A senior manager with not-for-profit Housing Plus Group has been recognised with a prestigious national award.

Amy Griffith is operations manager with Property Plus, the repairs and maintenance part of the group, where she leads teams carrying out improvements and repairs to 6,000 homes and retirement living schemes in Shropshire. This week Amy was named Inspirational Leader of the Year at the Housing Heroes Awards in Manchester.

The awards, held jointly by Inside Housing and the Chartered Institute of Housing, recognise the commitment, passion and hard work of the unsung heroes of the housing sector.

The judges described Amy as “Someone who is capable of inspiring others, leading by example and producing results by getting the best out of the people she works with.”

Amy started her career as an administrator in a housing association and is the first women to reach her level of management in Property Plus. She has become a powerful advocate for careers in construction, particularly among women who are less likely to enter the sector.

“In housing I discovered an environment where I could make a real, practical difference to the lives of people and communities. As part of Property Plus I’ve had fantastic opportunities to develop my skills in a positive, supportive environment,” she says.

The benefits of Amy’s leadership are already being felt in Property Plus, with a strong female presence across functions from compliance to surveying and project management.

“The proportion of female trainees is increasing too and they are excelling in their field,” said Andrew Kenny, assistant director of Property Plus. “Amy has played a big part in that success by encouraging and mentoring people at the start of their career. She is an inspiring figure for other women in the business.”

More than 250 people were nominated in this year’s Housing Heroes Awards, with Housing Plus Group also celebrating the success of customer Michael Ratcliffe. Michael has spent much of his adult life supporting and acting as an advocate for people with learning difficulties and was one of the national finalists in the Tenant Lifetime Contribution Award.