John MacQuarrie

Area supervisor, Hebridean Housing Partnership

John MacQuarrie, 51, is area supervisor of Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP), a not-for-profit housing association that took ownership of Western Isles Council's housing stock last year. He is responsible for housing allocations, as well as resolving tenant disputes and estate management.

What has been your most beneficial career experience to date?
Working as a housing officer proved to be good preparation for my current role. It brought me into direct contact with tenants and I learned about their aspirations for the community. I found it very rewarding to deal directly with people and work with them to resolve issues.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?
When I worked for the Scottish Co-operative in retail I was advised to always find time to listen to the customer and to act on their concerns. This is vital in bringing about regeneration to an area, which involves consultation with communities to understand their needs.

What's the best training you've had?
I attended a course by the Scottish Chartered Institute of Housing on urban regeneration companies. I discovered that, although the work I am involved in is in a very remote rural setting, the problems of delivering effective regeneration are similar, regardless of size or location.

What book would you recommend?
Urban Regeneration: A Handbook by Peter Roberts and Hugh Sykes. It got my attention from its opening statement: "Regeneration is a widely explained experience, but little understood phenomenon." It examines good practice and gives an insight into the reasons behind urban problems.

What do you wish you'd known when you started out?
At the outset the main target I set myself was to deliver a project on time and within budget. Although this is important, I have learned to appreciate and acknowledge the strengths of the team and to understand the different elements needed for a successful project.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1980: Works in retail management.
1988: Joins Western Isles Council as housing officer.
1997: Gains HNC in housing studies.
2001: Promoted to project manager, Balivanich Regeneration, at the
council.
2005: Becomes team leader of the council's housing stock transfer.
2006: Takes up the role of area supervisor at Hebridean Housing
Partnership.

Interview by Helen Holtom