Fold's Fearghal Burke Awarded Young Housing Professional of the Year

Fold Housing Association’s Fearghal Burke (26) from Crumlin has been named Young Professional of the Year by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) at a glittering ceremony held at Belfast City Hall.
The awards, which celebrate excellence in housing and related services across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, saw a record number of applications this year as activity in the sector gains momentum. 
Mr Burke joined the organisation in March 2013 as part of a student placement while studying for a BSc in Housing Management. Following the completion of his degree he secured a full time Housing Officer post with Fold, which is one of the leading providers of social housing across Northern Ireland.
Since then he has shown a real commitment to providing a high quality service to tenants. Mr Burke has demonstrated his ability to take on a more senior role within Fold as required, undertaking additional responsibilities with professionalism and maturity. 
Mr Burke, who is currently Acting Senior Housing Officer, said: “I am delighted to receive this award from the CIH and thrilled for the whole team at Fold. I really enjoy my work at this organisation and realise that we are making a positive impact on people’s lives and communities through our work.”
He added: “Working at Fold has been a challenge which I have thrived on. As part of the housing team I get hands on training and experience in all areas of housing management, from transfer visits, to arrears and voids management to maintenance and attending community consultations so I feel that I am constantly developing in my professional role. No two days are the same, which is how it should be since all our customers are individuals with different needs and expectations. I am proud to be part of the team at Fold. We all work very hard and we all support each other in all aspects of the job.” 
Fold Housing Association was also celebrated for its Excellence in Developing Skills and Capacity, an award which is presented to employers in the housing sector who have developed a culture of learning and improvement.
John McLean, Chief Executive of Fold Housing Association said: “These awards are a testament to the work that is being done within our organisation, particularly on the skills and training side, and the fantastic projects we have completed this year. It is important to take this opportunity to recognise the hard work and commitment of all of our staff who have continually delivered high quality homes for our tenants in areas where they are most needed.” 
Above: John McLean, Fold''s Chief Executive with Eileen Patterson, Director of Housing, Fiona Campbell, Human Resources Manager and Fearghal Burke who scooped the Young Professional of the Year Award 2016.

Below: Fold Housing Association’s Fearghal Burke (26) from Crumlin collects the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) award for Young Professional of the Year.
Below Right: Eileen Patterson, Director of Housing Services at Fold Housing Association, collects the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) award for Excellence in Developing Skills and Capacity on behalf of the organisation.
Please see our Facebook page for an album of images from the evening.'