TAI Ceredigion has appointed Keith Henson as the new rural housing enabler for Ceredigion and surrounding areas.

The post, which is hosted and partly funded by Tai Ceredigion and financially supported by the Welsh Government and Carmarthenshire County Council, will provide support and guidance for individuals in rural west Wales to get on to the property ladder or find an affordable home to rent.

He will also work with community and county councillors, landowners and developers to look at innovative ways to develop land and promote new schemes to encourage local people to find suitable homes within towns and villages across the region

Although new to the housing sector, Keith has invaluable experience in both the banking and education sector.

He has worked as an industrial liaison officer with Coleg Ceredigion during 2001 at both Aberystwyth and Cardigan sites. Part of his role involved working with the commercial and voluntary sector to develop new curriculum fit for the needs of the business sector in Ceredigion.

He was then promoted to business development manager and subsequently head of commercial services and enterprise.

He also undertook the role of chairperson for Cynnal y Cardi, ensuring the needs of the business and local community groups were met to develop the rural economy in Ceredigion.

Born and bred in Ceredigion, Keith said: “I am particularly interested to see young people have the chance to develop their employment skills and prospects and to have the opportunity to live life to the full in our rural Welsh-speaking communities.

“Having the chance to find affordable, good quality housing – rented or owned - is a fundamental part of the equation.” “

Steve Jones, chief executive at Tai Ceredigion, said: “Having three children himself, he knows first-hand of the difficulties young people face in the housing market in rural communities.

“His enthusiasm for the post and the development of the sector will stand him in good stead to support people to have the opportunity to live and work in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and North Pembrokeshire.”