Things were a bit different when Julie Fowler began her career in housing back in 1983: film fans were flocking to see Star Wars: Return of the Jedi at cinemas, Bjorn Borg was going for his 5th consecutive Wimbledon Championship, and Every Breath You Take by Sting and The Police topped the pop charts. But, in 37 years’, Julie’s dedication and hard work has never changed, and neither has our appreciation for the team spirit and ‘life at Connexus’ that she truly embodies.
First starting her career in housing for South Shropshire District Council, Julie made the switch to South Shropshire Housing Association in 1994 and stayed with us all the way through our journey to becoming Connexus. A longtime Ludlow resident, Julie’s role as Independent Living Scheme Co-ordinator saw her take the lead at sheltered housing schemes for older residents.
At Connexus, we’re passionate about providing the very best services for our customers and Julie’s exceptional customer service over the years has been second-to-none. Her annual holiday trips were famous among the residents at Whitefriars and Beech Gardens schemes in Ludlow, providing a fun (and sometimes surprisingly raucous!) high point for everybody’s years.
A particular highlight for Julie in her housing career was the vital role she played in Connexus winning the Best Older People’s Landlord Award at the Inside Housing Awards 2018. The award recognised the important social value of our Independent Living Schemes in helping residents enjoy their home environment for as long as possible, with Julie demonstrating to judges how these schemes combine high-quality affordable housing with a real sense of community. 2018 also saw Beech Gardens, then overseen by Julie, shortlisted for a prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) award.
Connexus colleagues are passionate about the services we provide, and Julie Fowler’s passion for her residents and the wider community went above-and-beyond these expectations. Her endless enthusiasm rubbed off on colleagues and residents alike, truly representing the very best of life at Connexus. As with many retirees this year, Julie says that, for now, her retirement celebrations are on hold. But, once things are back to normal, we’re certain there will be a whole lot to celebrate.
