Our 2025 Employee Survey Results!

We are proud to share the results of our recent employee survey which demonstrates the enjoyment staff attain from working as part of the team at FCHA. This was the first time we used an external company to gain this insight from our teams . Below are just a few of the highlights from the survey.

• 92% Employees took part in the survey

  
  

• 91% were satisfied with engagement

  
  

• 94% satisfaction with company and Customers – understanding how our work fits into the bigger picture and benefits customers.

  
  

• 94% of satisfaction with personal performance being completely clear about the performance expected from us at work.

  
  

• 94% satisfaction on Attention – having positive interactions with our colleagues and manager.

  
  

• 94% satisfaction on Meaning – feeling that our work is meaningful

  
  

We are extremely proud of these results and of the amazing work our staff undertake to make FCHA such a great place to work.

Introducing Women with Technical Roles at FCHA

Across the UK, the housing sector has long been a male-dominated spaces in departments such as Maintenance, Technical Services and Development.  At FCHA we have been making strides to develop a more inclusive atmosphere to increase diversity across all departments.  

Over the past 3 years we have seen a significant transformation with our Maintenance and Technical department increasing  from 0% female representation to over 50%. Bringing women into these spaces is not just about increasing numbers or hitting a goal, it's about the value that diversity within these departments beings to our organisation. Here's Keeli, Sian and Tina to give their experiences in the workplace.  

Keeli - Technical Services Assistant Manager

I was made redundant in 2008 and it gave me an opportunity to re-evaluate my work journey. I had trained to become a home inspector/energy assessor and when the recession started in 2008, I was looking at  job security and reduced risk ,thus entering housing. Here I learnt the  ropes for reactive maintenance. 

Over the years, I have improved my knowledge, works skills and experience within housing in all aspects, as the property is affected by every department. As I'm fairly new to FCHA, I would say the benefit would be the transition into dealing with a different type of contract holder role and the varied requirements and needs. 

As a female in this industry, I have had some challenges and know other females that have had worse experiences than myself. In some parts of the country, it's still perceived to be a male dominated industry, and I would say with experience I don't have those challenges as much. Training and experience helped improve this as I can confidently talk about a lot of the building industry and not listen to derogatory comments or language.  Women in my role has moved with the times. There are still  challenges for women is in the trade community with a low number of electricians, carpenters and  heating engineers and  still I  hear horrendous stories of sexist comments. 

Tina - Apprentice Electirician

I think being an electrical apprentice it made sense to work in housing as it is a perfect mix of repairs and new installations to help me gain the skills I will need to qualify. FCHA is the perfect fit for a female in this sector due to the support and empowerment they give to women in my role.

FCHA Supported me by giving me a whole year of experience working alongside the electrician before I could start my 3rd year at college. They also gave me all the relevant training I needed throughout my time here. They have helped by giving me time to revise for exams and any support I have needed they have given. Being a woman in the electrical industry can bring a balance to projects as different life experiences often mean a wider range of ideas, problem solving approaches and communication styles.

I think the diversity can lead to stronger collaborations and bring a different perspective and outlook on tasks. I'd like to see more awareness and opportunities in the housing by promoting trade careers to people. 

Sian - Development Officer  

When I was a newly qualified architect, being a young woman on construction sites with an influential role could be intimidating. I learned quickly that the guys on site didn’t take well to being told what to do. So, I started asking, ‘this is what we need to achieve, how would you do this?’ Listening to their point of view earned me respect and meant they were also willing to listen to my approach. Nearly 20 years on, I’m still applying this, and think it makes for better results and respectful relationships with contractor and consultants. 

I grew up around makers, fixers and designers. My family ran a consulting engineering firm, so my sister and I spent a lot of time poking around dilapidated buildings with my dad and folding endless construction drawings in the school holidays. When I moved back to Wales around 8 years ago, I took a job at a practice specialising in social housing. It was really refreshing to be working with a purpose, and I enjoyed working with RSL clients to get the most out projects for their tenants. During the covid pandemic I took role with Housing Justice Cymru, identifying buildings and land for the development of social housing and lobbying policy makers to provide more affordable housing in Wales. I encountered FCHA through HJC and really loved their mission, so when a role came up in the development team, I jumped at the chance to get back in the action of providing homes, turns out I’d really missed the problem solving and technical challenges of being on site. 

Coming to work for FCHA was a big culture shock, I was used to working in the private sector. FCHA invest time and money into our development and wellbeing, and the structure in place allows us to get on with the job of creating new homes. The development team has an array of experience that complement nicely, everyone is approachable and ready to share their experience or expertise to help deliver the schemes. Whilst I might be the only women on the team, I don’t feel like I’m treated any differently. 

I think women have to be great problem solvers, as we’re used to living in a world that isn’t always designed with us in mind; which makes it easier to empathise with our tenants. With my experience of designing buildings, I often help review layouts with the team. I try put myself in the shoes of our tenants and think, could we make this more comfortable or easier to use, and are we thinking about their future needs? 

I think the housing associations are a great place for women in construction, as early adopters of equality, diversity and inclusion frameworks they are a safe environment for feeling seen and supported in the construction industry. FCHAs gender diversity across all roles is a great example of this and I would hope that it would in encourage more women to join the organisation in technical roles as we continue to grow and demonstrate that collectively we are better team because of it. 

Why it's important to us.

Women entering these roles provides fresh insights and alternative approaches to problem solving. Their contributions have led to a wealth of new solutions and innovative strategies to projects that the Association manages and strategically bring new perspectives to long term strategies to improve the organisation and the livelihood of staff and tenants. This ripples out beyond strategies at the organisation and influences our recruitment practices ensuring that we now attract a broader range of applications and foster a more inclusive workplace culture.  

The impact of this is significant in the context of social housing. Women make up 60% of homeless adults in temporary accommodation and 92% of single parents moving into social housing.

Having women involved in the design, development and maintenance of these homes ensures that the lived experiences of those most affected are considered in every decision from layout to safety, accessibility and comfort.  

We're continuing to listen, learn and lead with inclusivity at the heart of our mission. 

Hate Crime: Don't Ignore it. Report it.

If you believe that you are a victim of a hate crime, please report it by calling 101.

Dial 999 if it's an emergency.

Os ydych yn credu eich bod yn dioddefwr o trosedd casineb, rhowch wybod amdano drwy ffonio 101 os gwelwch yn dda.

Ffoniwch 999 os yw’n argyfwng.

What is Hate Crime? | Beth yw Trosedd Casineb?

A hate crime is a crime against someone because of: Mae trosedd casineb yn drosedd yn erbyn rhywun oherwydd:

Their disability or learning difficulty

Eu anabledd neu anhawster dysgu

Their race or the colour of their skin

Eu hil neu liw eu croen

Their religion or beliefs

Eu crefydd neu gredoau

Their choice to say they are male or female or transgender

Eu dewis i ddweud eu bod yn gwryw neu benyw neu’n drawsrywiol

Their sexuality - gay or straight or something else

Eu rhywioldeb – hoyw neu syth neu rhywbeth arall

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Almost any type of crime can be a hate crime.

Gall bron unrhyw fath o drosedd fod yn drosedd casineb.

Hate crimes can include:

Gall troseddau casineb gynnwys:

Doing or saying things to hurt someone

Gwneud neu ddweud pethau i frifo rhywun

Damaging property Difrodi eiddo

Graffiti Graffiti

Setting fire to something on purpose

Cynnau tân i rhywbeth yn pwrpasol

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Hate crime can also happen online - like on Facebook or Twitter

Gall troseddau casineb digwydd ar-lein hefyd – fel ar Facebook neu Twitter

Being different is not a crime

Nid yw bod yn wahanol yn drosedd

But if someone commits a crime against you because you are different, that is a crime.

Ond os bydd rhywun yn cyflawni trosedd yn eich erbyn oherwydd eich bod yn wahanol, mae hynny’n drosedd.

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People who have suffered a hate crime

Pobl sydd wedi dioddef trosedd casineb

People who have suffered a hate crime can feel upset, hurt, or confused.

Gall pobl sydd wedi dioddef trosedd casineb deimlo’n cynhyrfu, brifo neu ddryslyd.

They can get support to help them deal with the situation.

Gallant gael cymorth i’w helpu i delio â’r sefyllfa.

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Don’t ignore it. Report it. | Peidiwch a anwybyddu. Adroddwch amdano.

If no one stops hate crime, it can get worse and affect more people.

Os nad oes neb yn atal trosedd casineb, gall waethygu ac effeithio mwy o bobl.

If you report a hate crime, the police can do something about it.

Os ydych yn adroddiad trosedd casineb, gall yr heddlu wneud rhywbeth amdano.

The police take hate crime seriously. They will look into it fully.

Mae’r heddlu’n cymryd troseddau casineb o ddifrif.

Byddant yn edrych i mewn iddo yn llawn.

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Confidential | Cyfrinachol

No information will be shared without your agreement.

Ni fydd unrhyw wybodaeth ei rhannu heb eich cytundeb.

You will be treated with respect.

Byddwch yn cael eich trin â pharch.

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Punishment | Cosb

If someone commits a crime which is also a hate crime, they will get a bigger punishment.

Os bydd rhywun yn cyflawni trosedd sydd hefyd yn drosedd casineb, bydd yn cael mwy o gosb.

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Support | Cefnogaeth

At First Choice, our housing officers are here to give support if you have been a victim of a hate crime.

Yn First Choice, mae ein swyddogion tai yma i rhoi cymorth os ydych wedi dioddef trosedd casineb.

The police will also have hate crime officers who will give you support.

Bydd gan yr heddlu hefyd swyddogion troseddau casineb a fydd yn rhoi cefnogaeth i chi.

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How to report a hate crime | Sut i riportio trosedd casineb.

You can report a hate crime to the police by calling 101.

Gallwch riportio trosedd casineb i’r heddlu drwy ffonio 101.

You can also report it to FCHA at

Gallwch hefyd riportio i FCHA yn

South/Mid Wales - email Dave: davidbingham@fcha.org.uk

De/Canolbarth Cymru – e-bostiwch Dave: davidbingham@fcha.org.uk

North Wales, Shropshire or Telford - email Sarah: sarahfaire@fcha.org.uk

Gogledd Cymru, Shropshire neu Telford - e-bostiwch Sarah: sarahfaire@fcha.org.uk

Or phone us: 029 2070 3758

Neu ffoniwch ni: 029 2070 3758

In an emergency, always call 999

Mewn argyfwng, ffoniwch 999 bob amser