Inside Albyn: HR Business Partner

Thanks for taking the time to read Inside Albyn, where we invite you to step into the diverse world of Albyn Housing Society. Today we are introducing Karolina Straszowska, our HR Business Partner and providing insight into this important role within the organisation.

 

Introduction

Working in HR in the housing sector is a little different from working in HR in other sectors. At Albyn, everything we do ultimately has a purpose – to make a positive difference to our tenants and the communities we serve.

As an HR Business Partner, and now as our Interim Learning and Development Business Partner, I get to support the people who make that happen.

 

What are the primary responsibilities and tasks of this role?

I’m currently seconded as Albyn’s Learning and Development Business Partner, with a focus on supporting our people and the organisation to build a strong foundational L&D framework.

That means listening to what our people and the organisation need, developing and supporting learning opportunities, and putting the foundations in place for people to grow their skills and careers at Albyn. It also means looking at how learning can support our wider organisational priorities and the changing needs of the Scottish social housing sector.

I still support some HRBP work too, which I enjoy. My HR background means I can look at development alongside the wider people agenda, because learning, performance, engagement and good management and leadership are all connected.

 

What does a typical day look like?

There isn’t really a typical day. Every day you start with a plan, and every day your plan changes. Working in HR and L&D, you really do get to practise our value of being adaptable. 😊

I might be meeting with colleagues to understand their development needs, planning a learning session, looking at how we can improve our onboarding, or working on the foundations of our L&D framework.

There is also lots of collaboration. Housing is a people focused sector, and at Albyn we have colleagues doing a huge variety of jobs, from development and property services to finance, customer services, IT, governance, health and safety, HR, and HRIL, which covers lettings, sales and factoring. Understanding what different parts of the organisation need is a really important part of my role.

And, of course, some days still involve putting my HRBP hat on, helping line managers navigate people activities or supporting wider HR projects.

 

Are there any unique challenges or exciting aspects to this role?

One of the things I value most about working in housing is the real-world impact of what we do.

We aren’t simply developing people for the sake of it. We’re developing the people who provide homes, support tenants, maintain properties, deliver services, and work with communities across the Highlands and beyond.

The challenge is making sure our learning and development is relevant to that reality. We need to think about the skills people need today, but also the skills we will need in the future as the housing sector continues to change.

The exciting part is being able to contribute to something that can make a genuine difference to our colleagues and, ultimately, to our tenants and communities.

 

How does this role contribute to the mission and values of our organisation?

It can be easy to think of HR and L&D as just a back-office function, but our work has a direct connection to our tenants and communities. If we support our people to be skilled, confident and engaged, they are better placed to deliver the services our tenants rely on.

Our values of being caring, professional and adaptable are important in this. For me, being caring means remembering the person behind the job title; being professional means doing our best to provide a high-quality service; and being adaptable means being willing to learn and respond to the changing needs of our organisation, sector and communities.

My faith forms a big part of how I try to approach my work. One of my favourite sayings from St. Pope John Paul II is:

“The person is a value in himself and cannot be treated as an object of use, and therefore as a means to an end. The only proper and adequate attitude toward the person is love.”

I don’t always get it right, but I try to keep that principle in mind. Whether I’m supporting a colleague, working with a manager or developing learning opportunities, there is a person at the centre of it.

 

Can you share a specific success story or memorable experience from someone in this role?

For me, some of the most meaningful moments are the small ones. Seeing the difference my contribution has made to a colleague, a tenant or a wider team is enough for me.

I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the work we’re doing through L&D develop over time, creating more opportunities for our people to learn, grow and progress within Albyn.

And that’s one of the things I’d say to anyone considering a career in HR, L&D or the wider housing sector. You might not always see the direct impact of your work, but you are part of something that matters.

At Albyn, the work we do behind the scenes helps our colleagues do their jobs well. The work they do then has a real impact on our tenants and communities. For me, that’s what makes working in HR and L&D in the housing sector so meaningful.