Ricky Mingle - Communications and Marketing Officer

How did you start off in your role and what's a typical day like?

Hey everyone, I’m Ricky Mingle and I work as a Communications and Marketing Officer for Your Homes Newcastle. I joined YHN in April 2019, having worked my whole career in the private sector. I also work as the Chair of our Diversity@YHN staff network group, which is all about bringing equality, diversity and inclusion, and giving staff from all ethnic backgrounds opportunities to progress their careers. 

Working as a Communications and Marketing Officer, no two days are ever the same. There is so much variety to the job. One day I could be out and about meeting our staff or customers, taking photo’s or filming videos to share with staff and customers, and the next day I could be at my desk writing content and designing flyers to share in our weekly newsletter or our website. 

My main area of focus is internal communication which involves engaging with staff and keeping them informed of what’s going on around the business, cascading information from the senior leadership team and other departments. Staff engagement is a big part of my role, so I work closely with our wonderful people and policy team to deliver on our people plan. 

My role as Chair of our Diversity@YHN staff network group involves me raising awareness of any cultural events and acting as a voice for staff from ethnic backgrounds. Working closely with our EDI Lead, Hayley and other network group Chairs, our aim is to make YHN an inclusive place to work for every employee. 

What do you enjoy most about your job?  

I love the variety of my role and the freedom I have been given to take ownership of a project and make it my own. I love interacting with different parts of the business and gaining an insight into how the different aspects of YHN come together to provide a great service for our customers and make living easier.  

What do you love about YHN? 

YHN is like a family and is defined by the people who work here. Everyone is very welcoming and always willing to get involved in projects and working together to ensure our customers are supported.  

As a single parent of two young girls, the work/life balance and flexibility YHN provides suits my personal life and allows me to carry out my job in a stress free environment. 

There are loads of benefits for staff who work here, including the mental health and wellbeing support every member of staff has access to.