Martin Fox
Cohort 6 – Development Manager
Name: Martin Fox
Current job title: Development Manager (North) with Stonewater
Internship/Placement role: Trainee Development Officer with Leeds Federated Housing Association
Degree: Town Planning
Where are you based: West Yorkshire
Background:
I am originally from Leeds and after I finished my degree I knew I wanted to work for a Housing Association but I was not sure in what department.
The GEM programme helped me realise that my degree in Town Planning could be directly used in working in Development for a Housing Association. This helped to give my career focus which, after 3 years out of university, was starting to stall somewhat. I’d had numerous interviews for housing jobs but didn’t have the relevant experience to secure these.
The variety of modules completed as part of the CIH qualification, the leadership skills developed, coupled with the variety of insight I got into all aspects of a Housing Association has helped me to progress quickly since finishing the GEM programme; from Development Assistant to Development Officer to Development Manager.
What do you enjoy about your current role?
In my current role as Development Manager for Stonewater I manage the development programme in Yorkshire and Leicestershire. This involves delivering around 100 new properties each year through a mixture of S106 units purchased from house builders and sites acquired and then built out ourselves.
My role is massively diverse and no day is the same. I really enjoy what I do as I am involved from inception of a site, right through to completion and seeing the brand new homes handed over to tenants, most in need, gives you a great sense of satisfaction.
Housing Associations are very good companies to work for in general and employees are well looked after. My current organisation has an ambition to make it into The Times Top 100 Companies to work for.
What advice do you have for anyone looking to apply?
Grab it with two hands; it’s a great career choice! Go on the website of the Housing Association your applying for, if the good news stories of the work they’re doing doesn’t inspire you to want to work in Housing, then it’s the wrong industry for you I’m afraid.