Peabody’s longest-serving colleagues rack up 1,500 years of housing history

Peabody recently hosted a celebratory meal for its longest-serving colleagues, who together have spent more than 1,500 years with the housing association. With the average UK worker switching employer every five years, and almost a fifth not staying with the same company for more than two years, their longevity of service is impressive. Most have had a range of roles during their time at Peabody and say they have no intention of moving on any time soon.

Speaking after the meal, Peabody CEO Ian McDermott said: “It was great to meet some of our amazing ‘30-year club’ in-person for the first time. Reaching this milestone shows incredible dedication and we’re very grateful for all their hard work. Between them, they hold a wealth of knowledge and we’re keen to learn from their experiences so we can provide the best possible support for both colleagues and residents.” 

Tony Ayling, who’s been with Peabody for 42 years, believes he owes a lot to the group for the way it’s invested in him. Since starting out in 1983 as a caretaker on the Rosendale Road Estate in Lambeth, he’s studied for an NVQ level 2 in carpentry and been to Southbank University where he studied Residential Surveying. He’s currently working as a surveyor for the legal team and says that the switch to using technology has been a ‘game changer’ and made his life so much easier. He also says that Covid-19 changed the way Peabody had to work, but that now it’s getting back to what he believes it does best – ‘talking to residents and meeting people on estates’.

Peabody employs around 3,800 people in a range of roles from caretakers and neighbourhood managers working on individual estates, to a full range of head-office colleagues, such as call-centre workers, finance managers and communications professionals. It has its own Academy, which has grown from 12 apprentices to 40 in just two years and recently received a top rating from Ofsted. The education regulator said the leaders and managers of the Academy are ‘passionate about creating a culture of lifelong learning’.

For Sharon Barbour, a Community Investment Lead based in Essex and Hertfordshire, it’s the range of roles she’s had during her 30 years at Peabody that has made her stay, as well as the colleagues. “It brings a bit of life and freshness,” she said, adding that she loves being out and about on the estates, meeting residents and people in the local community. “When you’ve worked in good teams and colleagues have helped, inspired and challenged you in different ways, it really makes a difference.” Sharon has had seven different roles during her time at Peabody. 

You can find out more about roles at Peabody at Current vacancies - Peabody or read more about apprenticeships and the Peabody Academy at Peabody apprenticeships – start a long-lasting career - Peabody.