Building the Future Workforce for Housing and Care
At Blackwood Homes and Care, we believe the future of housing and care depends on the people who choose to work in the sector. As Scotland faces a housing crisis alongside an ageing population, the need for a skilled and compassionate workforce has never been greater. Having the right people in place is essential to supporting individuals to live their lives to the full.
Housing and care offer meaningful, long-term careers, yet they can be overlooked by younger people who may not realise the breadth of opportunity available. From housing services and care delivery to digital innovation, customer experience, finance, marketing, technology and leadership, the sector offers a wide range of pathways where people can build skills, progress professionally and make a genuine difference to people’s lives.
These opportunities are mutually beneficial, helping young people develop confidence and professional skills in a real working environment, work with a wide range of people, and understand the expectations of the workplace, while also enabling them to shape how we work, challenge our thinking and bring fresh perspectives that help us evolve as an organisation.
This focus on early engagement is strongly supported by Fiona Ralph, our Organisational Development Manager, who is passionate about creating opportunities for young people and building awareness of careers in housing and care. Through her work with schools and education settings, Fiona actively seeks out ways to introduce students to the sector, challenge misconceptions and show how housing and care can offer purposeful and rewarding careers. She is particularly keen to connect with organisations that share Blackwood’s values and long-term outlook, recognising that collaboration plays a key role in widening access and opportunity.
Attracting younger people into housing and care is not only important for workforce sustainability, but also for innovation. Diverse perspectives help us think differently about how we design homes, deliver care and use technology to support independent living. Young people bring ideas, energy and insight that are vital if the sector is to respond effectively to changing needs and expectations.
As part of this wider approach, Blackwood recently welcomed MCR Pathways to our office to learn more about their work supporting young people who may face barriers to opportunity through long-term mentoring relationships. MCR Pathways works alongside young people at key points in their lives, helping to build confidence, raise aspirations and provide trusted support as they navigate important transitions. The session gave colleagues valuable insight into the positive impact mentoring can have, not only for young people, but also for mentors themselves. These conversations have encouraged reflection on how employer engagement and mentoring can play a meaningful role in opening up opportunities within housing and care, while also offering staff a rewarding way to use their skills, experience and time to support others.
Some Blackwood colleagues are already involved in mentoring, and we are continuing to explore how learning from organisations like MCR Pathways could align with our ambitions around early engagement, skills development and future workforce planning.
For Blackwood, investing in young people is an investment in the future of housing and care. By creating opportunities, building awareness and listening to new voices, we are helping to shape a sector that is resilient, inclusive and ready for the challenges ahead.