You said, we did: Insights from the CIH NI membership survey

As engagement and external affairs manager for CIH Northern Ireland, I’m constantly engaging with members to find out what they want from their membership. With 2025 upon us, I embarked on a mission to design a dynamic and engaging calendar for the year, which would be enticing to members and to encourage more CIH NI members.

To ensure the events we organise truly resonated with our diverse audience, we conducted a comprehensive survey among both CIH NI members and non-members; the insights have proven invaluable in shaping a bespoke programme that addresses the unique needs and interests of the housing sector in Northern Ireland.

Understanding the landscape

The survey revealed a diverse range of perspectives and preferences among both members and non-members. One of the reasons for non-membership inclusion is to explore their understanding of our membership offer and we’ll be continuing to work on building the awareness of our offer more widely to encourage more members to join our network.

The survey showed us that just over 80 per cent of people who responded think ‘free webinars’ are very important or important. Over 75 per cent told us they use these events, not only as learning opportunities, but also for networking and to meet more of their peers from the sector. This data helps show us the invaluable resource that our events calendar offers to members.

And so, what have we done? What are we implementing?

Armed with these insights, we began crafting a calendar of events that supports the needs of the housing sector. With a focus on practical skills, there will be series of webinars offered free of charge to members covering topics such as:

• Community and tenant engagement
• Sustainability
• Reducing voids and sustaining tenancies.

We will host an in-person “Meet the CIH NI Board” event in June. This will facilitate an opportunity for members to meet with their board and foster crucial two-way communication. Members will gain valuable insights into the NI’s board’s strategic direction, whilst the board can receive invaluable feedback on member needs. This exchange can help ensure we remain relevant and responsive to our members' interests and ultimately strengthening our effectiveness in NI. Keep an eye on our socials and in our Housing Matters newsletter for when this goes live! You can book your member exclusive place very soon!

An “In Conversation with NI policy” series will be hosted online four times in the year, offering a deep dive into the Northern Ireland policy landscape. You will join housing law and policy expert Justin Cartwright for a virtual event that will explore the key changes facing the region, providing valuable insights for professionals and interested parties alike.

As well as these events, throughout the year, we will offer members the chance to network, both in-person and virtually, which will help foster connections and facilitate knowledge sharing among housing professionals.

Beyond the events

The survey also highlighted the need for ongoing engagement beyond an events calendar. To address this, there are a number of other ways we are promoting engagement with CIH NI:

The CIH NI member and non-member survey has proven to be an invaluable tool in designing a all-round membership engagement plan that truly resonates with our members. By carefully considering the insights gained from this exercise, we are confident that we can deliver a program that provides valuable professional development opportunities, fosters collaboration within the sector, and ultimately contributes to supporting the housing professionals in NI.