Honorary doctorate for housing chief

Tom Murtha, chief executive officer of Midland Heart has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Birmingham.

Murtha was presented the award in acknowledgement of his distinguished career and leadership in the social housing sector in the Midlands, and for the esteem in which he is held nationally.

He received his honorary doctorate during the university’s degree ceremony held in the Great Hall, which also included the presentation of an MBA from the university’s Business School to Mohammed Adil, one of Murtha’s colleagues at Midland Heart.

During his acceptance speech, Murtha congratulated all the university recipients on their achievements, and praised the contribution that his many colleagues had made in transforming lives and communities since Midland Heart was formed in Birmingham in 1925.

He also spoke of his pride, and remarked how humble he felt to be receiving the award from a university with a reputation for creating business leaders with global vision.

Commenting he said: “The need for housing and care services that Midland Heart provides is as great today as it was in the 1920s. I see a growing need for our services at a time when funding is almost certain to be reduced.

“Our challenge is to continue to deliver for those in need, maintaining our excellence in service delivery and our own financial viability during this period of further growth and change.”

Murtha started his career in housing at the age of 24 and has worked his way through the many different disciplines involved, becoming chief executive of Midland Area Housing Association in 1996. He has been instrumental in shaping the business which is now named Midland Heart into one of the top 10 housing organisations in the country.