By Business CNCT
Unity Homes and Enterprise has been recognised for its work supporting local communities and promoting entrepreneurship at the Housing Executive Awards 2026.
Leeds-based housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise has won Best Social Value Project of the Year at the Housing Executive Awards 2026, recognising its efforts to improve opportunities and strengthen communities.
The organisation, which is led by members of the Black and minority ethnic (BME) community, also received a Highly Commended distinction in the Housing Association of the Year category.
The awards celebrate innovation and achievement across the UK social housing sector, with the social value category highlighting initiatives that make a positive difference to residents’ lives beyond providing affordable homes.
Unity chief executive Cedric Boston collected the award during a ceremony held at the home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.
Alongside its housing services, Unity provides 153 affordable business units supporting more than 140 diverse businesses that collectively employ over 1,250 people in Leeds.
The organisation also offers practical advice and guidance to help people become self-employed, access education and training, and find employment, including those returning to work after extended periods of economic inactivity.
Encouraging entrepreneurship is a key part of Unity’s work, particularly among people who may not traditionally have been encouraged to consider running a business as a career.
Boston welcomed the recognition, praising the dedication of Unity’s team to improving opportunities for people in underserved communities across Leeds.
He explained that the organisation’s support begins with community outreach, helping local residents explore business ownership as a potential career path.
Aspiring entrepreneurs can then access affordable workspace and guidance through Unity’s business hub, where they can develop and launch their ideas. As their businesses grow, they can move into larger or additional units before eventually expanding beyond Unity’s centres, with continued professional support available throughout the process.
The organisation’s approach has also delivered strong tenant satisfaction results. Over the past 12 months, Unity recorded a business tenant satisfaction score of 9.25 and maintained a tenant retention rate of 99%.
Boston said the award reflected the commitment of the team and recognised its ongoing efforts to improve life chances for people in communities that are often difficult to reach.
Established in 1987, Unity was founded to create a strong BME-led community housing association that addressed the needs of Black and minority ethnic communities in Leeds.
Today, it manages almost 1,400 homes for residents from a wide range of communities and ethnic backgrounds. Its housing portfolio also extends to developments in Huddersfield and Cleckheaton.
The latest awards recognise Unity’s broader role in combining affordable housing with business support, employment opportunities and initiatives designed to create lasting social and economic benefits.
