A young woman from Glasgow has been selected as the first recipient of a new qualification fund.
Tia Coutts, 22, from Barrowfield, has been awarded the Irene Robertson Qualification Fund from West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA).
The fund was established in memory of Irene Robertson, a long-serving WSHA colleague who died in October 2024.
It supports one young person each year to begin a career in housing by combining academic qualifications with practical work experience.
Read more:
Glen Michael dies aged 99 as tributes paid to Scots TV legend
Tia, a member of a WSHA household in Barrowfield, will complete a fully-funded Introduction to Housing qualification through the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) between June and October this year.
She said: “The Irene Robertson fund is a great opportunity for me.
“I was brought up in social housing so I know what a difference getting a social home can make to people.
“You are part of a community and your neighbours are like family; we are always helping each other out.
“I really enjoy helping people and that’s what drew me towards housing as a career.”
Alongside her studies, Tia will complete a 16-week placement at WSHA’s head office in Barrowfield.
She will be mentored by housing officer Suzanne Quigley, who has worked at WSHA for more than 20 years.
Ms Quigley said: “The Irene Robertson fund is an excellent entry to working in housing and we’re delighted to have Tia as our first trainee.
“Tia is very motivated and already showing great understanding of what we do here at WSHA.
“Over the next few months she’ll be gaining a huge amount of knowledge and experience between her studies and the practical experience gained during her placement.
“All I can say is that she should immerse herself in all of it.”
She also offered advice for people looking to step into a career in the housing sector
Ms Quigley said: “Housing has a great range of opportunities, but there isn’t always a clear route into the sector.
“Taking on a temporary role or apprenticeship is a good first step, and then there are also many levels of housing qualification for those who wish to get more involved too.”
The CIH’s current campaign, Choose Housing, offers resources and advice to raise awareness of careers in the housing sector.
Callum Chomczuk, national director for Scotland at the CIH, said: “The Irene Robertson Qualification Fund is a brilliant initiative.
“It pays tribute to a dedicated housing professional who was committed to lifelong learning and it provides a great opportunity for a young person to make their mark in housing.”