HouseMark Scotland has added two new staff members to its Edinburgh based team following sustained growth over the past year.

The organisation has established itself as a leader in the debate on how the social housing sector in Scotland can demonstrate and measure value for money and as a result is seeing increasing numbers take up membership.

Kirsty Wells, head of HouseMark Scotland, said: “The Scottish Housing Regulator’s focus on Value for Money over the last two years has led to more landlords recognising the importance of understanding what’s driving operating costs within their business.

“Our cost and resource benchmarking methodology provides the most reliably validated cost data for the sector, combined with performance and satisfaction data to give landlords the insight they need.”

Gillian Campbell, previously of City of Edinburgh Council, joins the team as knowledge manager.

During her time at City of Edinburgh, Gillian led on the restructuring and redesign of services, co-ordinating the council’s transformation programme within the directorate. She also led the council’s housing strategy.

Gillian said: “I’m really excited to be part of the new, expanded HouseMark Scotland team. I know from experience that HouseMark offers excellent services that can really support landlords to improve the services they provide to their tenants. I’m very much looking forward to meeting our members and partners and working with them to get the most they can from their HouseMark membership.”

Russell Young joins as data services manager. Data has been the common thread through Russell’s diverse roles in public sector procurement and international development. MCIPS-qualified, he worked in purchasing for the NHS at Trust and national levels, University of Edinburgh and Scottish Parliament.

“It is a privilege to be joining the growing team here in Edinburgh,” he said. “I look forward to getting to know our valued members around the country and to providing the high-quality data analysis that they have come to expect from HouseMark Scotland.”

Kirsty added: “I’m delighted to be growing our team in Scotland. This allows our members to draw on locally-based experts who really understand the context ‘on the ground’ as well as the vast knowledge and experience of the national HouseMark team.”

To contact HouseMark Scotland please email monika.gouws@housemark.co.uk or visit www.housemark.co.uk/scotland.