Jane Harris has been appointed as the new Head of Asset Management Delivery for LiveWest and will play a key role in supporting the organisation’s drive to achieve Net Zero.
The 39,000-home landlord has recruited Jane to ensure it provides excellent customer service when delivering its planned asset management programmes. Jane will also play a key role in ensuring LiveWest’s homes are affordable to heat and contribute positively towards the target to ensure its properties are net carbon zero before the Government’s 2050 deadline.
Jane arrives at LiveWest with a wealth of experience in the housing sector having been Head of Contract Management at Pobl Group and, prior to that, Strategic Contracts Manager since 2011. Earlier in her career, Jane worked in the private sector in London and ran her own business in Swansea before moving into the social housing sector.
Jane arrived at LiveWest on 11th July and will have a key responsibility for delivering LiveWest’s asset management programme.
Jane said: “I’m delighted to be taking up this new role at an important time for LiveWest as I am really excited about service improvement.
“My priority is to make things better for our customers and support my amazing team in our asset management delivery. It will take time, but the results will be measurable and celebrated.
“My role will be based on teamwork across all departments, excellent communication and delivery against the backdrop of value for money, fairness and creating great relationships with our contractors.
“My experience is varied but has provided me with a great foundation from which to really make a difference and I come with an enormous amount of energy that could be called infectious.
“When I spotted the new role, I looked at LiveWest closely, listened to feedback, and decided instantly that I wanted to work for such a vibrant and forward-thinking organisation.
“One of the values at LiveWest is ‘we challenge convention’. This really drives me to look at the challenges and turn them into opportunities. The current economic background in the UK is challenging, however we need to adapt to these changes and find ways to provide the best homes for our customers.”
LiveWest has launched an ambitious Cby28 programme to bring 9,000 of its poorest performing properties up to Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) and C by 2028, two years ahead of the deadline set by government.
The Cby28 programme will see LiveWest investing approximately £40m into its existing housing and underlines the commitment of LiveWest to reduce its carbon footprint and improve the energy efficiency of its homes.
Jane added: “It is critical that we deliver on our environmental ambitions and support customers to become more energy-efficient against the backdrop of rising energy costs and the costs of living.”
Outside of work, Jane — a fluent French speaker — loves to go sailing, take part in yoga sessions and is developing her passion for art.
Nathan Cronk, Director of Asset Management, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jane into our Asset Management Delivery Team, which is about to embark on the biggest programme of change any of us will have seen as we get our properties ready to be net zero by 2050.
“Jane’s initial focus will be on reshaping the team to deliver improvements to our poorer performing homes, ensuring that all our properties achieve an EPC rating of C or better by 2028, two years ahead of the Government’s deadline.
“Jane brings with her huge experience in managing performance focussed teams in the private sector as well as in affordable housing and will lead a recruitment campaign to ensure that we have the right team in place to deliver our ambitious programme of planned works and retrofit projects.”
