Customer Scrutiny Panel: recruitment pack
Learn more about our Customer Scrutiny Panel role below and apply here via our application form.
About Sage Homes
Sage Homes is a Registered Provider of affordable homes across England. We work with the largest house-builders to deliver new homes for shared ownership (part buy, part rent) and low-cost rental homes.
Our customers are at the heart of our business and we’re committed to providing high quality homes and an excellent service through our own housing management service. We're proud to have delivered the most newly built homes in England for five consecutive years.
Our rented homes are let exclusively to those on local authority waiting lists, while our shared ownership homes let people get onto the property ladder. We’re regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing and pride ourselves on our high standards, from our homes’ build quality to our customer service.
The Customer Scrutiny Panel Chair
Julia Porter is the Chair of the Panel.
Hello, I’m Julia Porter and I’m the Chair of the Customer Scrutiny Panel. I’m passionate about making sure customers have a strong voice in shaping the services that affect their lives. That’s why I’m inviting you to consider joining our panel.
We’re looking for people from all walks of life who care about their communities and want to help improve how services are delivered. We welcome those with relevant skills and experience but you don’t need to be an expert, just someone who’s willing to share ideas, ask questions and work with others to make a difference.
I bring over 13 years of experience as a Non-Executive Director across housing organisations, listed companies, start-ups and charities. I’ve chaired customer service and fundraising committees and I’ve seen first-hand how powerful it can be when customers are involved in decision-making.
If you’re curious and community-minded, I’d love for you to apply. Together, we can make sure we hear our customers’ voices and use what they say to drive better outcomes for everyone we serve
Julia Porter, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Customer Scrutiny Panel
Person specification
Role title: Member, Customer Scrutiny Panel
Responsible to: Chair, Customer Scrutiny Panel
Experience and knowledge
- Understanding of corporate governance and/or the housing sector
- Experience of working in a committee setting or of representing collective interests of a wider group of people
- Experience or knowledge of working in a regulated environment
Abilities and skills
- Has time and energy needed to fully undertake the role’s responsibilities, including attending quarterly virtual meetings, preparing and reading papers in advance, attending induction and training and carrying out other scrutiny tasks as needed
- Able to analyse, interpret and absorb performance information and evidence effectively and identify relevant points for discussion
- Able to undertake research and contribute to reports and recommendations that are balanced and evidence-based, taking into account regulatory standards, good practice and the operating context
- Able to co-lead customer insight groups to help extend Sage’s customer consultation to reach a wider customer base
- Able to express views clearly and effectively in meetings, making reasoned and thoughtful contributions
- Committed to service improvement and value for money
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Shares the vision, values, commitments and ethos of Sage Homes
- Future-focused: embraces change, improvement, self-reflection, learning and development
- Able to work in a team, acting and thinking about what is best for Sage Homes and all its customers.
Principal terms and conditions
Position: Member, Customer Scrutiny Panel
Remuneration: £2,000 per annum plus provision of technology as required, as well as induction, training and personal development
Hours: Attend four meetings per year (held in the evening, mainly online and lasting around two hours each), including any necessary preparation, plus one in-person planning meeting where reasonable. Occasional invitation to attend Sage’s Customer and Assets Committee meeting. Participation in induction, appraisal, training and development and scrutiny tasks as required and co-lead for customer insight groups.
Location: Quarterly meetings will be held virtually. There may be occasions where a meeting will be hosted in-person.
Application: To apply, please complete our online application form.
You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24 hours (working days) acknowledging receipt of your application. It’s your responsibility to make sure we’ve received your application.
Key dates
17 April 2026 – Application deadline
Late April 2026 – Shortlisting and interviews
May 2026 – Panel member selection and onboarding (including vetting checks)
May-June 2026 – Training period
11 June 2026 – First Customer Scrutiny Panel meeting