Hough Bellis: My Year in the Social Housing Sector

For me, it’s been about pausing to reflect on my first year in the professional world and the housing sector. When I graduated from university in the summer of 2024, I could never have imagined that my first professional role would make me feel so connected to people or give me such a powerful sense of purpose. 

Joining Hough Bellis Communications as a Junior Account Executive in January 2025 was a huge – and honestly scary – transition, going from essays and research projects in my Leeds accommodation to joining the fast-paced comms world and working with organisations that make a real social impact. 

Working in the sector has given me a front-row seat to the difference that good communication and supportive relationships can make. Behind every campaign, every press release, and every story we tell are people striving to create fairer, safer, more sustainable homes and communities. I have quickly learned in this role that gratitude isn’t felt only in the bigger achievements, but from the small, everyday moments when you can see your work contributing to something meaningful. 

One of the things I’m most grateful for in my first year of work is having so many strong women around me. From my colleagues at Hough Bellis to the clients we work with, I have seen how women are valued and counted on in this sector. 

Hough Bellis has had women at the centre of the company from the very beginning, with Catherine Bellis being one of our two founders, and now with five out of eight of our small team being women, the company culture is truly inclusive and empowering. This culture thrives because it isn’t upheld by women alone. Our Managing Director has always been a champion of creating a genuinely inclusive environment, and our male colleagues play an active role in making sure everyone feels respected and heard. Their support isn’t loud or performative – it’s consistent, everyday actions that help create a place where women can thrive without having to fight for space.

As a young woman stepping into my first full-time role, knowing I will be listened to, valued and trusted at work has been a relief – a relief that, sadly, shouldn’t need to exist, and a reminder that simply being respected at work can feel like a privilege. I have heard stories, as we all have, of company cultures in various sectors where sexism can be rife and the consequences can be devastating, especially for young women.  I feel incredibly thankful to have had any worries about joining the workforce and an unfamiliar sector completely squashed by the amazing team around me – women and men together – who make Hough Bellis the supportive place it is.

I’ve been fortunate to attend several events and conferences this year, where our clients share their insights on housing. Hearing from women like Nicola Ebdon (Lincolnshire Housing Partnership) and Amanda Newton (Rochdale Boroughwide Housing) at the 2025 Housing Community Summit highlighted the expertise women bring to the sector and the influence we can have on policy, governance and delivery. These instances remind me of how representation is so important, and how much women benefit when we see each other succeed and are there to champion one another. 

At Hough Bellis, gratitude is part of our culture. Every Friday, I share a ‘weekly highlights’ WhatsApp message celebrating wins and reflecting on what we’ve achieved together. It’s one of my favourite parts of the week, especially when I can celebrate my colleagues’ successes and uplift them. A WhatsApp message may seem small, but it is invaluable to us. I am thankful to work somewhere that not only sees value in the outcomes we deliver for clients, but in the personal growth we encourage for each other along the way. 

In a sector that has been under national spotlight this past year and regularly faces incredibly complex challenges, there is something very grounding about seeing the optimism, resilience and generosity that so many women bring to their work. I have found it can be easy to get caught up in deadlines and deliverables, but gratitude helps shift my perspective. Through recognising the human side of what we do and the shared purpose that unites people across organisations, roles and regions, I feel thankful to work in an industry which makes me proud to tell people what I do. 

As I look ahead to the next year, I am grateful to be taking with me the lessons that 2025 has brought me, about teamwork, resilience and the power of a supportive community. Gratitude is not passive. It is an active choice to recognise what’s good, even when things seem difficult or uncertain. And in the social housing sector, surrounded by people who truly care about making a difference, there’s so much to be grateful for. 

Emma Gerrard, Junior Account Executive, Hough Bellis (WISH Partner)