A NORTH-EAST housing association is in line for further national honours just weeks after winning a prestigious “UK Employer of the Year” award.

North Star Housing, which has its headquarters at Thornaby, recently won the award at an event, organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing, and jointly incorporating the Housing Heroes Awards and the Women in Housing Awards.

Now, the association has been shortlisted for the Landlord of the Year title in the UK Housing Awards and is also a finalist in The Investors in People Awards 2021.

North Star’s Chief Executive, Angela Lockwood, said: “Coming on top of the ‘Employer of the Year’ award, this is further testament to the dedication our staff have shown over an incredibly challenging period. I could not be prouder of what they have achieved.”

Staff have “gone above and beyond” over the past year, including contacting nearly 1,000 customers at the start of the pandemic to identify those who were vulnerable or at risk of isolation.

North Star also invested £20,000 in grass roots organisations to deliver food parcels and prescriptions, and generally keep vital services flowing.

A successful partnership was also forged with the Teesside-based Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing charity to deliver food aid through a community hub owned by North Star at Thornaby.

Adam Clark, North Star’s Executive Director of Customers, said: “To be shortlisted for Landlord of the Year nationally is a significant achievement for our organisation, competing against landlords across the country.

“It’s a real tribute to the staff who have worked so hard to be there for our customers in difficult times.”

The next round of judging for the Landlord of the Year award takes place in October, with the winners announced on November 25.

Meanwhile, North Star has now been placed in the country’s top ten Investors in People Platinum organisations. Only 1,500 organisations worldwide hold IIP Platinum status, and only the top 20 were invited to enter the UK Employer of the Year Award. The winners will be announced on November 23.

Paul Devoy, Chief Executive of Investors in People, said: “Reaching the final shortlist is a testament to the amazing commitment these organisations are making to make work better for their people, and they truly deserve this recognition.”

North Star Housing manages just under 4,000 homes across Tees Valley, County Durham and North Yorkshire. Properties range from general housing to specialist accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, people with learning or physical disabilities, mental ill health, or fleeing domestic abuse.

North Star also provides homes for older people with support needs and young people leaving care.