Be EPIC – the new presidential campaign from Jill Murray BA FCIH

After taking up the role of Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) president at CIH’s annual general meeting (AGM) on 6 October, today Jill Murray BA FCIH unveiled her presidential campaign, Be EPIC, which will run throughout her time in office.

Be EPIC champions the elements that make us competent professionals, highlighting how technical competencies must be coupled with personal competencies and behaviors, continued learning and hard work to be successful. It stands for:

• Be Educated by seeing life as an open-ended learning opportunity, always seeking to learn and develop, and embracing mandatory qualifications
• Be Professional by developing both technical and personal competencies and utilising resources such as the CIH professional standards
• Be In control by taking responsibility, striving for achievement, and embracing the wider housing community
• Be Chartered Institute of Housing by becoming a CIH member, making the most of membership benefits, and studying with the Housing Academy.

The campaign will also promote how an incredible career in housing can be achieved, alongside the diverse range of job opportunities that are on offer in the sector.

Professionalisation is one of the biggest focus areas in housing currently, particularly following the Social Housing (Regulation) Act receiving Royal Assent earlier this year, which includes mandatory qualifications for managers and new competency standards.

Commenting on her campaign launch Jill Murray BA FCIH said:

“No matter who you are, home is the place where everything begins and if you work hard, you can achieve anything you want, no matter where you come from. The work we do as housing professionals is so important, that's why, I’ve developed Be EPIC.

“We all have a responsibility to continually improve our skills and knowledge and take ownership for our development in order to be the best housing professionals we can be. I have a learning curiosity and education has been an integral part of my working life to help me grow and succeed. I am a massive fan of continued professional development (CPD) in its broadest sense and I believe it is my willingness to embrace lifelong learning that has led to the great opportunities I’ve had – its opened doors for me that I might not have known were even there.”

Within the Be EPIC campaign, Jill has chosen to raise money for Action for Children, a children's charity created to help vulnerable, disabled children, young people and their families throughout the UK. Their vision is that every child and young person has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Jill said:

“Too many children are growing up with their families struggling to make ends meet and statistics released in July of this year demonstrate that child poverty numbers throughout the UK have been continually rising.

“This is why building foundations for children to have a happy, healthy and supported life, fits incredibly with Be EPIC, and I would like to thank everyone who is kind enough to support this wonderful charity which will make a positive difference to the life of a child.”

Gavin Smart, CIH chief executive welcomed Jill’s Be EPIC campaign commenting

“As housing professionals and organisations, we know that by collaborating we can learn from each other, to inspire, innovate, and evolve our work and make an even bigger impact.

“Jill’s presidential campaign, Be EPIC, comes at a time when housing is being recognised as a profession of importance, highlighting the need for continually learning, developing, and evolving which we know our members value. Jill’s campaign provides an excellent platform to inspire all housing professionals to take pride in their qualifications and take their professionalism to the next level.”