Housing 21, a national retirement housing provider for older people of modest means, has won the Best People Team award at this year’s Investors in People (IIP) Awards, recognising its focus on workplace culture, staff development and employee experience.
The not-for-profit organisation manages more than 24,000 properties and delivers over 48,000 hours of social care each week through its Extra Care and Retirement Living schemes. Its People Team was commended by judges for creating a strong learning culture, championing staff wellbeing and making a tangible impact across the organisation.
The IIP Best People Team award celebrates human resources and people professionals who drive lasting change and ensure employees feel valued and supported throughout their development. Submissions were judged on how teams foster a positive culture, enable progression and improve the working lives of colleagues at all levels.
Leadership credits team culture and collaboration
Director of People and Culture at Housing 21 Ian Hodson said the award reflected the values that guide the organisation’s work.
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“This award win is a fantastic achievement for the People Team and everyone at Housing 21. Winning Best People Team at the IIP Awards is a proud moment for us all,” he said. “It’s a testament to the passion, care and commitment our team brings to supporting colleagues across the organisation.”
He said the company’s relationship with IIP had enabled Housing 21 to benchmark progress and learn from others.
“We’re thrilled to be recognised for putting people at the heart of everything we do. We have a fantastic relationship with the Investors in People Team. The opportunities their insights and networks have allowed us are testament to our approach of learning from others and collaborating with others to positively impact the employee experience.”
Staff satisfaction hits 82% as provider retains top accreditations
The award follows strong internal results for Housing 21, with its 2025 employee survey recording an overall satisfaction score of 82 percent. The survey, conducted with support from Investors in People, gathered feedback from staff across roles and regions to understand their experience and identify areas for further improvement.
The housing provider said the findings will help shape future people strategies, with a continued emphasis on culture, communication and individual support.
In July, Housing 21 retained its Investors in People Platinum accreditation and was also awarded the IIP Wellbeing Gold standard. Both are considered marks of excellence and reflect a high level of organisational commitment to employee experience and support.
The latest recognition adds to a growing list of achievements for the organisation. In 2024, Housing 21 was named Housing with Care Employer of the Year, and it went on to win the Best Sustainability or Net Zero Future award at the Retirement Living Awards. In 2025, it received a silver award from the RSPCA PawPrints programme for its approach to housing.
Housing 21 said it would continue to review and refine its approach to people development, with a view to retaining its Platinum status and deepening its focus on wellbeing. The organisation has stated its aim is to build a workplace culture where all employees feel valued, supported and able to thrive.
