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Yorkshire's Suzy Brain England wins major IoD award

The regional director of the Yorkshire Institute of Directors (IoD), Suzy Brain England, has won one of the top accolades at the annual IoD Awards in London.

Bradford-based Ms Brain England was given the inaugural Dr Neville Bain Memorial Award for her work as chair of Derwent Living, a ‘profit for social purpose’ organisation providing affordable housing to people from diverse backgrounds.

Operating in 41 local authorities across the UK, Derwent Living has a Facilities Management division in Harrogate and recently won two high value Government contracts.

Ms Brain England said she was thrilled to be given the award in memory of Mr Bain, who was a nationally-respected former chair of the IoD.

She said it was testament to the work of the whole Derwent Living team.

After receiving the award from Dr Bain’s widow, Annie, she said: “I think and act like a chartered director all the time and it has been at Derwent Living that this has made a noticeable difference since I started as group chair of the board over three years ago.

“Having a commercial and public service side to the business it was necessary to review the governance.

“We started early to consider the issues that have more recently become a concern to the UK Regulator.

“I also felt that it was important to have a strong business ethos while achieving a social purpose.

“Together we have improved the efficiency and the professionalism of what we do and that will really matter in the forthcoming years as we see how Welfare Reform makes an impact on the income levels of most housing associations.”

Peter McCormack, chief executive of Derwent Living, who nominated Ms Brain England for the award, said: “Suzy has made a huge difference to Derwent Living.

“It’s great that the Institute of Directors have awarded the Dr Neville Bain award in recognition of that.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .