Talent Academy

A week-long professional development programme for rising stars in the sector. Developing new skills, broadening perspectives, and inspiring strategic thinking.

The professional development and wellbeing of our employees is a top priority. We want to build rewarding working environments that attract and retain talent.

The Eurhonet Talent Academy is a unique opportunity for employees in the public and social housing sector to learn from housing experts, CEOs, and each other. Every year, we select 24 rising stars from across our membership countries. During the week-long programme, we encourage our participants to take initiative, use innovate approaches, and challenge their current ways of working.

Professional development for housing employees

Talent Academy participants work together to develop a strategy on an issue currently impacting public and social housing providers. At the end of the week, the teams present their work in front of a professional jury and receive detailed feedback from experts. Based on a different theme each year, we combine group work with seminars from experts, housing-focused study visits, and networking opportunities.

The professional growth and wellbeing of our employees is a top priority.

Talent Academy
Develop skills, broaden perspectives, think strategically
Do you have an appetite for learning? Are you eager to improve your professional performance and your services to tenants? Would you like to help shape social and public housing in Europe? The Talent Academy is for you!

Who can join?

The Talent Academy aims to develop the skills of our future leaders. Therefore, the programme is intended for employees who are not currently in top management positions. The programme is only open to Eurhonet member organisations.

When is the next Talent Academy?

Our Talent Academy takes place in July every year. In 2024, we were pleased to welcome participants to Brescia, Italy on 15-19 July. Hosted by Aler BCM, this year’s theme was “Working in the housing industry: How does the housing industry fulfil modern employer requirements?” The week included leadership training, lectures, excursions, and the independent development of solutions. Participants worked in small groups and presented their solutions to a professional jury at the end of the week.

Find out more in the videos below. Stay tuned for updates about the Talent Academy 2025.

The Talent Academy Insider 2024
Episode 1: Launch

Hear from Talent Academy Coordinator Jennifer Nickel about the first two days

Episode 2: Welcome to Brescia

Claudia Terragnoli, Aler BCM, gives advice to participants as a member of the professional jury

Episode 3: 10 years of the Talent Academy

Regine Stoerring reports on how the groups worked together, plus a special message from Hans-Jürgen Braun – part of the founding team of the Academy.

Episode 4: Participants’ testimonials

Some of our wonderful participants give feedback on the week’s activities

Hear from the Talent Academy Alumni

  • Lena Kahle

    Lena Kahle

    Account manager / Customer service

    GEWOBA, Germany

    Through the different views and opinions of the participants from all over Europe, I got new ideas about the process of working on a project.

    Q&A

    What did you gain from the Talent Academy?
    For me, the biggest thing I gained was working on a project from another point of view. Through the different views and opinions of the participants from all over Europe, I got new ideas about the process of working on a project. The different standards of different countries were incredible. The discussions were super interesting and we learnt a lot. In some cases, my view of processes in the company where I work has changed.
    What changes has it led to in your day-to-day work?
    I now see that some of my own processes are in need of optimisation. When participating in the Talent Academy, we developed a tenant portal. I am now working on the same project within my company. The project work gave me knowledge and preparation.
    Can you describe the Talent Academy in three words?
    Fun, improvement, organisation.

    Lena Kahle

    Account manager / Customer service

    GEWOBA, Germany

  • Jenefa Hamid

    Jenefa Hamid

    Communications and Digital Services Officer

    Poplar HARCA, United Kingdom

    It was a week in which we laughed a lot, built relations, had fun, and worked in teams. I left Eurhonet with a greater sense of optimism and purpose.

    Q&A

    What did you gain from the Talent Academy?
    It was a week in which we laughed a lot, built relations, had fun, and worked in teams to deliver a project – all the qualities needed to produce great work back at Poplar HARCA. It has led me to push out of my own comfort zone, try new things, and make sure to have a laugh along the way. I left Eurhonet with a greater sense of optimism and purpose from connecting with individuals with different specialisms. I gained an increased appreciation for my organisation’s various facets, and it reconfirmed my career choices in social housing and working in community-driven regeneration.
    What changes has it led to in your day-to-day work?
    It made me look at my work in a new light and explore a more holistic way to achieve department results with my colleague. I find myself thinking very much outside the box.
    Can you describe the Talent Academy in three words?
    Connectivity, community, communication.

    Jenefa Hamid

    Communications and Digital Services Officer

    Poplar HARCA, United Kingdom

  • Nicola Canepa

    Nicola Canepa

    Technical Professional

    ALER Brescia-Cremona-Mantova, Italy

    Everyone, with their own skills, can contribute to providing a better service or product.

    Q&A

    What did you gain from the Talent Academy?
    Comparing one’s working methods with people who carry out the same tasks in other countries is certainly challenging and formative. I have learned to evaluate work from multiple points of view and that everyone, with their own skills, can contribute to providing a better service or product.
    What changes has it led to in your day-to-day work?
    This experience has led me to analyse projects from a global, and not just technical, point of view. Open my mind more towards different solutions and share and analyse problems to find the best solution.
    Can you describe the Talent Academy?
    Inspiring, challenging, future-oriented.

    Nicola Canepa

    Technical Professional

    ALER Brescia-Cremona-Mantova, Italy

  • Fiona Luima

    Fiona Luima

    Environmental Coordinator

    Gavlegårdarna, Sweden

    The experience has made me more open and willing to curiously listen to others’ ideas.

    Q&A

    What did you gain from the Talent Academy?
    I learnt the importance of working cross-functionally where the aim was to meet the needs of the tenant through better communication, in this case through a digital portal application.
    What changes has it led to in your day-to-day work?
    The experience has made me more open and willing to curiously listen to others’ ideas, as well as to investigate a problem and find a solution by collaborating with others from different units, and making a problem visible using post-it notes as a method. The company is a major organisation which means that the experiences from the Junior Executive Academy will be of great use to the company and me.
    Can you describe the Talent Academy?
    Empowerment, an innovative and amusing way of co-creating while connecting people, and fun.

    Fiona Luima

    Environmental Coordinator

    Gavlegårdarna, Sweden

  • Badreddine Mahmahi

    Badreddine Mahmahi

    Innovation and Project manager

    OPAL, France

    Sustainable, collective, consensus.

    Q&A

    What did you gain from the Talent Academy?
    Finding the best way to manage a project in a multidisciplinary team and with different working cultures.
    What changes has it led to in your day-to-day work?
    After the Talent Academy, I have developed my ability to work in a group of different profiles to extend the spectrum of skills.
    Can you describe the Talent Academy in three words?
    Sustainable, collective, consensus.

    Badreddine Mahmahi

    Innovation and Project manager

    OPAL, France

  • Tanja Merkl and Helen Maier

    Tanja Merkl and Helen Maier

    Property Managers

    Münchner Wohnen GmbH, Germany

    A unique opportunity to build a network in the European housing industry.

    Q&A

    How was the Talent Academy for you?
    Seeing how colleagues from other companies, especially from abroad, deal with this topic was not only exciting but also very instructive. ‘Looking beyond our own nose’ has given us new ideas for our daily work. The Talent Academy was a unique opportunity to build a network in the European housing industry.

    Tanja Merkl and Helen Maier

    Property Managers

    Münchner Wohnen GmbH, Germany

  • Pierre Moitrier

    Pierre Moitrier

    Project Officer

    DELPHIS, France

    If you want to get out of your own little box, you need to come to the Talent Academy.

    Q&A

    How was your experience at the Talent Academy?
    The Talent Academy is a good challenge: you have to learn to get out of your shell, approach others, and be more confident.
    What would you say to colleagues thinking about attending the Talent Academy?
    To my colleagues, I would say: if you want to get out of your own little box, you need to come to the Talent Academy. You meet a lot of different people of diverse nationalities, all with different views. It’s a very good opportunity to share experiences.

    Pierre Moitrier

    Project Officer

    DELPHIS, France

  • Kazi Hashem

    Kazi Hashem

    Head of Business Support

    Poplar HARCA, UK

    You learn a lot in terms of benchmarking and understanding how other organisations across Europe do housing.

    Q&A

    What would you say to colleagues thinking about attending the Talent Academy?
    To colleagues thinking about attending the Talent Academy, I’d say: it’s definitely worth it! It’s a great, fun experience. There’s a lot of diversity, a lot of culture. You learn a lot in terms of benchmarking and understanding how other organisations across Europe do housing. The Talent Academy is a brilliant experience for everyone!

    Kazi Hashem

    Head of Business Support

    Poplar HARCA, UK

  • Gilbert Scott

    Gilbert Scott

    Customer Service Employee

    GEWOBA, Germany

    I really liked getting to know new people, exchanging experiences.

    Q&A

    How was your experience at the Talent Academy?
    I had a really good experience at the Talent Academy. At the beginning, I didn’t quite know what to expect. Over the five days, I really enjoyed it. I really like getting to know new people, exchanging experiences. It was really fun. I learned that even though there are differences between the countries, there are quite a lot of similarities as well.

    Gilbert Scott

    Customer Service Employee

    GEWOBA, Germany

  • Linda Frödin

    Linda Frödin

    Property Administrator

    AB Stångåstaden, Sweden

    I learned how to work in a group, to really listen to everyone, and be open-minded.

    Q&A

    What would you say to colleagues thinking of attending the Talent Academy?
    To people thinking about joining the Talent Academy, I’d say just do it! It has been so much fun, I learned a lot, met new people, understood different cultures.
    What did you learn at the Academy?
    I learned how to work in a group, to really listen to everyone, and be open-minded. I also learned so much about how other countries work with their tenants.

    Linda Frödin

    Property Administrator

    AB Stångåstaden, Sweden