This is part of a special report produced in partnership with Gleeds
“Housing is a great career for women, but we need to do more to highlight the variety of roles available and the flexibility within them,” says Elly Hoult, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive of Peabody and president of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).
Based in Cheltenham and working primarily in London, Hoult leads the operational running of one of the UK’s largest not-for-profit housing associations, overseeing 109,000 homes across London and the South-east.
With a career spanning more than 25 years, she has progressed from a supported housing officer to executive-level roles, demonstrating resilience and a deep commitment to the sector.
Hoult’s journey into housing was not a conventional one. “I left school when I was 16,” she recalls. “As a teenager, I worked as a shop steward in a hydraulics factory. Purely by chance, I took an admin job at Cherwell Housing Trust, which ultimately became A2 Dominion, and worked my way up.
“I grew up living in social housing, and from my early days working in the industry, I could see the profound difference that housing associations make in people’s lives. So housing just felt like a good fit for me.” Now, as CIH president, she is on a mission to raise awareness of housing as a career choice through her Choose Housing campaign.
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Reflecting on pivotal moments in her career, Hoult credits Barbara Harrington, a former senior leader at Cherwell Housing Trust, for inspiring her early on. “She was so approachable and such a strong advocate for women, including junior women like me,” she says. “She inspired me and encouraged me to go for my first promotion – that’s when I became a housing officer.”
Despite her achievements, the journey has not been without challenges. “The pandemic was particularly difficult. But we had a responsibility to carry on, and we found ways to adapt,” she says.
She has also faced sexism in the workplace and has been a strong advocate for gender equality. “As a woman, I have experienced sexism at different points in my career and coming into the sector I definitely suffered from imposter syndrome,” she explains. “I call out sexism when I see it, and I encourage men to be anti-sexist… it’s not enough for women to say, ‘don’t be sexist’ – we need men to say the same.” She actively mentors women in the sector, helping them advance their careers.
We need to offer more part-time roles, and we need to have a more nuanced conversation around care responsibilities (which, sadly, still fall largely on women) and what women need from their employers
Elly Hoult, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive officer, Peabody
Among the projects she is most proud of is CIH Futures, an initiative she helped establish to give young housing professionals a voice in shaping the industry. “As a society, we often think experience is purely down to age, and I feel young people are often overlooked. We need to listen more to that generation,” she says.
Hoult believes attracting more women to the housing sector requires structural change. “We need to offer more part-time roles, and we need to have a more nuanced conversation around care responsibilities (which, sadly, still fall largely on women) and what women need from their employers,” she notes. “It’s really important we see more women in senior positions – in roles where they have a say and can make the changes we need to see.”
Asked whether she sees herself as a role model, Hoult is clear: “I recognise the position of influence I’m fortunate to hold, and I see it as my duty to pave the way for more women to come through.” She draws inspiration from leaders such as Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, as well as political figures like Florence Eshalomi MP and deputy prime minister Angela Rayner. “They’re both incredible leaders who’ve grown up in social housing – just like me,” she says. “I am sure they would have had to have worked twice as hard to achieve their success.”
For Hoult, career success is not measured by titles or accolades. “I don’t measure myself in terms of big career achievements. It’s my privilege to be in a position where I can make decisions that help people,” she says.
Her advice to women considering a career in housing is simple: “Don’t wait for things to come to you – you need to take up space, know your worth, and be confident in what you can bring.”
