Housing professionals come together for CIH Scotland’s Housing Festival

Scotland’s housing professionals are coming together for the country’s biggest housing event this week. CIH Scotland’s Housing Festival takes place from 19 to 20 May at the SEC in Glasgow. It will bring together around 600 housing professionals, speakers, and exhibitors to discuss the sector's latest issues, challenges, and solutions.

The event comes at a difficult time with the UK amid a cost of living crisis and rises in energy costs, food prices, and council tax causing financial hardship for many. With inflation at a 30 year high, there is growing pressure on governments and others to provide more significant support for those who are most vulnerable, which will be discussed in more detail by the Trussell Trust and Joseph Rowntree Foundation at the closing keynote session.

However, despite these challenges, the Housing Festival will also look to celebrate some of the great work that is ongoing in Scotland’s housing sector. The event will see the signing of a new partnership agreement between CIH Scotland and Fife Council. This partnership will seek to promote the Housing Profession in the Kingdom of Fife and develop a framework for Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans (RRTPs) and provide local authorities with a formal reporting mechanism to track the progress of RRTPs and make a case for further investment and better partnership working. In addition, the partnership will see Fife Council sponsor and support key CIH events, including the Housing Festival, Scotland Awards and The Big Conversation. At the same time, Fife Council training academy students will all become members of CIH.

The conference will strongly focus on professionalism in the housing sector, with sessions covering topics such as CIH’s new professional standards, increasing your impact in the workplace, and diversity in succession planning. Delegates will also hear from the cabinet secretary for social justice, housing and local government, Shona Robison MSP and Patrick Harvie MSP, minister for zero carbon buildings, active travel and tenants' rights.

Commenting on the agreement, John Mills, head of housing at Fife Council, said:

"Fife Council is delighted to be signing our strategic partnership with the CIH in Scotland.  We have a long history of supporting the profession in Scotland. We hope that through this partnership, we can develop more housing professionals in the Kingdom and make a significant difference to the improvement of Rapid Rehousing Transition Plans across the country.”

Commenting on the event, Gavin Smith, chair of CIH Scotland, said:

"The Festival is the biggest highlight in the housing calendar and a must-attend event for all housing professionals.  The programme provides something for everybody, and the exhibition brings everybody together to focus on best practices and share experiences.  This year will be particularly special being back together again to discuss the many and numerous challenges ahead for the housing sector."