From Support Worker to Housing Officer: Halley's Blackwood Story
Career progression doesn't always begin with having all the experience. Sometimes, it starts with recognising your potential, being open to learning and having the confidence to take an opportunity when it comes along.
For Halley, that willingness to learn and develop has taken him from Support Worker to Housing Officer at Blackwood.
Starting his journey at Blackwood
Halley joined Blackwood as a Support Worker while completing a master's degree in International Business Management at Edinburgh Napier University.
Before moving to Edinburgh, he had spent 12 years working in financial services, progressing to Branch Manager. He knew what it meant to work hard, stay consistent and take on responsibility. What he didn't have was direct experience in the housing sector – but he didn't let that stop him.
When a Housing Officer role was advertised internally, Halley decided to apply, telling himself: "I can do it."
Although he wasn't successful on that occasion, the experience led to another opportunity. Following feedback, Halley was offered a 21-hour secondment as a Housing Coordinator, alongside his existing support work.
For Halley, it was an opportunity to start building the experience and knowledge he needed. He says, "I'll be able to gain experience."
Building experience and confidence
Halley embraced the Housing Coordinator role as an opportunity to learn and develop. Although the role was hybrid, he quickly realised that he learned best by spending time with colleagues, asking questions and building relationships in the office.
He was also keen to develop his confidence in areas that were less familiar to him.
One of those was phone-based customer service. Coming from a background where he had always met people face-to-face, Halley initially found it uncomfortable and spoke openly about this with Customer Services Manager Louise Runciman.
While Louise reassured him that he wouldn't be pushed into something he wasn't comfortable with, Halley was determined to develop the skill. He asked for patience while he found his feet and, with time, support and practice, his confidence grew.
Alongside his practical experience, Blackwood supported Halley to undertake a CIH Level 3 qualification in housing, helping him develop his professional knowledge of the sector.
The qualification took around 13 months to complete, and Halley credits the encouragement of Blackwood's former Director of Housing, Anne Jenkins, with helping him keep going.
"She was the one that really pushed me. Anne would say, 'Come on, you can do it.'"
Taking the next step
When Halley's secondment came to an end, the Housing Coordinator position was openly advertised in line with Blackwood's recruitment process, and Halley applied for the permanent role.
Despite already knowing the team and the work, he admits the interview still brought some nerves.
"It's quite different from when I meet colleagues in the office. This is an interview."
Halley was successful and secured the permanent Housing Coordinator position.
Not long afterwards, another Housing Officer opportunity became available. This time, Halley had the housing experience, professional knowledge and confidence he had spent time developing. He applied, went through the interview process and was successful.
The role he'd initially set his sights on had become the next step in his career at Blackwood.
Continuing to grow at Blackwood
For Halley, career development is a partnership. He believes that when an organisation invests in its people, that investment benefits not only the individual but also the colleagues, teams and customers around them.
It's a philosophy he has carried with him since his time working in finance and one he has seen reflected in his experience at Blackwood.
"I love staying in one organisation for long. Especially when I see that it's an organisation that loves your growth."
"You never know where you're going."
For Halley, becoming a Housing Officer isn't the end of that development. He's continuing to learn, build his experience and think about where his career could take him next.
Halley's advice for others
When asked what advice he would give to someone considering the next step in their own career, Halley comes back to the importance of believing in your own ability.
"The first thing you need to deal with is yourself. Your inner mind. To believe that I can do it, even when the road is rough."
For Halley, career progression isn't about having all the answers from day one. It's about consistency, being willing to learn and having the confidence to take on things that might initially feel outside your comfort zone.
He believes the areas you find difficult today can become strengths if you're willing to work at them.
"When people see the consistency in you, at times even you yourself, when you look back, you feel amazed. Am I the one that did all this?"
Halley's journey from Support Worker to Housing Officer shows what can happen when individual ambition is met with opportunities to learn, develop and grow.
At Blackwood, Our People are at the heart of what we do. We're proud to nurture talent, invest in development and create opportunities for colleagues to build their skills, grow in confidence and develop rewarding careers with us.
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