Training brings triple gains at Guinness Northern Counties: Housing association begins to build a coaching culture

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe award‐winning training initiatives at three housing associations – Guinness Northern Counties, Shepherds Bush Housing Group (SBHG) and Circle Anglia.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains the reasons for the training initiatives, the forms they took and the results they have achieved.

Findings

The paper provides details of a leadership course designed to equip managers with skills needed to lead their teams through challenging times at Guinness Northern Counties; a customer‐service course for all employees and managers at Shepherds Bush Housing Group; and training to help middle managers at Circle Anglia to manage their teams more effectively and to open up lines of communication in the organization.

Practical implications

The paper details such benefits from the training as lower sickness absence, fewer grievances, better teamwork, improved communications and reduced costs.

Social implications

The paper explains how tenants and whole communities have benefited from some of the training initiatives.

Originality/value

The paper highlights some of the benefits that training initiatives can bring.

Citation

(2011), "Training brings triple gains at Guinness Northern Counties: Housing association begins to build a coaching culture", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 19 No. 6, pp. 29-32. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670731111163509