Awards
At Tower we have an organisational commitment to excellence with respect to the homes we build and the services we provide, supporting the Mission statement of the L&Q Group of ‘creating places where people want to live’.
Since we began in 1989 we have won over 25 major awards for quality of our services and the design of our homes. We use these awards and accreditations as a useful benchmark of our performance and as a tool to aid continuous improvement.
The following list is some examples of the high profile awards and accreditations we have achieved.
In 2007 Tower Homes received the highest rating possible of three-stars with excellent prospects for improvement following an assessment by the Audit Commission of its services and products for customers. Tower is the first London based Housing Association and only the second ever to achieve this rating.
In recognition of this achievement Tower were presented with a special award in 2007 by Ruth Kelly, the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
Tower Homes was the first housing association to win Charter Mark status, originally in 1996 and has subsequently been awarded the Cabinet Office customer service standard four times in total, including most recently in 2007. Excellence in customer service is a key priority for Tower Homes and the L&Q Group.
Tower Homes are seven times winners of categories at the Evening Standard Homes & Property Awards. The most recent occasion was in 2007 with our Sakura Drive scheme, which was highly commended by the judges for its innovative design and use of materials. Great design is a key consideration for Tower and L&Q when we build our schemes.
The London Excellence Awards are assessed on the key criteria underpinning the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Business Excellence Model. Tower Homes were finalists for two categories in 2007, Best in Housing and People Development and Involvement, as well as being highly commended for Customer Focus in 2006.
Tower Homes was voted No.1 Best Small/Medium employer in the coveted Sunday Times Top 100 companies’ competition of 2006. Tower also won a separate award for maintaining the best work/life balance for staff. The assessment for the award was based on feedback and interviews with people at Tower and represented a major achievement, highlighting the passion and commitment of our people.
In 2003 Tower was voted ‘Best of the Best’ Affordable Home Ownership provider in these important housing sector awards. This was on the back of three winning entries in the individual development categories.
Tower Homes was a finalist in the 2005 e-Government awards for its pan-London Housing Options website delivered in partnership with Metropolitan Home Ownership. These awards recognise and praise the best in public sector ICT and e-Government.
Tower Homes won the What House? Award for Best Starter Home in 1998.