Governance and Executive

The board and leadership team working together in a clear and focused way is fundamental to the successful delivery of our strategy. Our governance and senior team structures are fully aligned to support the delivery of our strategy.

The Bernicia Group comprises a main social housing company (the Parent) and one subsidiary board: Kingston (the Commercial Board). The structure is shown below:

Accessible group structure

Bernicia is the social housing company and group parent.

Kingston is the commercial company within the group.

Bernicia logo

(Social Housing Company
and Group Parent)

Kingston logo

(Commercial)

Governance

Our Group board is supported by five Committees:

Audit and Risk:  Internal and external audit, risk landscape and internal controls and assurance.

Investment: New development and existing stock improvement and repairs and maintenance.

Customer Services: Service delivery, tenant involvement and engagement, customer experience and insight.

Remuneration, Resources and Appointments: Advising board on governance, remuneration and Board and Committee appointments.

Community Investment: Employability and corporate social responsibility, community projects, procurement social value and neighbourhood grants.

Our board and committee arrangements provide focus and oversight of each strategic objective. There is clarity in the roles and responsibilities of our boards and committees, individual board members and officers and our arrangements are streamlined and modern. The Bernicia Board retain ultimate control over the subsidiaries as the Group Parent. Board membership and succession planning is based on an analysis of the skills and experience required to deliver the overall strategy and the four key outcomes together with a consideration of the diversity of the membership. We have increased the diversity of the board over the past few years, improving both the gender and age balance and bringing in a wider range of commercial experience. We undertake a triennial review of our governance structures and arrangements to ensure they remain fit for purpose and support the delivery of our plans.

Executive Team

The Chief Executive provides the overall strategic leadership, ensuring that Bernicia is working positively and collaboratively to help deliver the regional agenda, supported by four Executive Directors, each with responsibility for a key strategic objective.

Our Executive team are supported by a hardworking and dedicated Senior Leadership Team that effectively contribute to strategy development while delivering strong operational and financial performance.

Executive structure

This structure shows the Chief Executive, executive priorities, executive leads and senior leadership team areas.

Accessible executive structure

The Chief Executive links to corporate strategy, governance and regulatory compliance, corporate social responsibility, working collaboratively to support opportunity across the North East, and Company Secretariat.

Consumer Regulation

Executive lead: Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director, People and Place.

  • Bernicia Commercial
  • People
  • Business Change

Demonstrating Organisational Effectiveness

Executive lead: Executive Director, Finance.

  • Risk and Assurance
  • ICT
  • Finance

Investing in Homes and Communities

Executive lead: Executive Director, Assets and Growth.

  • Development
  • Property Maintenance and Construction
  • Assets and Growth

Listening and Delivering Value for Money Services

Executive lead: Executive Director of Communities.

  • Supported and Specialist Housing
  • Housing and Neighbourhood
  • Customer Insight and Engagement
  • Employability
Bernicia HQ (Large)

Meet our Board of Directors

Fundamental to the successful delivery of our strategy is the board and leadership team working together in a clear and focused way. Find out more about who they are.

Bernicia HQ (Large)

Meet our Customer Services Committee

The Customer Services Committee focuses on the Group’s tenant facing service delivery. It provides oversight of our approach to tenant involvement and influence and the improvement of customer experience through insight. The Committee also reviews reports against key performance indicators and strategic priorities.

Bernicia HQ (Large)

Meet our Audit and Risk Committee

The Audit and Risk Committee has responsibility for the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control framework. The Committee also monitors and reviews the financial performance and considers the annual financial statements, making recommendation of their approval by Group Board. In doing so, the committee works effectively with both the Group’s internal and external auditors.

Bernicia HQ (Large)

Meet our Investment Committee

The Investment Committee reviews the Group’s major development proposals and investment in existing schemes, making recommendations to the Group Board. They also review how the repairs service is performing and holds the organisation to account for delivering a reliable service to customers.

Bernicia HQ (Large)

Meet our Remuneration, Resources and Appointments Committee

The Remuneration, Resources and Appointments Committee is responsible for advising board on governance, remuneration and Board and Committee appointments.

Bernicia HQ (Large)

Meet our Community Investment Committee

The Community Investment Committee oversees the delivery of our Community Investment Strategy. This is about the support we provide, alongside quality homes, to help people live well and thrive in their communities. The Committee makes sure this work supports Bernicia's wider goals and meets relevant regulatory requirements.

Bernicia HQ (Large)

Meet our Commercial Board

Fundamental to the successful delivery of our commercial strategy is the board and leadership team working together in a clear and focused way.

Declaration of interests

Declaration of interests

View Bernicia’s annual declaration of interests register for board, committee and executive members, published in line with the NHF Code of Governance 2020 to support transparency and accountability.

Declaration of interests
Statement of Preferred Board, Subsidiary and Committee Composition

Statement of Preferred Board, Subsidiary and Committee Composition

View how Bernicia’s governance is structured and the mix of skills needed to run it well. It also shows how our current Board reflects this approach.

Statement of Preferred Board, Subsidiary and Committee Composition
How we are regulated

How we are regulated

Find out how Bernicia is regulated as a social landlord, the standards we must meet, your rights as a tenant, and our current regulatory judgement.

How we are regulated