & Skills Development – Clarion Housing
• Best Customer Experience – Citizen Housing
• Community Impact Project of the Year – Belgrave Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Association
• Best Repairs & Maintenance Service – Spring Housing Association
• Your Contractor of the Year – Lovell Renew
• Public/Private Partnership of the Year – The Housing Network
• Net Zero Champion – Ridge and Partners LLP
• Best Approach to Damp & Mould – Housing Plus Group

These organisations and individuals represent everything the sector stands for. Commitment, innovation and a genuine focus on improving lives.

A not-for-profit event giving back

From the outset, the People in Housing Awards were never about profit. They were built to give something back to the sector and the communities it supports.

That’s why we’re proud to share that, on the night, we raised over £7,500 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

This was made possible through the generosity of everyone in the room, from raffle prize donations to ticket purchases and contributions throughout the evening. A huge thank you to everyone who played a part in making that happen.

What is People in Housing?

The People in Housing Awards sit within People in Housing, which is a platform built to bring the sector together.

While it’s powered by Niyaa People, it exists as its own community. The focus is simple: creating space for real conversations, recognising the people behind the work, and adding value to the sector beyond day-to-day recruitment.

Alongside the awards, People in Housing also includes:

• The People in Housing Podcast
• Industry roundtables with housing leaders
• Ongoing content focused on the challenges and opportunities across the sector

It’s about building something long-term for the Midlands housing community.

Thank you to the sponsors.

A huge thank you to our sponsors who helped make the first People in Housing Awards possible.

Their support not only made the event happen, but also helped us raise vital funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

If you would like to learn more about the work they are doing across the sector, you can visit their websites below:

• CHIC
• RE:GEN Group

Want to be part of it next year?

If you’d like to get involved in the People in Housing community, whether that’s attending the awards, sponsoring, joining a roundtable or featuring on the podcast, we’d love to hear from you.

You can find out more about People in Housing and what’s coming next here.