Sarah Marsden, Director of Communications, Moat
I began my career in social housing nearly 30 years ago, and looking back, it was housing that chose me, rather than the other way around. I started out as a team secretary in a support services directorate; I probably didn’t appreciate it at the time, but it gave me the best start in housing, exposure to so many of the support services and in turn opened doors to so many areas of the business for me to experience, before I eventually found my true home in communications and design. Along the way, I built strong foundations with roles in both external and internal communications and even retrained as a graphic designer setting up an in-house design team. From there, I went on to lead creative services before circling back into communications, where I am today.
One of the things I love about housing is it’s deeply personal and we all have stories to tell. I’ve seen my own family members thrive in social housing and shared ownership, so I know firsthand the positive impact it has. And while the work of our amazing frontline teams is often most visible, what many don’t see are the incredible teams behind the scenes, from Data and Tech, Finance, People Services and so many others, with exceptionally talented people who keep the wheels turning. I love that my job allows me to yo-yo across all the different teams experiencing every aspect and telling amazing stories as I go.
The other thing I love is the perspective it gives me, looking from the inside out, I can see the difference we make every single day in people’s lives. At the same time, I’m able to observe how housing is perceived within society, which fuels my passion to be an advocate for our sector. It’s about more than just providing homes; it’s about showing that what we do truly matters, that we create stability, opportunity, and positive change in communities.
