Housing’s Next Generation – your chance to shine in 2025

HQN’s Housing’s Next Generation competition is back for 2025!

2024 winner Anne Bentley receiving her award from Alistair McIntosh, HQN

The annual competition designed to showcase the best new talent in the social housing sector is now in its fourth year and we’re looking for a bumper crop of entries from housing associations, local authorities, ALMOS and other relevant organisations.

Housing’s Next Generation is about giving new housing professionals a voice – to share their thoughts and ideas and help shape the future direction of the sector. We’re specifically looking for people from a diverse range of roles and backgrounds who can bring fresh thinking to the challenges faced by housing organisations, our communities and the residents we serve.

Last year, Anne Bentley, a neighbourhood manager for Worthing Homes, was crowned the winner at HQN’s annual conference in London after impressing delegates and judges in a closely fought final, which involved the six finalists debating key housing issues in front of 120 senior housing professionals.

It was the culmination of a competition that saw shortlisted candidates battle through a series of rounds, including a semi-final where they had to demonstrate their leadership and teamwork abilities in a task built around the conversion of a former hotel into a homeless shelter.

Commenting on why young housing professionals should enter the competition, Lizzie Skillen, a quality assurance and standards officer at Brent Council and former finalist, said: “The social housing sector can sometimes feel daunting as a young person as, despite the years of experience that everyone else seems to have, it’s not a career path that’s well-known or celebrated.

“Coming together with others reminded me how important the next generation is to the sector, and the challenges it faces in the years ahead. I’m extremely proud to have reached the final of the competition alongside five inspiring young professionals.”

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for ambitious and talented housing professionals who:

Show leadership potential whether through individual or team tasks
Are passionate about delivering excellent services to residents
Have a commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion
Want to make improvements to the social housing sector
Are ready to take the next step in their careers.

Why you should take part in Housing’s Next Generation:

Personal development – to help develop analytical, writing and presentation skills
Confidence – to gain the confidence to be a leader and express ideas
Opportunity – previous winners and finalists have gone on to become directors and gain wider recognition across the sector
Networking – to be part of a growing network of young housing professionals through our Next Generation Hub
Exposure – to experience different aspects of housing, helping prepare for future challenges.

So, don’t be shy – it’s your time to shine!

How to enter

To nominate yourself or a colleague click here and fill out the entry form. The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 9 April and the successful candidates will be announced later in the month.

Competition timeline

	Closing date for nominations
	The top 20 are announced
	Completion of the top 20 challenge
	Judges select and announce the final 10
	Live semi-final and final five announced
	Final five take part in the first round of the grand final at day one of the HQN annual conference
	The finalists take part in a final live session at day two of HQN’s annual conference. Audience vote for the winner

Meet the judges

We’re delighted to announce this year’s esteemed line-up of judges, featuring HQN’s chief executive, last year’s winner, and a host of leading lights from the social housing sector. They are:

Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive, HQN