BRINGING NETWORKING BACK TO YOUR WORK LIFE

Housing Digital Socials are monthly online events that are free to attend for social housing professionals and HD members, to hear insights from our expert speakers and network with others who share a similar role to yourself.

Places are limited to 30 per social to ensure all attendees get the chance to meet in the breakout rooms and introduce themselves to the group.

FORMAT

Welcome & Networking:

Introduction from Chair and networking in breakout rooms

Introductions:

Each attendee is invited to give a 60 second ‘elevator’ introduction – which can include a short brief about their role, company, challenges they’ve faced, plans for the future and any recent good news.

Keynote:

1 x public sector organisation will be invited to give a 10 minute presentation (including option of slides) followed by a short Q&A.

Stakeholder Spotlights:

Up to 2 HD stakeholders will be invited to each give a 5 minute presentation (including option of slides) followed by a short Q&A.

Networking & Close:

Attendees will have the opportunity to talk one-on-one in breakout rooms.

SELECT YOUR SOCIAL

HOUSING SERVICES

For housing professionals who specialise in:

Supported Housing & Care
Resident Involvement
Community Investment
Digital Engagement
Customer Experience
Rent & Income
Private Lettings
Customer Services
Shared-ownership and leasehold Management
Resident Communications / Marketing

KEYNOTE 1: Hannah Jones, Specialist Intervention Officer, & Elaine Gilbert, Executive Director of HR Communications & Marketing - ClwydAlyn

"Frontline service reform - implementing a trauma informed approach"

Welsh housing association ClwydAlyn has undergone a major transformation of its frontline services, aligned with its wider mission of ending poverty.
It has shrunk patch sizes for housing officers and implemented a zero evictions policy. Now it is hoping to become one of the first trauma informed landlords in the country, with frontline staff given training to understand how trauma can impact people’s behaviours and capacity. In this session ClwydAlyn will explain its trauma informed project, and explore how that looks on the front line through its evolving approach to tackling ASB.

Stakeholder Spotlight: Jonny Pears, Head of Design - Mediaworks

"Putting Data at the Heart of the Customer Experience"

It’s never been more important for housing associations to deliver a digital-first communication strategy. Using the power of data, you can ensure all your tenant and wider stakeholders stay engaged and aligned with your business reputation.
Mediaworks will explore the most effective way to create an end-to-end, user-centric, tenant communication loop.

Friday 10th June

10:00am – 11:30am

OPERATIONS

For housing professionals who specialise in:

Finance & Legal
Risk Management & Compliance
HR & Training
Diversity, Inclusion & Well-being
ICT & Digital
Transformation
Cyber Security
Corporate Communications / Marketing
Resource Planning
Crisis Management
Policy & Governance

KEYNOTE 1: Helen Grimes, Assistant Director of People - Stonewater

"Reimagining the future of work"

In this session, Helen will explore how the pandemic accelerated Stonewater’s plans to move to a predominantly home-based organisation and the work that’s been undertaken by the team to transition to a hybrid working model.

This includes sharing how Stonewater set out to redesign its offices to create three collaborative co-working hubs, which feature integrated wellbeing rooms that can be used as needed for a range of activities; including a place to pray and breastfeeding.

Stakeholder Spotlight: William Corn, Field Service Sales - Advanced

Tenants’ demands are increasing, they now have digital expectations, wanting to access services 24/7 across a choice of methods and expect a level of personalisation.

We all know that the best laid plans can quickly become inefficient in field operations, things don’t always run to plan, and delays happen. But the challenge of dealing with the unexpected, without reducing productivity or letting customers down, can be easily addressed by investing in technology in a smart way.

Thursday 16th June

10:00am – 11:30am

PROPERTY SERVICES

For housing professionals who specialise in:

Repairs & Maintenance
Asset Management
Sustainability
Facilities & Estates Management
Fleet Management
Project Management
Procurement & Supply Chain Management
Void Properties Management
Health & Safety including Building Safety Management & Fire safety

KEYNOTE: TBC

STAKEHOLDER SPOTLIGHT: TBC

Friday 1st July

10:00am – 11:30am

DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING

For housing professionals who specialise in:

Planning
Building Control & Warranties
Project Management
Construction / Design / Planning Software
Architectural services
QS / EA and cost management
Asset Management
Offsite / Modular
Procurement
Sales
Regeneration

KEYNOTE: TBC

Stakeholder Spotlight: TBC

TBC

10:00am – 11:30am

The Socials are not only insightful and interesting, they really are very refreshing. Networking with housing professionals and others linked to the sector is extremely useful and the range of knowledge and experiences openly shared, with the chance to hear presentations, is invaluable. I particularly enjoy putting faces to names of people I’ve previously only e-mailed or phoned, but even more important is the chance to meet a lot of new and very interesting people. Members are friendly, fun and welcoming and by sharing plans and experiences, we’ll be able to learn so much from each other. I’m already looking forward to the next Social event.

Annette Brandwood

Director of Governance, Assurance & Risk Cobalt Housing

I recommend the Socials to Third Public Sector colleagues involved in creating and managing social housing. They are an opportunity to meet in a friendly environment with a wide range of professionals from across the region, hearing diverse perspectives and making new contacts.

Steve Hoey

Chief Executive Leeds Community Homes

I found the session really good – I particularly liked the automatic move from one breakout session to another. It saves the awkward “ok, I’m going to leave this group and find another one” moment. A bit like speed dating between breakout groups – good networking!

Lucie Smith

Head of Finance Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group

I participated in my first “Social” last week as a presenter and found the experience really valuable. Firstly the social provides an easy and relaxed, opportunity where you can get to know fellow professionals in your sector and associated with your sector – all virtually and from the comfort of your own home!. If you see a particular person from the attendee list who you would like to speak to during the social, you can!….., or you have the option of contacting them after the session; All the virtual technology worked seamlessly and was really easy to use, even for someone like me who is still “getting used to it”. Secondly, you can be a presenter at the social which gives you an opportunity to present information on particular topics which stimulate discussions and debate within the virtual audience, the feedback from which is really useful to shape ideas “back at base”. I’ll be looking out for the next one!

Ffrancon Williams

Chief Executive Adra (Tai) Cyfyngedig