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2019 Advisory panels

2019 Advisory panels

Housing 2018
Housing 2018

 

A programme that meets the needs of the whole sector

 

Our London Advisory panel on 18 October featured the following participants:

  1. John Anderson, executive director, Kier Living
  2. Gill Butler, head of housing management, London Borough of Hackney
  3. Gavin Cansfield, chief executive, Settle
  4. David Cowans, chief executive, Places for People
  5. Victor de Cunha, chief executive, Curo
  6. Clare Crawford, business development and investment director, Galliford Try
  7. Kate Davies, chief executive, Notting Hill Genesis
  8. Susan Emmett, head of engagement, Homes England
  9. Aileen Evans, chief executive, Grand Union Housing
  10. Robert Grundy, head of housing, Savills
  11. Nicholas Harris, chief executive, Stonewater
  12. Claire Higgins, chief executive, Cross Keys Homes
  13. Mike Kay, chief executive, Northampton Partnership Homes
  14. Tracey Lees, chief executive, Wandle Housing Association
  15. Sarah Payling, event director, Ocean Media Group
  16. Mark Rodgers, chief officer - housing, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
  17. Simone Russell, executive director - housing and communities, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
  18. Tonia Secker, partner, Trowers & Hamlins
  19. Mike Shepherd, development director, Vivid
  20. John Synnuck, chief executive, Swan Housing Association
  21. Graham Thomas, head of planning and development, Essex County Council
  22. Josie Twinning-Stroud, director of strategic marketing and communications, CIH
  23. Ian Wardle, chief executive, Thirteen Group

Hot topics and key themes that emerged included:

  1. Brexit: The conference is three months Post-Brexit, an analysis will be needed.
  2. Green Paper: Seven months after the consultation, the sector will be keen for updates.
  3. Perception of social housing: There is confusion to how the sector presents itself to the public; contrast between commercial and social priorities.
  4. Universal credit: Beginning its roll out and remains a primary concern for the sector.
  5. Housing and healthcare: To provide better services for vulnerable tenants, combined with an ageing population, the sector needs better communication and collaboration with health services.
  6. Talent: How can the sector attract top talent? Do we need to rethink our own workplaces and opportunities for progression? What makes a great working environment?
  7. Innovative ideas: Young people with innovative ways of working are key to the future of the sector. We need to embrace their ideas. Problems of younger people are different.
  8. Tech: Considerable interest in the development of AI and digitalisation of comms.
  9. Data: Understand big data and maintaining good quality of data is key. Data security and data integrity is of considerable interest.
  10. Tenant voice: ensuring tenants’ voices are heard and debate on how to engage. Also, the sector needs consider how tenant want to engage with their landlord, and engagement with leaseholders.
  11. Stock rationalisation: With increased money coming into the sector for additionality, there also needs to be an increased focus on quality housing and asset management to ensure longevity of stock and places are safe and desirable.
  12. HRA: Gauging the impact of the government’s lift of the cap.
  13. Homelessness: The sector needs an innovative approach to homelessness and the struggle to cope with the number of people in temporary accommodation.
  14. Affordability: The sector needs to challenge the meaning of affordability.
  15. The future of the mid-sized RPs: New players risk taking s106 provision from the sector. How will mid-sized housing providers respond?
  16. MMC: Offsite and other innovative ways of building. Reflections on previous methods of modular build.
  17. Quality and place: Speed but also quality is very important. Creating places and providing desirable stock.
  18. Allocations: A significant issue for local authorities. The sector needs to examine demographics in need of housing and if suitable tenures are being provided. Are commercial goals taking precedent over social obligations?
  19. Political figures: There needs to be greater engagement and challenging of ministers and other key political figures at Housing. Debate and analysis of the minister’s speech would be beneficial.

 

Our Manchester advisory panel on 11 October featured the following participants:

Attendees:

  1. Rob Brown, stakeholder engagement officer, Manchester City Council
  2. Sasha Deepwell, chief executive, Irwell Valley Homes
  3. Matthew Gardiner, chief executive, Trafford Housing Association
  4. Danielle Gillespie, general manager - NW, Homes England
  5. Steve Hepworth, chief executive, Ongo Homes
  6. Chan Kataria, group chief executive, EMH Group
  7. Peter Jackson, managing director, Seddon Construction
  8. Julie Marsh, executive director of neighbourhood management, South Liverpool Homes
  9. Deborah McLaughlin, managing director of real estate projects, Capita Real Estate and Infrastructure
  10. Sarah Payling, event director, Ocean Media Group
  11. Louise Taylor, head of performance and business strategy, County Durham Housing Group
  12. Andrew Tosh, senior conference producer, Ocean Media Group

 

Key themes

  1. Brexit: Concerns about the monetary impact of Brexit. Business model will be under stress and there is concern on the impact on tenants.
  2. Governance. How to balance a more PLC based approach to boards with more tenant inclusion.
  3. Communities and placemaking: Housing as the last bastion of the high street. Town centres – what should they look like in the future?
  4. Tenants: There needs to be greater inclusion of tenants and acknowledgment of their voice. However, the sector is not consistent in its approach.
  5. Staff health and wellbeing: Many employees living in social housing – not coping with the bills, isolation. How does the sector address wellbeing of employees?
  6. Health and social care: Massive care crisis and tenants increasingly relying on RPs for care. How can the sector work better with health and social organisations?
  7. Housing supply: Number one issue. Building homes is still vital to the programme.
  8. PRS market: Many houses are in poor condition and lack social care services. How can the social housing sector support better conditions and standards in the PRS?
  9. Technology: What is the place of a home in a smart city? We still do not use data well.
  10. Existing stock: Crucial subject. Hackitt review will have significant impact on building safety.
  11. Design quality and placemaking: MMC is a possible solution to delivery targets, but what is good quality in modular?
  12. Inclusive futures: Diversity in the workplace but also the inclusion and welfare of tenants. Diversity a huge issue for homelessness.

Testimonials

"Excellent 3 days with a good range of sessions and a wide selection of exhibitors alongside great networking opportunities.”

Service lead - housing operations & community, Winchester City Council

 

 

 

"As a new person into the sector I found this conference a truly enlightening experience with engaging sessions and passionate speakers.” 

Programme manager, The Guinness Partnership

 

"I’ve been going to this Conference for longer than I would like to admit and I can truly say that this was simply the best one ever!"

Head of building communities, Shakespeare Martineau

"The opportunity to network with colleagues and peers was phenomenal!” 

Housing tenancy manager, Hull City Council"

 

"It was an excellent event, so well organised. It was good to see everything under one roof, so you could network better. I found it useful and interesting."

Riverside Group

"It was an excellent event and many thanks for asking ARCH to speak.  All the sessions I attended were well organised and speakers were well informed and provided some great insight."

Arch Housing

"Housing is back to its vibrant best! It has been a fantastic opportunity to network and learn more about the industry. We can’t wait until next year!”

Social housing for Geberit

"The number of enquiries, positive comments and kind words from existing and potential new customers was quite overwhelming."

Multipanel

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