Jenny Neville

Group Executive Director at ForHousing

1 Tell us about your career and how you ended up in your current role

My career is completely random!

I started work as soon as I turned 16 at McDonalds. I became a manager at 17 which was a great experience, although I probably worked a bit too hard as I remember falling asleep at school.

I then went to work at Asda at 18 and did a bit of everything.

I then landed a summer internship at a law firm in my second year at university. They offered me a job after I graduated as a marketing executive.

During my time there I worked with an interim finance director that was overseeing a merger with another law firm. He was a non-executive director for a heating and property maintenance business, and he introduced me to the Managing Director and owner.

I joined this company and took a business development role, helping to grow it significantly over a five-year period before turning my hands to delivery. I became a director at 27. I went on to help sell the firm to a blue chip business.

I then went to work for a civil engineering contractor, running their internal operations, before having a short period of self-employment whilst I had babies!

This led to me working for a social housing consultancy, providing support and advice to registered providers. This was how I came across ForHousing, and I became part of the leadership team in September 2019.

2 Describe yourself in three words

Passionate, enthusiastic, advocate   

3 Favourite place on earth?

Home (in the shower or in my PJs!).

4 What would you change about yourself?

I’m proud of who I am: my accent, my upbringing, my values.  However, I do have a tendency to want to demonstrate value for money and this can sometimes translate into an unhealthy work ethic. This is something I’m aware of and working on. I really value the great support I get from my colleagues with this.     

5 Describe your home

A happy and safe 1970s renovation! Shared with my two children, James and Eleanor, my husband, Paul (“Nev”), and our dog, Bryn.

6 What makes you angry?

Intolerance, disrespect, aggression and violence.

7 Most treasured possession

My family’s health. I can live without all physical possessions.

8 Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Be true to you and believe you can!

9 If you won £1m on the Lottery, what would you spend it on?

I’d love to set up a social investment fund supporting and advising community start-ups with their business ideas and providing access to business mentoring and support from non-executive directors.

10 Biggest achievement?

People. I’m so proud of the achievements of others who I’ve supported or mentored.

11 Biggest regret?

Hmm that’s a tough one. I don’t believe in regrets. I’ve made loads of mistakes, but I’ve learned from all of them.

12 Most overused phrase?

‘Deep dive’? Or ‘cut to the chase’ (although no-one ever does!).

13 Recommend a book

The Little Book of Winning by Humphrey Walters. It’s a pocket book and relates sporting success to business success which I’m a huge advocate of.

14 The best piece of television in the last 12 months?

Strictly Come Dancing – what a final! What a showcase of diversity and inclusion. I was really proud that the final included a gay man, a black woman and a deaf woman.

15 Tell us a secret about yourself

People may not know that photos of my wedding were once used by the Church of England to promote church weddings!