MAINTAINING SOCIAL HOUSING SAFETY, SECURITY & REPUTATION

26th September, 10.00 am to 3.00 pm at BRE, Watford.

The last 12 months saw significant disruptions to the UK social housing sector. The seismic effects of Grenfell Tower, significant floods still being felt across the industry and the recent dramatic collapse of Carillion, demonstrate the importance of maintaining a social housing sector with a robust and resilient business model. Comprehensive housing and construction standards, achievable resilience plans, and sound governance are crucial.

The social housing sector is good at finding solutions collectively. This housing-sector led conference shines a light on safety, security and reputation as key to a more successful future.

The Northern Housing Consortium has joined forces with Aviva, Sedgwick, Styles and Wood, the Building Research Establishment and Business in the Community, The Prince’s Responsible Business Network to convene industry leaders around some of the key issues facing the sector today. This inaugural collaborative industry event will help improve our sector’s management of safety, security and reputation.

This exclusive event brings social housing colleagues together with industry experts. Through current case examples, It will uncover how disruption is being dealt with head on and what we can do more effectively manage future impacts.

In addition to all important networking opportunities, there will be expert led tours of BRE’s first class innovation park. Delegates can experience first-hand what it is like to be flooded in BRE’s Flood Resilient Repair House. The house uses products currently available on the marketplace to showcase how an everyday home can be resilient to flooding and recently received an Environment Agency Project Excellence Award for the Innovation category.

This is a sponsored event made possible by the kind support of Aviva, Sedgwick, Styles & Wood, BRE, Northern Housing Consortium and charity partners.

Conference Programme

10:00 Arrival, registration and refreshments, Building 16, BRE Innovation Park

10:30 Welcome - The BRE and site logistics

Matthew Barker, Consultant, BRE

10:40 Maintaining Social Housing Safety, Security & Reputation

The ramifications for the housing sector since the tragic Grenfell Tower fire has sent a shockwave through the housing sector in the UK. Whilst understanding the immense sensitivities surrounding these events, the conference today attempts to address some of the interrelated issues facing housing providers. The programme brings together leading speakers on the topics of risk management, insurance, law and safety. Today demonstrates this willingness of industry taking a lead to address some of the most important issues facing housing providers today.

Jo Boaden CBE, CEO, Northern Housing Consortium and

Mike Still, The Prince’s Business Emergency Resilience Group Chair

10:50 Catastrophic risks – the world is changing

This presentation will unravel some of the issues facing housing providers in the UK today. What is needed to change behaviours and provide some level of assurance to safeguard housing residents? Why is it essential that housing providers use competent contactors to do future work?

Phil Brownhill, Head of Training, Association of Specialist Fire Protection

11:05 A more resilient Supply Chain

AA resilient supply chain can help secure business continuity for housing associations impacted by disruptive events such as floods or fire. What mechanisms exist to improve supply chain management and what is missing?

Peter Allan, Head of Framework Development, Styles and Wood

11:20 Legal implications – how exposed are Boards to unanticipated events?

What level of legal risk are Boards of Management exposed to and how can this be mitigated?

What are the key lessons for Trustees and what is likely to keep them awake at night?

Simon Matthews, Associate Lawyer, Beale & Company Solicitors LLP

11:35 Panel with Questions

11:50 Break & Networking

12:10 An independent review of building regulations and fire safety – an overview:

What are the outcomes of the Independent Review and how is this review likely to bring about changes in the way that future buildings address risk. How robust are the regulations and is there room for further improvement?

Julie Bregulla, Director BRE Fire and Building Technology, BRE

12:25 Case examples: The well-known risks

The last UK flooding periods demonstrated the vulnerability of the housing sector to natural catastrophes and the need for greater coordination in preparedness, response and recovery. This presentation will also cover the outcomes of the DEFRA Property Level Flood Resilience Roundtable.

Gary McInally, Chief Actuary, Flood Re and Chair of Taskgroup 6 of DEFRA Property Level Resilience Roundtable

12:45 Insuring against risk

The insurance sector will need to work more closely together to reduce the overall risk to the housing association sector. What lessons are emerging from the DEFRA Roundtable to minimise risk. Why is the future looking a lot better?

Ian Gibbs, National Technical Manager, Sergon Building Consultants (Sedgwick)

13:00 Questions

13:15 Would you be ready?

Emergency resilience in the media - a Toolkit

Joey Tabone, BERG Director, Business in the Community

13:30 Lunch and Tours of Innovation Park – including the Flood House and The Prince’s Natural House

15:00 Finish

Sponsors BRE 2018

Maintaining Social Housing safety, security & reputation