RBH Chief Executive takes another pioneering step

Gareth Swarbrick

Tenants and employees at pioneering social housing mutual Rochdale Boroughwide Housing have a new voice at a national level after Chief Executive Gareth Swarbrick was appointed to the board of mutual think-tank Mutuo.

Mutuo is a not-for-profit society committed to campaigning for a better understanding of the benefits of mutual businesses, and conducting policy research on issues of importance to the mutual sector.

Following the adoption of their "mutual rules" on 26 June 2013, RBH is the first social housing mutual to be co-owned by both tenant and employee members, and is the largest mutual social housing organisation in the country.

Mutuo provided advice and support to RBH through the transfer and mutualisation process, and in 2011 Gareth co-authored a Mutuo report entitled "Social Housing: Made Mutual" with Cliff Mills, Mutuo Principle Associate.

Gareth Swarbrick said: "I am very pleased to be asked to join the Mutuo Board. Over the past 3 years RBH has benefited hugely from Mutuo’s advice and support, and through working with Mutuo we have developed strong and fruitful links into the wider mutual sector.

Joining the Mutuo board will give me the opportunity to further develop the mutual sector for the benefit of communities across the country, and to learn from the good practice of other mutual organisations so that we can improve the RBH service for tenants and residents here in Rochdale"

Mutuo Chairman, Andrew Haigh, said: “Through the changes he has implemented at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing Gareth has shown himself to be a leader and innovator in the mutual sector. I’m delighted that he has joined the Mutuo board where he can offer his unique and valuable perspective.”