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Staff Spotlight: Nick Beasley

Welcome to the first instalment of a new, monthly feature we’ll be running here on the Mobysoft blog in which we give you the opportunity to get to know some of our in-house experts a little better. First up is Nick Beasley; a seasoned social housing pro having occupied a variety of roles within the sector but who now dedicates his time to helping our customers drive efficiencies within income teams as income maximisation director at Mobysoft.

How did you come to work in social housing?

Like most people in social housing – by accident. When I graduated from university the job market was weak and I was desperate to just start working, so I sought out any entry-level job available. I began working for my local authority processing housing benefit and council tax benefit (as it was then). I held this role for 18 months before starting with a housing association as a tenancy support officer, before quickly moving into income collection.

Describe yourself in three words:

Driven. Hardworking. Boring.

Can you tell us a bit more about yourself and your past experience within the social housing sector?

In the past I have worked in financial inclusion and income recovery officer roles, before moving through management and leadership roles. Pretty much all of the roles I’ve held have been centred on achieving high levels of performance and ensuring tenant indebtedness is reduced, whilst focusing on building financial resilience for tenants to mitigate future changes. I’ve always been incredibly driven and hardworking in order to ensure the best results and outcomes are delivered for both the housing provider and the tenant.

Having worked for both housing associations and local authorities I understand the unique parameters of both. I’ve also worked across England and Scotland and so appreciate each regions’ own unique social housing challenges too. Although I stumbled accidentally into social housing, it was the best accident that could have happened to me as I didn’t really know what to do after graduating. As it turned out though, I happened to find a sector and a series of roles that I really enjoyed and now I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

What does your role at Mobysoft entail?

I provide client centred consultancy that supports customers in achieving their goals.

What is the most interesting part of your job?

Challenges and people. You think you have seen it all (within reason) but literally every client and set of people are unique and throw up their own unique challenges.

What are your biggest challenges at the moment?

The biggest challenge is always people. Irrespective of the environment i.e. economic climate, there is always an opportunity to achieve goals and support tenants to reduce their indebtedness. However, it can be a challenge in convincing some people that this this is the case and changing their attitudes or existing habitual approach can be extremely difficult, even when their existing approach hasn’t worked in the past.

Laurie and Nick - two IMDS

What’s most meaningful part of your job?

Two-fold. I am very social purpose driven, so supporting and enabling teams to deliver better outcomes and reduce tenant indebtedness is always the greatest and most meaningful part of the job. The second aspect is helping teams and organisations realise what can be achieved with a different mindset and a different approach – it’s an incredible feeling to see those who were perhaps struggling or not getting full value from their existing approach turn it around.

How do you measure the success of the outcomes directly influenced via your role?

I keep it simple. I ask the clients what they deem to be successful from my intervention and work with them to achieve it. It’s not about me, it’s about them. Success is measured based on achieving the OKRs they want to realise.

What would you say are the biggest challenges faced by social landlords in the current climate?

People (again). People are always the greatest determinant of success or failure, not the economic climate as many would have you believe. Recruitment, retention, and motivation of the right people is extremely important. Housing is not always seen as an attractive career choice for many, which is a shame, because it is incredibly rewarding.

Working on anything interesting at the moment?

Nope. Of course I am! Every single day is interesting. Every client and every interaction is interesting! Every product development working group is interesting! There’s too many interesting elements to list if I’m being honest.

How would you describe Mobysoft and what it does to the uninitiated?

Simple – Mobysoft’s RentSense is the greatest and most proven rent analytic software tool on the market. By applying complex algorithms and predictive analytics it significantly reduces workloads for teams so that they are only looking at tenants they need to look at, freeing up capacity they require to sufficiently support tenants in solving issues or barriers to sustaining tenancies. 

If you could wave a magic wand and change one aspect of the social housing sector overnight, what would it be?

Slightly controversial…I’m a big believer in ‘attitude determining altitude (success)’. If I could wave a magic wand I would give everyone a positive and solution-focused attitude. If teams, the sector as a whole and everyone associated with it worked in this way I think we could deliver even greater outcomes for tenants. I’d also extend this to the government of the day too.

What has been your proudest achievement in housing?

In my previous role I was responsible for a 20,000 home local authority where I assisted in reducing tenant indebtedness by £3m whilst simultaneously improving financial resilience and pre-payments by £1.2m.

What has been your proudest achievement at Mobysoft?

From a personal perspective I’d say overcoming my introverted nature and delivering our largest ever series of IMD events in order to support clients deliver better outcomes for tenants.

What are your other passions outside housing?

Football. I’m an avid follower of Sheffield Wednesday (for my sins).

How do you unwind after work?

Reading mainly.

What is your ideal holiday?

Italy. I love the culture and the food especially.

Hopefully that rather illuminating interview has provided a bit of insight into the passions and motivations of a key staff member and given you a more rounded view of our personnel. Be sure to head back to these very pages at the same time next month for Staff Spotlight where we’ll be getting to know our Chief Technology Officer, James Davison, a little better.

Dean Quinn
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