So is it the end of social housing as we know it?
The third annual housing conference hosted by Capita aimed to address this question and provided some thought-provoking answers from a range of industry experts and housing professionals.
If you couldn’t be there on the day, you can experience the day digitally, you’ll find links in this article to speaker interviews and presentations to provide you with a flavour of opinions offered from our keynote speakers.
Radojka Miljevic, senior consultant at Campbell Tickell and moderator for the conference, posed the question to the assembled delegates at the start of proceedings. “Is it the end of social housing as we know it?” as the backdrop to the keynote sessions, raised varied opinions and in particular drew some interesting comments and insight from the panel debate session led by Guardian Housing’s Hannah Fearn.
To face the future and manage the growing need for delivering more services, social housing organisations are becoming more business-orientated, leaner and working to achieve more with less. Operating efficiently, flexibly and providing robust business operations is key for social housing organisations to meet the challenges of today, and to ensure they remain in place to meet the challenges of the future. These thoughts and more are expressed through the short video clips of our keynote speakers, which can be accessed via the links below.
In conclusion, and wrapping up all thoughts expressed throughout the conference, Radojka, in response to the question posed, commented, “No, it’s not the end for social housing, but the sector is changing rapidly to respond to the needs of customers and communities”.
Watch Radojka’s interview
Back by popular demand
Wayne Hemingway returned for his second year running as keynote speaker for the morning, and didn’t disappoint delivering an insightful, thought-provoking and sometimes controversial session. He focused on how a house is not just bricks and mortar, but how it’s a home and house building in the UK needs to recognise when building developments, liveability is key to ensuring happy tenants and for creating cohesive and successful communities.
Watch Wayne’s interview
View Wayne’s presentation
The importance of digitalisation
Leigh Smyth, CEO of Race Online 2012, delivered a session on the importance of digital inclusion. She imparted her passion to all, highlighting the importance of getting the nation online, challenging some of the traditional barriers held by the audience to meet the increasing need for social housing customers to get online to help them engage more with their communities and improve their life chances. There are many ways you can become involved with this initiative governed by the UK’s Digital Champion, Martha Lane-Fox; sign up to Race Online 2012, Give an Hour and tell your tenants about low cost connectivity and computer opportunities.
Watch
Leigh’s interview
and
find out how you and your organisation can become Digital Champions
View Leigh’s presentation
Following Leigh’s highlighting the need for social housing tenants to get online, Ian Lever stepped up for the next session, strengthening the case for digital inclusion. Channel shift was the topic, discussing the importance for a strategic shift from social housing organisations to allow for greater engagement with tenants and communities via digital communication channels. Ian clearly demonstrated how a strategic move to more digital methods of service interaction for an organisation provides greater choice for customers wishing to engage with your organisation, and to consume products and services. The digital approach exploits the latest technologies and reduces costs, while improving customer service and efficiencies.
View Ian’s presentation
Well, is it the end?
Hannah Fearn
, editor at Guardian Housing and Local Government Networks chaired the panel debate, which aimed to address the question posed by the Conference title: is it the end of social housing as we know it? Joined by Wayne and Ian, along with Elspeth McKenzie, CEO of Thrive Homes, and Shaun Tymon, CEO of Yorkshire Coast Homes each panel member made their case to answer the question, also responding to comments from the floor.
Watch Elspeth’s and Shaun’s interviews
Answers for the future
Breakout sessions delivered by Capita customers and public sector thought-leaders started the afternoon off.
BlackBerry’s senior government account manager, Daniel Morrison-Gardiner wrapped up the day’s events nicely, delivering the session “Enabling Service Transformation through Mobile Technology”, discussing another channel with which social housing organisations can deliver and engage with customers and communities to improve relationships, customer services and efficiencies.