My career in housing: Michael McLaughlin
As part of Scottish Careers Week, we're sharing stories of some people in the sector. Social value expert Michael McLaughlin shares an insight into his day.
I have been hugely lucky to have worked with some great people and great places in my career in social housing!
Starting in a small place based housing association really helped get me started – I didn’t know much about the sector and was looking for a full time job and thought I would give it a crack for a couple of months and see how it went! That was over 21 years ago!
Social housing organisations give so much scope to get involved in different areas of the business – from finance and admin where I started, to working with people out in the communities – it has been hugely rewarding.
I have learned how to work in an office environment, with people in more front facing roles, and more recently in managing projects, people and budgets! None of which would have been possible without the grounding I received working with Clydebank Housing Association!
Moving to work with SFHA at a national level and engaging across the wider sector has enabled me to better understand and appreciate how the great things I learned in Clydebank could be applied at a wider scale, and working as Head of Social Value for HACT has given me opportunity to travel across the UK, deliver training sessions, write research papers, present at large housing conferences, and work with Scottish and UK Government!
I look forward to see where this sector can take me next!