The team won the Innovation Award for its project aimed at bringing properties back into use for Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) staff. The HSCP is facing challenges attracting staff to the area, partly due to a shortage of affordable housing.

The council has therefore launched a two-year project to identify housing opportunities and assist empty homeowners in bringing properties back into use for HSCP staff. This two-year project is the first of its kind in Scotland and is funded by the HSCP and the Scottish Government/Scottish Empty Homes Partnership.

In addition, the team’s empty home officer, Isla Binnie, was highly commended for the Empty Homes Practitioner of the Year, as well as the Rising Star Award - just weeks after she received a commendation at this year’s Scottish Empty Homes Awards, in the Outstanding Contribution category.

The housing services team was also highly commended in the EHN’s Meeting the Challenge Award and the Best Partnership Award.

The EHN Awards recognise the work that empty homes officers, teams, and practitioners do on a daily basis, and celebrate their successes and achievements at a national level.

The council’s policy lead for economic development, Islands, Rural Communities and Housing, Councillor Jim Lynch, said:  “Huge congratulations to our housing services team on this outstanding success, particularly Isla, who has worked tirelessly on this project to address the housing need in Argyll and Bute.

“We are committed to making changes to tackle the housing emergency, and we are working collectively with our partners and stakeholders to ensure that everyone has a place to call home. There is a lot of work going on every day behind the scenes to make this happen and together we will continue to speak up to promote the issues and interests of Argyll and Bute.”