Thrive Homes’ Assistant Development Director named Disability and Access Ambassador for Housing

28 July 2021

Vanessa Dockerill, Thrive Homes’ Assistant Development Director has today been announced as the Housing Disability and Access Ambassador for the Cabinet Office Disability Unit. Vanessa has been appointed to the Unit on behalf the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Justin Tomlinson.

Vanessa is one of 12 ambassadors appointed to ensure that businesses are doing all they can to support their disabled customers and employees. Her role as the Ambassador for Housing is a newly created one, along with ambassadors for the energy industry, hospitality and universities.

Commenting on her appointment, Vanessa said: “I am passionate about improving the accessibility and standard of services for disabled people across the sector, so I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as the Disability and Access Ambassador for Housing. The quality of service for disabled people has come a long way over recent years, but there is still a lot more to be done and improvements to be made, which working with the industry I am keen to drive forward.”

Justin Tomlinson MP said: “I am very excited to welcome this incredible, impressive group of people as new Disability and Access Ambassadors. They will help support the existing team with our programme to increase access for disabled people across a wide range of private sector industries, and I am really looking forward to working with them.”

Alongside her role as Assistant Development Director at Thrive Homes, Vanessa is also a Board Member of Habinteg, a housing association which champions accessible and adaptable homes for disabled people. She has 30 years of experience across the construction, private housing development and affordable housing sectors. Having previously worked for Redrow Homes, Taylor Wimpey Major Developments and Catalyst New Homes.

As a professional landlord with a strong ethical code, Thrive Homes is committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone it provides services to and to the people it employs and does business with. The landlord has a strong track record of adapting its existing stock to meet the needs of disabled customers as well as ensuring future homes meet the needs of all its customers.