Scooping a Silver Award at the Learning Awards in London and In-house Lawyer of the Year at the Birmingham Law Society 2026 Awards.
The leading provider of Extra Care and Retirement Living for older people scored the Silver Award in the category Digital Transformation for its Connecting Employees project. The housing association’s digital inclusion initiative has enabled 2,000 of its employees to gain access to all of its internal platforms autonomously for the first time. By equipping employees with the tools and confidence to connect digitally, the project has opened the door to learning resources, communication channels, and development opportunities that previously seemed out of reach.
Jenny Docherty, Apprenticeship and Funding Lead at Housing 21 said: “Winning this award is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of teams across the organisation. The Connecting Employees project has transformed how our colleagues access learning and support, and we’re thrilled to see that impact recognised on a national stage.”
The Learning Awards celebrate innovation and excellence in workplace learning, and the Silver Award for Digital Transformation acknowledges organisations that have delivered meaningful, measurable change through technology.
Birmingham Law Society is the largest local Law Society outside of London, and the awards are a celebration of the best legal talent across Birmingham and the surrounding area. The award win for In-house Lawyer of the Year praised the collaborative approach which balances compliance with resident impact. The award is a testament to key achievements such as the creation of the Housing 21 Residents’ Charitable Trust which transforms a one-off surplus into long-term resident support through robust governance and controls.
Alongside this, the advice provided for development, procurement and policy matters provides clear and pragmatic guidance.
Paul Hutton, Director of Legal Services at Housing 21 said: “We’re thrilled to be named Birmingham Law Society In-House Team of the Year. It’s a brilliant recognition of a small team doing its best to provide clear, pragmatic support, with residents at the centre of every decision.
“A huge thank you to colleagues across Housing 21 – this is a shared achievement, and we couldn’t do our job without your trust and support”
Housing 21 continues to invest in digital inclusion and learning pathways with other digital-first projects in the pipeline.
