Information for Applicants

Central Borders Housing Group began operation in August 2007 and is borne out of the secure foundation that is South Staffordshire Housing Association, the largest social landlord in South Staffordshire.

The Central Borders Area

Our offices are based in South Staffordshire which has a growing population of 106,000. It covers a predominantly rural area of 101,000 acres, adjacent to the western and northern edges of the West Midlands conurbation and extending northwards to the fringes of Cannock and Stafford, southwards to the Worcestershire border, and westwards to the boundary with Shropshire.

The District has been described as “a community of communities”, ranging from very small rural hamlets of a few houses to villages of varying size, but with no dominating large town.

First and foremost this is a rural area, where industry and commerce is assimilated into the countryside rather than dominating it. Here is the green fringe to the industrialised West Midlands. Most of the area lies within the Green Belt or is defined as “Open Countryside". Even the more built-up north east of the district, with its connections in the past with the Coal Industry borders the attractive Cannock Chase.

Communications

People mainly live in villages or small market towns – but the cities and towns of the region are only minutes away. This really is what sets South Staffordshire apart and makes it special. Effectively, you live and work here. You are out in the country but close to the towns – an unbeatable combination.

South Staffordshire can rightfully claim to be at the centre of one of the country's best communications networks. Two motorways, the M6 and M54, run through the district, and there are rail links to InterCity stations in Wolverhampton and Stafford. Birmingham International Airport, East Midlands Airport, and Manchester Airport can be reached easily and quickly.

Housing and Other Amenities

South Staffordshire has seen a rapid expansion of housing in the last 25 years as its villages have proved attractive to people prepared to travel to the nearby urban areas. Properties are mainly owner-occupied, with only a small percentage of social housing (provided by South Staffordshire Housing Association and other Housing Associations) and little private renting.

Properties for sale are available in every type, size and price. There is a substantial demand for housing, with the number of house sales on the increase. The attractiveness of the District is reflected in house prices which are higher in the southern part of the District than most neighbouring areas.

There is a wide choice of educational facilities with nearly all villages having a Primary School. Middle and High Schools are in the larger populated areas. Further education facilities are available close by in Wolverhampton, Stafford, Dudley and Stourbridge.

The area has a rich legacy of historic landscapes and buildings, with many cultural, recreational and leisure opportunities on offer. These include historic houses such as Weston Park, stately home of the Earls of Bradford, and Himley Hall, formerly owned by the Earls of Dudley and now open to the public; both are set in superb ‘Capability Brown' landscapes. In addition there is the District Council's Baggeridge Country Park, Kingswinford Railway Walk and many restored waterways.

Board of Management

The Group's Board of Management consists of five members, including three Independent Board Members and two Board Members nominated annually to the Group by each member organisation. The Board possess a multitude of relevant professional skills such as accountancy, law, property development, housing management and banking. The Board Members are all volunteers and are governed by Rules based on the National Housing Federation's 2005 Model rules.

Equal Opportunities

Central Borders Housing Group is committed to pursuing an Equal Opportunities Policy. The Group seeks to achieve equality of treatment for all its employees without discrimination or prejudice on the grounds of a person's race, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, cultural background, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability. The Group will deal firmly and promptly with any cases of discrimination or harassment, ensuring that it meets its legal duties under the Race Relations Act 1976, The Race Relations Amendment Act 2000, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Use of Your Personal Information

The Group holds all data in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Your data will be used solely for recruitment to the advertised vacancy for which you are applying. Data related to the Recruitment Monitoring form is held separately from your application form and used only for anonymous statistical information.

If you are unsuccessful, your data will be retained for six months. We may ask for your consent to hold your data for up to six months for consideration should another similar vacancy arise in that time. On occasion, we may ask you for feedback on our recruitment process.

Location of Offices

The Group is located at Acton Court, Acton Gate, Stafford, Staffordshire ST18 9AP.