Futures Housing Group has joined an elite group of businesses after achieving an internationally accredited health and safety standard.

Futures, which manages around 10,000 properties across the region, has gained the ISO 45001 accreditation after a rigorous audit of the organisation’s approach to health and safety. 

Ian Skipp, Futures Housing Group’s Director of Finance and Resources, said: “This standard is recognised worldwide, so it’s great news for Futures to join the best of the best when it comes to health and safety. 

“It demonstrates the importance we place on the welfare of our people, our customers and our partners as well as showing the pride we take in making sure our work practices are carried out to the highest possible standards.” 

Phil Tooley, Futures’ Board Health and Safety Champion, said: “What this shows is that there is a culture of health and safety truly embedded within Futures. 

“It’s not just about people in offices; we have lots of workers out in the field doing genuinely dangerous jobs – such as tree surgeons and repairs teams who work with machinery and at heights, so looking after them is important. We’re really proud of the achievement.” 

To achieve the standard, Futures was subjected to an in-depth audit process over a six-month period which included looking at areas such as risk management and staff training.  Senior managers and staff across Futures were also interviewed to test the knowledge of the people working for the organisation. 

Dean Tonks, the Group’s Health, Safety and Environment Manager, said: “I’m really pleased, not only because of the high-level endorsement given to our health and safety management system, but more so for our own employees who have collectively made this happen.” 

The achievement is the latest health, safety and environment accolade achieved by Futures after it retained its ISO 14001 certificate for committing to environmentally friendly business practices in March 2019. 

Futures also won a Love Recycling award with waste management experts Enva in March 2019 for its dedication to reducing its carbon footprint.   

The ISO 45001 was developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation, and aims to improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks and create better, safer working conditions, all over the world.