Why Orbit?
About Orbit
Orbit was established in 1967 by two people on a park bench contemplating how to tackle homelessness. The passion they felt about the inequality in the access, scale and quality of available housing was channelled into positive action, and Orbit was created.
Nearly 60 years later, we're one of the leading housing providers in the UK. Our services have diversified, our housing portfolio has expanded, and our reputation as an innovator within our sector has grown. Our purpose today is every bit as important as it was when Orbit was founded.
But one thing has never changed. Our belief in people and what they can achieve.
Our people are key to our success. We know that colleagues who are motivated in their work, feel valued, respected and are united in achieving our purpose and mission, leading to delighted customers.
We’re an award winning team and have received numerous accolades including WhatHouse Housing Association of the Year as well as the coveted 5* Housebuilder from the Home Builders Federation (HBF).
We have a strong culture of health and safety and are proud to have been awarded RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) Gold for health and safety and customer safety for a number of consecutive years.
We also do a lot of work in our local communities. Read about our local initiatives and all Orbit news.
Our 2030 strategy
For nearly 60 years, we’ve been a force for positive change, believing that everyone is entitled to a good-quality home that they can afford, in a place that they are proud to live.
As we look towards 2030 and beyond, our purpose remains the same: We’re committed to providing good-quality, affordable, and safe homes that our customers are proud to live in and can sustain through the support services we offer, and to create inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods that enhance their lives.
We know our positive impact starts with our colleagues, so we’re committed to providing an inclusive workplace where you can learn, grow and thrive, too.
This is our purpose and what drives us every day. This is #OurWhy.
Read how our Customer Commitments, Values, Colleague Commitments and Employer Promise all fit together.
Our People Strategy
Our People Strategy is focused on actively:
- Building individual and team capability
- Inspiring leadership
- Sharing our pride and purpose in our ambition
- Building an organisation that is fit for the future
We are proud to be supporters of:
- The Armed Forces Covenant – we have achieved the gold award status
- The HouseProud Pledge
- Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant
- Disability Confident employer scheme - committed status
- Mental health at work commitment.
Diversity and Inclusion
We believe in creating a workplace where colleagues can be their true selves at work. Our Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) framework is aligned to our People Plan and weaves diversity and inclusion into everything we do.
Colleague Ambassadors
Our Colleague Ambassadors help to drive our Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing approach and we have colleague-led diversity networks focussing on Neurodiversity, LGBTQ+, Women in Business and Armed Forces support.
We work alongside our Customer Engagement groups to raise awareness and champion change, creating a space to share experiences and impart knowledge to others.
Sustainability
Our Sustainability Strategy sets out how we ensure everything we do maximises our positive social and environmental impacts.
Developed with customers, colleagues and other stakeholders, our new Strategy sets out clear objectives and targets for each of its four pillars:
These range from delivering social value and positive customer interventions, to achieving net zero carbon, and reducing our gender pay gap.
Orbit Earth
The environmental pillar of our Sustainability Strategy is Orbit Earth. Under this programme, we have three priorities:
- Climate action to become net zero carbon
- Enhancement of outdoor spaces to improve the quality of natural resources including biodiversity, land, water and air
- Sustainable consumption to manage resources, materials and products responsibly