Blogs

Board Spotlight: Neil Perrins, Chief Financial Officer at CHP

In our Board Spotlight series, we introduce you to the people who make up the LHCPG Board.

The Board is integral to the way we operate as a not-for-profit organisation and each member has a part to play by offering unique insights from their experience working for various housing associations across England, Scotland and Wales.

In this latest Q&A, find out more about Neil Perrins, who joined the Board in April 2023.

Can you share a little about your professional background and expertise?

My career has spanned senior roles in the housing and transport sectors. I am currently Chief Financial Officer, and part of the Executive Management Team, for CHP, a housing association in Essex. I am also an Executive Board member there.

• I joined CHP from Barking Riverside – a Joint Venture between the Mayor of London and L&Q – where I was Finance Director, delivering thousands of new homes and associated transport and other infrastructure through regeneration of the old power station site.
• Prior to that, I was the Executive Director of Resources at Golding Homes. I also spent 15 years at Transport for London, my final role being the Head of Financial Planning and Analysis for the Group at the £10bn annual budget Public Transport Authority.
• I am also an experienced Non-Executive Director. I am on the Board and Audit Committee at Saxon Weald, a housing association in Sussex.

That follows recently completing a six-year stint as a Board member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at Croydon Churches Housing Association. I am of course also an independent Board member here at LHCPG.

• I am a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and recently completed a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Warwick.

What drew you to LHC Procurement Group?

Quite simply, the opportunity to contribute to the successful transformation of LHCPG into an independent, commercial organisation, building on the successes achieved over many years.

What is your role on the Board, and where do you envision LHC Procurement Group in the next three years?

I am an independent Board member and sit on the audit and risk committee. I would like to see LHCPG build strong foundations as an independent organisation.

While some things can transfer from the previous structure linked to the Council, being an independent commercial organisation means there are things – particularly governance – that need to evolve to meet good practice and ensure LHCPG can thrive and grow.

From your perspective, what are the most important things framework providers should be focusing on?

Three things: great customer service to the organisations being engaged with; a relentless focus on value for money as the country faces challenges of affordability; and to never forget that all that is provided through frameworks ultimately impacts a human being and their lives. Retaining humility and focus on the right overall outcomes is always important.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

My two young children take up most of my time outside of work!

However, through their hobbies, I’ve become a qualified referee and recently a football coach. Beyond helping them, it also helps keep me fit, which is increasingly hard as I get older!

I’ve also progressed to become a coach and mentor for referees, and it’s great to be able to help support all ages progress in their referee careers.