One-time trainee now runs region's largest housing provider
One-time trainee now runs region's largest housing provider
David Knox - BBC Scotland NewsFri, June 26, 2026 at 8:00 AM UTC
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Maria Lyle has just been appointed as chief executive of Scottish Borders Housing Association
The new boss of the largest housing association in the Borders knows what it is like to begin your career on the lowest rung of the ladder.
Maria Lyle started out in social housing as a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) school-leaver in 1989.
She has worked her way up to now be in charge of more than 165 employees and responsible for over 5,700 homes as chief executive of Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA).
Maria, who grew up on the Stirches estate in Hawick, said: "The one thing I learned growing up in good social housing was that if you don't have to worry about the conditions you live in, you have the freedom to thrive in all other aspects of your life."
The YTS scheme was launched in the 1980s in a bid to tackle youth unemployment by providing school leavers with a mix of practical work experience and vocational education.
After leaving Hawick High School in 1989, Maria secured a placement with Roxburgh District Council as a housing clerk.
She eventually left her front-counter job to marry and relocate with her RAF-serving husband.
But, after settling back in Edinburgh, Maria joined the housing repairs team at Midlothian Council before returning to the Borders to work as a housing officer with Eildon.
Just two years after SBHA was formed in 2003 to take over the council's housing stock, she joined as an area coordinator.
Maria said: "It became apparent to me right from the very start that housing is about much more than just bricks and mortar.
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"One of the earliest and biggest learning points I had back then as a YTS was how valuable housing is to people's lives.
"That social purpose of housing hooked me from the start."
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Maria has become only the third chief executive of SBHA in its 23 years of existence following in the footsteps of Janice Cambridge and Julia Malloy as it embarks on major modernisation and building programmes.
She is also keen to bring more school leavers - like she was - into the organisation.
"I have had so much support and inspiration throughout my time in housing from the people beside and above me, I want to do the same for other young people," she said.
"There is no linear route to career progression and it's important that we offer lots of pathways within our organisation."
Maria Lyle was the popular choice of SBHA's board for the chief executive position
As well as recently opening a 70-home development in Jedburgh and working towards delivering 86 homes in Selkirk, SBHA is continuing its pioneering garages-to-homes project at sites in Hawick.
Prior to her most recent promotion, Maria worked as the organisation's chief operating officer.
For Ian McDonald, chair of SBHA's board of management, she was the perfect candidate to step up.
He said: "Maria brings a proven leadership capability and a deep understanding of the organisation and our values, with a genuine commitment to tenants and communities.
"SBHA remains committed to its strategic direction and Maria demonstrates the insight and leadership needed to guide SBHA into its next phase."
Garages turned into homes to help ease housing crisis
Source: “AOL Money”
