Future Board members programme

We're working towards our vision of everyone has a home. It's a bold statement but one everyone across our business is passionate about. 

We know how important it is to bring together people from different cultures, and with varied professional and life experiences. By doing this we can create a business that’s inclusive, responsive and can work innovatively to achieve our vision.

At the end of last year, we asked customers to get in touch if they wanted to take part in our Future Board Members Programme.

The programme supports our diversity and inclusion work to be more reflective of the diversity of our communities, from the top down. We believe that to be successful we need to work with a talented and diverse range of people.

At the end of the programme, we're hoping the participants will be able to join us, or another housing association, as a fully-fledged board member.

After shortlisting, the interviews took place on 7 December 2022 and the panel was delighted to offer two candidates places on the programme, which began this month. Two people, Gladys and Karen, were appointed. They are both Aster employees and Karen is also an Aster customer.

The candidates will have the opportunity to shadow boards and committees, and participate in sessions including: housing regulation, consumer regulation, financial stress testing, risk management and hearing customer voice.

Karen said: “I applied to join the future board members programme to learn how and why decisions are made. I want to develop my knowledge and understanding around the Boards' functionality with a view to joining a board upon completion of the course.”

Gladys added: “I am keen to learn more about how the business operates at the top level, taking into account the complexities, risk and rewards that come with running a business.

“I am looking forward to learning, meeting people from different backgrounds with diverse thoughts and share ideas.”