Michael Thorne (UK)

Life after Ertegun House

After completing my degree at Oxford, I became a graduate trainee on the Charityworks graduate scheme, the largest social sector graduate scheme in the UK. The scheme involves a year-long placement at a charity and a professional development programme.

My placement was at Network Homes, one of the largest housing associations active in London and Hertfordshire. I spent a year working in the Development department, learning about the process of developing new affordable housing. 

During this time I became interested in conducting research on housing policy. This gave me a way to apply the research skills I had developed, both at Oxford and during my undergraduate degree, to a concrete social and political issue. I am now a Research and Policy Assistant at Network Homes.