17 Aug 2023
Five must-attend sessions at CIH South West
Summer is nearing its end, which means it’s nearly time for CIH South West. This year’s conference includes an interactive session with the Housing Ombudsman, Richard Blakeway, and policy insight from Toby Lloyd, Theresa May’s former adviser on housing.
CIH South West, our annual conference and exhibition taking place in Bristol, is just over a month away. While you may already have an idea of who and what you’re going to see at the event, we’ve put together a quality selection of sessions you really don’t want to miss.
Housing - a political priority?
Housing is gaining increasing momentum as a key political issue, whether it’s the pressing need to deliver more homes or the race to decarbonise and improve the energy efficiency of existing stock. But how can the sector capitalise on its growing presence within the public sphere? And can it rise to the top of the political debate in time for the next general election? Toby Lloyd, housing policy expert and former No.10 special adviser on housing to Theresa May - alongside former CIH president Aileen Evans and our own head of policy, Rachael Williams - will seek to answer these questions and more during the conference’s opening keynote.
- Housing - a political priority? at 9:55 on 27 September
Meet the Ombudsman
Any session involving the Housing Ombudsman is a must-attend for CIH members. This interactive session will provide delegates with the opportunity to chat with Richard Blakeway and get answers to their most pressing complaints-related questions. Blakeway will also cover the work the Ombudsman has been doing to improve the sector’s record-keeping and information management.
- Meet the Ombudsman at 15:20 on 27 September
Preparing for professionalism
Professionalisation is set to play a massive role in the sector over the coming years. Chaired by incoming CIH president Jill Haley, this session with explore what we know so far about the sector’s professionalisation drive and how best to prepare for new government legislation. Speakers include Sovereign’s director of customer and place, Luke Bingham, and Abri’s head of organisation development, Nicki Pullen.
- Preparing for professionalism on 27 September at 13:20
What does regulation really mean?
Ah, regulation: would any housing conference be complete without at least some discussion on this most important of topics? This keynote will explore what housing providers in the south-west - and the UK more broadly - need to know about the current regulatory landscape and what they can do to keep themselves in the know. Panellists for this session include Dewbien Plummer, the director of housing solutions, and The Social Housing Roundtable founder Matt Baird.
- What does regulation really mean? at 10:30 on 28 September
Planning and housing supply - the issue of short-term lets in the South West
As the name suggests, there will be plenty of south-west specific housing matters to get stuck into at CIH South West. This session in particular will explore how the region can constructively tackle the problem of landlords turning homes into hotels or holiday lets, reducing the availability of rental accommodation for local people and thus pushing up rents. A panel of experts will sit in on this discussion, including Generation Rent CEO Ben Twomey.
- Planning and housing supply - the issue of short-term lets in the South West at on 28 September at 11:45
It goes without saying that attendees will gain a huge amount of value from every session at CIH South West. But if you are forced to pick and choose which sessions to attend in particular, let this article serve as your go-to guide.
CIH South West will take place on 27-28 September at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel in Bristol.
