Working at Onward

Whether customer facing or in a supporting role, all our colleagues are joined by a shared mission of what we call The Onward Difference: providing safe, affordable homes and delivering services that make a positive local impact.

We do this by fostering a culture built on respect, inclusivity and continuous improvement, ensuring all colleagues are empowered and supported throughout their journey with us.

Our vision and values

As one of the largest registered providers of social housing based solely in the North West of England, we build, manage and maintain affordable homes and work with partners to support our communities.

We are a not-for-profit organisation, regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing, and our work has a strong social purpose. Together, we’re guided by our values of respect, creativity and excellence, ensuring we deliver homes and services that have a real, positive impact on the communities we serve.

Explore our current vacancies

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Benefits and wellbeing

We offer a fantastic range of workplace benefits designed to support colleagues at every stage of their career. This includes 32 days’ annual leave, flexible and hybrid working options, a matched pension scheme, healthcare support and everyday discounts.

Colleagues can also access learning and development opportunities, volunteer through social value days, and get support from our Employee Assistance Programme and in-house Mental Health First Aiders.

Take a look at our full colleague benefits package

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Learning and development

We foster a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are supported to develop, grow and succeed. Through learning programmes, coaching, leadership development, and on-the-job opportunities, we help colleagues build the skills and confidence to reach their potential.

We encourage colleagues to shape their careers through internal progression, professional qualifications, and ongoing development opportunities. By investing in learning and leadership capability, we enable our people to thrive and make a positive impact in our communities.

Reward and recognition

We recognise and celebrate the contributions our colleagues make. We think it is important to acknowledge great work, and all colleagues are able to recognise the success of their peers through our benefit platform FRED.

On the spot awards are available, as well as our Annual OnAwards, where we celebrate the great things colleagues have done throughout the year to make The Onward Difference.

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Welcoming diversity

We are committed to maintaining an inclusive and diverse organisation that reflects the communities we serve. This means promoting equality of opportunity and striving to create working environments free from discrimination or harassment.

The Equity Forum plays a key role in helping make Onward an inclusive, supportive, and fair place to work. Its purpose is to ensure that a wide range of colleague and customer needs are considered when decisions are made across the organisation. At its core, the forum helps drive equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Colleague voice

The Colleague Forum is a group within Onward that helps ensure colleagues’ voices are heard and represented across the organisation.

It acts as a structured way for colleagues and managers to engage, share views, and discuss topics that matter to colleagues across the business.

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Colleague testimonials

I get all the training and development that I need to do my job. 10/10.

Customer Service Centre

Very happy with the training and development opportunities available to me.

Customer Involvement

I've completed many training programmes this year and feel that Onward are at the forefront of keeping us updated on regulatory changes.

Onward Repairs

Great opportunities at Onward compared to other companies I have previously worked at.

Onward Environmental

In my monthly performance conversations, I'm always asked if there is anything I would like to learn for personal development such as courses.

Onward Repairs

Our accreditations

We’re proud to be recognised through a range of accreditations that reflect our commitment to inclusion, fairness and support. This includes our membership of the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge, our status as a Real Living Wage employer, and our Investors in People Silver accreditation.

We are also a Disability Confident employer and hold Silver recognition through the Armed Forces Covenant. These commitments help us create a workplace where people feel valued, supported and able to reach their full potential.