(Pictured: Ian Hodson and Carina Monnelly-Owen)

Industry experts have recognised the benefits offered by Housing 21’s employee reward programme by shortlisting them for four national awards.

On 27 June, Housing 21, a leading not-for-profit provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care, will attend the Employee Benefits Awards as finalists in four of the evening’s 22 categories.

Ian Hodson, Housing 21’s Director of People and Culture, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be nominated in not one, but four national awards in recognition of our employee benefits. We know our employees work hard to make a difference to the lives of residents every day, and in return, we want to provide a benefits package that makes a difference to them.

“Whether its supporting with health and wellbeing, helping to save money on day-to-day costs or providing people with more time to truly enjoy that work/life balance, we are proud to offer a rewards package where people can really reap the benefits of working with Housing 21.”

The Employee Benefits Awards recognise initiatives or strategies that were introduced, running or completed between 1 February 2024 and 10 January 2025.

For Housing 21, this included the nine-day-fortnight, offering colleagues the chance to have a three-day weekend every other week; holiday trade initiative allowing employees to buy/sell annual leave and two volunteer days a year.

To help with the cost of living, Housing 21’s financial incentives include Housing Perks, offering discounted rates on high street stores; the Blue Light Card offering promotional discounts on retail, hospitality and leisure and the pension salary sacrifice scheme.

Housing 21 also offers all employees access the cash-funded Simply Health plan offering savings to support employee wellbeing and the Employee Assistance Programme, providing further access to support.

Carina Monnelly-Owen, Housing 21’s Head of People Services,  said: “At Housing 21, we are proud to have delivered on our promise to make Housing 21 a fantastic place to work through offering an attractive and competitive benefits package that supports all employees to be themselves at work.”

At the Employee Benefits Awards, Housing 21 will compete in the following four categories:

• Best Alignment of Benefits to Business Strategy 
• Best Benefits to Support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 
• Best Financial Wellbeing Strategy - Large Employer 
• HR or Benefits Team of the Year 

The awards will take place in London on 27 June. For more information on the awards, visit Employee Benefits Awards 2025 - Home Page