Meet The Team

The Villages Senior Management Team are responsible for the strategies that run the business.

Vernon Jackson - Chief Executive

I have worked at VHA since 1983, but I started my housing career back in 1971.

My main responsibilities include making sure that:

The Villages Housing Board controls the affairs of the association within its rules
Villages makes an effective and innovative contribution to meeting housing need with an emphasis on excellent service standards, equality and diversity and community engagement whilst remaining financially viable.
Villages staff are well motivated and effective, the same for our partners and stakeholders

In my spare time I serve as a school governor and as a tutor on the Expert Patient Programme with Sefton Primary Care Trust. This programme is based on encouraging and developing self management skills to people with long term health conditions to maximise their quality of life and self esteem.

Email me at Vernon.Jackson@villages.org.uk

Jed Pearson - Deputy Chief Executive

I am responsible for the operational (customer facing) services at Villages. These include the maintenance service, improvement programmes, rent collection; estate services, such as landscaping and caretaking, dealing with anti social behaviour, ensuring our empty homes are repaired and re-let promptly. I am also part of the Senior Management Team who are responsible for implementing the strategy set by the Board.

I have been at Villages for 4 years now, the time has really flown.

I'm a keen fan of rugby union, former player but too old now, and I have an emerging hobby in photography.

Email me at Jed.Pearson@villages.org.uk

Bernie McConnell - Head of Housing Services

It is my job to make sure that we provide excellent service to all customers and that customers at both offices receive the same high standard of service.

I am also responsible for making sure that the Customer service team keeps to its performance targets.

For example, income management is vitally important to us; we need to make sure that we collect rents and other charges on time and give helpful advice to customers who may have financial issues. When we get an empty property, the time it is empty loses money so we need to get it ready for the new tenant to move into in a short time as possible to reduce rent loss.

I joined Villages on 15^th March 2004 when the Fitton Hill estate was transferred from Oldham Council. I wanted to give Fitton Hill customers a much better standard of service that they received from the council and working for Villages made sure that I could do that.

I have been a passionate Manchester United fan since I first remember watching them in 1963 and yes, I am from Manchester! Sometimes this can be very stressful, especially when most of your colleagues support Liverpool or Everton and you boss supports Manchester City!!

Email me at Bernie.Mcconnell@villages.org.uk

Ken Mason - Corporate Services Director

My main responsibilities and duties include:

The overall management of the IBS computer system;
Continuous improvement;
Policy and Procedure reviews;
Risk Management;
Training and Investors In People;
Performance Data production and monitoring
Management of our internal Quality Assurance Team

I have been at Villages for nearly 27 years and I recently turned 50 and have re-discovered a love for climbing that I gave up 23 years ago, when the first of my two daughters arrived. I have always been keen on the mountains - walking, skiing and climbing - and am discovering that life most definitely begins, not just at 40, but at 50 also!

Email me at Ken.Mason@villages.org.uk

Serge Botcherby - Finance Director

I am part of the Senior Management Team responsible for strategic planning. I am Head of the Finance and Human Resources (personnel) departments. I am also responsible for preparing and presenting budgets, financial forecasts and accounts and for ensuring Villages Housing has enough money to pay for services and repairs to existing tenants and housing stock and for building new houses or providing new services.

I have been at Villages Since September 1990.

Email me at Serge.Botcherby@villages.org.uk

Sarah Bevan - Initiatives Director

I am responsible for marketing and growth across the organisation. This is a wide and challenging remit but it is also very interesting. It ranges from leading on stock transfer opportunities, obtaining funding for new projects, promoting the association to residents and new customers, entering awards and managing a 15 unit shopping centre in Stockbridge.

Recent successes include obtaining funding for the largest community energy savings project in the Merseyside region, the development of a 15 unit dementia scheme in St Helens and winning a national Chartered Institute of Housing Award 2011 for our Safer Communities Initiative in Stockbridge Village.

I started work with Villages in August 1992. I came to Villages on secondment from the Housing Corporation (now the HCA) and stayed. How time flies!

I have an allotment down by the Mersey and, as well as enjoying growing fruit and veg, I find it a good way of relaxing. My son and partner are involved in a football team, so I seem to spend a lot of time taking people to/from football matches. Fortunately I do actually enjoy watching the game!

I also enjoy swimming, photography, walking and travel.

Email me at Sarah.Bevan@villages.org.uk