Staff on the move at Orbit First Step

Exciting developments at Orbit First Step have led to a series of job changes and new appointments. After Orbit First Step was announced as the Local HomeBuy Agent in a total of six regions, staff changes have been made to ensure that the highest levels of service are offered as they have been in Norfolk and Suffolk for the past three years.

As well as maintaining its HomeBuy Agency status in this region, Orbit First Step now also provides the gateway to affordable housing in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire; Coventry and Warwickshire; Hereford and Worcestershire; Staffordshire and Shropshire; and Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.

Karen Coleman is now the HomeBuy Agency Team Manager, responsible for overseeing all the regional HomeBuy Agencies in Orbit First Step’s areas of operation.

New to Orbit First Step are Sarah Hipkiss and Jenny Spencer, both of whom were previously working with Key Homes East in Bedfordshire. Sarah takes on the newly created role of Stakeholder Relations Manager East (covering the Norfolk and Suffolk and Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire regions), while Jenny is now the Stakeholder Relations and Events Officer for Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

Also new to Orbit First Step, and taking on the position of Stakeholder Relations Manager West (covering all regions within the West Midlands) is Margaret Snook, formerly of Mercian Housing. She is supported by two Stakeholder Relations Officers who were also previously with Mercian Housing – Jackie Lediard and Olwen Ryan.

Helen Dean has been promoted to HomeBuy Agency Customer Services Manager and will be in charge of four HomeBuy Officers and five Customer Services Advisors.

Karen said: “We were, of course, delighted to be announced as England’s largest HomeBuy Agent. With a total of six regions under our belt, we are establishing new teams of dedicated and experienced staff to ensure a smooth transition into our new role and to ensure a continuity of service to all those looking for affordable housing in all our areas. We’ve also forged good relationships with registered social landlords, solicitors and independent financial advisors in these new regions so that we can work in unity to provide an exceptional service to our clients and to help them into homeownership as seamlessly as possible.”

For further information on Orbit First Step, visit Orbithomebuyagents.co.uk.