Social housing green energy schemes lead way on sector decarbonisation efforts

| |by

What do the pioneering ReFLEX Orkney project, the unique ‘Solopower’ solution, and the Government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator all have in common? They are either led by or partnering with one innovative energy services company, SMS plc, which is on a mission to support housing organisations with long-term sustainability and fuel poverty targets.

The intelligent application of distributed green energy technologies – in tandem with new financing solutions that aim to make mass rollout across UK homes realistically deliverable and widely affordable – has potential not only to help Britain fully decarbonise, but also dramatically reduce rates of fuel poverty in the process.

Nowhere is this potential more readily realisable than within the country’s social housing sector. Today, local authorities and housing associations are involved in some of the country’s most promising local energy projects, working alongside innovative private sector partners to demonstrate viable routes to net-zero emissions in cost-effective ways.

Take ReFLEX Orkney: a pioneering scheme underway in the Scottish island community. The ReFLEX Orkney project, which is backed by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) and being delivered by a consortium of energy innovators in partnership with Orkney Islands Council, aims to demonstrate the ‘integrated energy system of the future’ and decarbonise the archipelago by 2030 using flexible, distributed, clean technologies that link locally-generated renewable electricity with the islands’ energy demand.

SMS plc, one of the innovators and funders behind the scheme, has used its experience delivering the project (namely through developing its proprietary FlexiGrid™ platform that remotely manages distributed energy resources installed in homes across the islands) to begin partnering with the wider UK social housing market. In short, SMS’s Solopower solution takes two of the key technologies used in Orkney – solar PV and behind-the-meter battery storage – and installs and operates them intelligently in order to help landlords reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty across their housing portfolio.

Through this fully-financed, turnkey service, the objective is to significantly upgrade the energy performance of social accommodation at zero upfront cost. With proven savings from trial projects having successfully demonstrated how Solopower can decarbonise housing electricity by up to 90% per home and lower tenant electricity bills by up to 25% (achieving approximately £200 in savings per year), innovative energy solutions like these could offer UK housing organisations a verified gamechanger in supporting their long-term sustainability ambitions.

With much interest in Solopower since the launch in March 2021 – as was reported by Housing Association Magazine –  SMS is now already contracted to operate battery storage systems across 700 houses with a number of local authorities in Scotland. It is also leveraging its partnerships to drive yet more innovation that is seeing other green technologies added to the energy-saving concept.

Supported by the Government’s newly launched Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Demonstrator, SMS in May announced a new project in partnership with Aberdeen City Council to deliver a programme of fabric upgrades and renewable energy technologies across 100 council homes. Building on what is already offered to social landlords through Solopower in terms of the installation and smart operation of solar panels and batteries, SMS is working with Aberdeen City Council and other delivery partners to add heat pumps and thermal-imaging technology to the design and delivery of the home energy system.

As with Solopower, SMS is financing the rollout of the assets at no upfront cost to the landlord or tenants and will intelligently operate the solar and battery system to decarbonise power supply. However, the key difference being that as part of this project’s fabric-first, whole-home approach, each property will be surveyed using thermal imaging technology to identify where fabric improvements are required to reduce space heating demand. Then, through retrofitting the homes and installing heat pumps, the objective is also to decarbonise heat supply alongside electricity, as well as making potential further significant gains in bringing down tenant energy costs.

Commenting on the project, SMS’s Head of New Energy Systems, Sean Keating, said: “The UK today faces the enormous challenge of developing intelligent, scalable models that can decarbonise the housing stock in ways that are both commercially viable and affordable for residents. SMS’s financing ability and innovative technology-led solution looks to develop a business model that encourages collaborative public and private sector investment on this front.

“Above all, the project is about creating a more sustainable future: one that ensures affordable comfort in our homes, reduces fuel poverty, creates jobs, and ultimately protects our environment amidst climate change.”

If you are interested in SMS’s Solopower solution, available exclusively for social housing landlords, visit the website sms-plc.com/solopower, where you can read more information including a downloadable brochure and FAQs. You can contact the Solopower team directly at solopower@sms-plc.com

New Partner Jennifer Robinson joins Ward Hadaway to expand firm’s social housing services

| |by

Jennifer Robinson, Partner in Ward Hadaway’s Built Environment Team.

Jennifer Robinson has joined as a Partner in Ward Hadaway’s Built Environment Team to grow the firm’s social housing offering to clients across Yorkshire and nationally.

Jennifer, who will be based at the firm’s Leeds office, has over 20 years’ experience in the social housing sector.

She will lead a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, qualified plans technicians and support staff to provide a complete range of services to the social housing sector. Jennifer deals with all aspects of property work including site assembly, land acquisition and development for affordable and mixed tenure housing through a variety of structures, large scale portfolio acquisitions, disposals and securitisations, stock swaps, landlord and tenant matters, asset management and projects.

Commenting on her appointment, Jennifer said: “Ward Hadaway is a UK Top 100 firm with an excellent social housing practice and I’m delighted to be joining such a great team.

“The crisis in affordable housing has only been exacerbated by the current political, social and economic climate. My experience will help us develop further the firm’s full service offering, assisting both existing and new clients with their important work in this sector.”

John Murray, Partner and head of social housing at the firm’s Leeds office, said: “This is another significant appointment and I am delighted to welcome Jen to the team. Bringing in somebody of Jen’s calibre and experience clearly demonstrates our commitment to grow and expand our social housing service and position Ward Hadaway as one of the leading legal firms within this sector.

“The team has grown substantially over the last couple of years, and due to a number of new client wins, we are looking to further strengthen our social housing team with more appointments across all three regions where we operate in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle.”

 

About Ward Hadaway LLP

Ward Hadaway LLP operates from three offices in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle

More than 450 members of staff and over 90 partners

UK Top 100 law firm

Rated as one of the leading law firms in the country by independent legal guides Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners

Ward Hadaway LLP is a full service law firm, meeting all the legal needs of five core client groups – the built environment sector, entrepreneurs and businesses, healthcare, public and third sector including education, and private individuals

For more information, please visit www.wardhadaway.com

 

Media contact:

For Ward Hadaway LLP’s built environment sector including housing, construction and social housing, please contact Craig Downs at Up North Communications on 07811 287 922 or email craig@upnorthcommunications.co.uk

For media enquiries regarding Ward Hadaway LLP, please contact Rachel McBryde at McBryde & Co on 07884 342 193 or email rachel@mcbrydeandco.com

Working together to help build the homes the UK needs

| |by

Even before Covid-19, the Government was far from reaching its target of delivering 300,000+ homes a year in England by the mid-2020s[1]. Now, the pandemic has had and will continue to have an impact on the national economy and the practicalities of building new homes[2]. Funding remains one of the main challenges. Availability and terms of financing for residential development has become very difficult for small housebuilding companies over the past decade or so. Lenders have drastically changed their attitudes to the sector since the Global Financial Crisis. Of course, lenders’ risk appetite relates to the risk and uncertainty inherent in the planning process on which developers are reliant[3].

 

We are actively lending and helping build more homes

Blend Network, the specialist development finance lender who’s runner-up for the 2021 B&C Awards in the Development Lender of the Year up to £10m category, offers flexible and straightforward funding to help build the homes the UK so urgently needs.

 

We want to work with local authorities and housing associations

We want to work with local authorities and housing associations to help deploy funding and build more homes. We are actively looking to partner with local authorities who dispose of council-owned land and property to be developed by the private sector. We want to become a strategic funding partner to local authorities who are eager to see rundown building re-developed and brough to life.

We recently provided funding to re-develop a former boot and shoe factory in Northamptonshire into 24 apartments[4]. Throughout the project, the developer worked with the local authority to enhance the planning for this grand Victorian building. This project is a clear example of how finding an alternative use for functionally redundant industrial sites presents one of the best opportunities of getting close to the UK Government’s housebuilding target of 300,000 new homes a year. And at Blend Network, we are eager to work with local authorities and housing associations to achieve this target.

Projects we fund include:

  • Ground-up developments
  • Residential, mixed-use and student schemes
  • Light & heavy refurbishments
  • Conversions

 

Contact us today

If you represent a local authority or housing association and are interested in working with us, contact our Chief Strategy Officer Roxana Mohammadian-Molina today:

020 8037 4014

roxana.mm@blendnetwork.com

www.blendnetwork.com

[1] www.commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7671/

[2] www.savills.co.uk/blog/article/301680/residential-property/what-impact-will-covid-19-have-on-future-housing-supply-in-england-.aspx

[3] Home Builders Federation: ‘Reversing the decline of small housebuilders: reinvigorating entrepreneurialism and building more homes’.

[4] www.propertyweek.com/news/blend-network-funds-victorian-shoe-factory-resi-conversion/5115203.article

NHC bursary scheme awards 12 bursaries to 7 of their member organisations

| |by

The Unlocking Success Bursary Scheme, funded through the Northern Housing Consortium Charitable Trust, awards bursaries of £500 to help tenants develop learning and skills to support future employment.

From April to June 2021, we had a total of 18 applications from 7 of our member organisations. We are delighted to award 12 bursaries to successful applicants. Below are a few examples of how the bursary will be used.

Francesa is a Habinteg tenant and has been a carer for her mother for several years. Despite this she  has still managed to gain a place at university to study Child Nursing. The bursary award will be used to help with her tuition fees, books, and course materials.

___________________________________________________________________________

Lewis is a tenant from Thirteen Group and will use the bursary to help him fund a career ambition of becoming a telecommunications engineer. The bursary grant will be used to pay for certain tickets and help him to achieve this ambition.

__________________________________________________________________________

Kate is a tenant from Thirteen Group and will use her bursary to help fund the rest of her studies in Midwifery. Kate has also become a chair for the midwifery society board, and she also volunteers for an organisation that helps with the bereavement of children.

___________________________________________________________________________

Paul is a tenant from Thirteen who is supporting his disabled wife and stepdaughter. He wanted to attend a course in barbering and cutthroat shaving while also having a part-time job. He would use the bursary to buy additional barbering tools. Paul is hoping that at the end of the course he will be self-employed. In his own words “Everyone will always need a haircut”.

___________________________________________________________________________

Sarah is a tenant from Gateshead Council who will use the bursary to help pay for a degree in Criminology & Psychology. She wants to use this degree to help people, pursuing a career as a support worker or police officer and in turn will help her support herself and her 2 small children.

Congratulations to this year’s successful applicants! Applications for 2021 are now closed, further details to follow in the coming months.

 

Decent Homes Standard Review : Update

| |by

The Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government’s review of the Decent Homes Standard continues to progress. The first phase – which will run until September – is considering the case for change to the existing standard. Following a meeting in June, last Friday the NHC submitted written comments to Ministry.

Our previous submission in May explained our members’ view that a comprehensive Decent Homes Standard review should consider updating the list of building components to include new technologies and materials. We also explained that our members find that age is useful for asset management planning purposes but that the standard needs to be flexible enough to avoid replacement occurring solely based on age.

This time the submission was focussed on the modern facilities and services criterion, as well as additional questions on reasonable state of repair. We gave views on ventilation, reiterating members’ concerns that fuel poverty plays a big part in this issue ad that there is empirical evidence of customers not utilising ventilation solutions due to fears of heat loss. This demonstrates the need for greater use of technology to identify and monitor the ‘real’ usage of the home.

We told the review that members make extensive use of asset surveys, finding that they bring huge value to organisations, with stock condition surveys allowing them to collect information relating to the Government’s Decent Home Standard, but that members valued the ability to determine the frequency and scope of these surveys.

This phase of the review also began to look at issues ‘beyond the front door’.  NHC members told us that communal areas within dwellings, and facilities on the land around the premises which is owned or managed by the landlord, could fall within the scope of the Standard. However, we stressed the practical issues that might arise if a standard were set for neighbourhood issues over which landlords had limited influence.

Members felt strongly that homes and neighbourhoods should have a basic level of security including a requirement for to reduce fear of crime, avoidance of dead-ends, ‘rat runs’, throughfares, and considerations for sufficient lighting in communal areas and non-adopted highways.

This phase of the review also considered issues around digital connectivity, accessibility and electrical services.  The review will now move on to consider the ‘Thermal Comfort’ criterion, which is heavily dated and does not reflect the current government’s net zero commitments.

The NHC sends regular updates to members who have expressed an interest in the Decent Homes Review – providing an opportunity for members to contribute their practical experience of the current standard.  To add your name, email Kristina.Dawson@northern-consortium.org.uk

We are particularly grateful to St Leger Homes of Doncaster who consulted their tenants in the process of formulating their own response to the questions on ‘modern facilities and services’. The NHC have also presented on the review to tenants from the Sheffield City Region Together With Tenants Group, and we are happy to make similar presentations to NHC member staff teams or resident groups.  Please contact matthew.wilson@northern-consortium.org.uk

New research : operationalising the Green Book

| |by

Homes for the North, with support from the Northern Housing Consortium, has this week launched new research on appraisal guidance.  This follows revisions made to the Government’s ‘Green Book’ in 2020 and examines how appraisal guidance can be ‘operationalised’ to reflect levelling up. The research finds that the review of the Green Book will come to nothing unless serious thought is given to how, in practical terms, the appraisal system moves beyond monetising benefits to individuals such as land-value uplift, and moves towards truly valuing wider public benefits.

The study was conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and included workshops with councils, housing associations and other partners with an interest in delivering more and better homes in the North. The report includes recommendations to government and to scheme promoters.

Commenting, NHC Executive Director Brian Robson, who sat on the steering group for the research, said:  “The NHC was pleased to support Homes for the North with this project. We hope the recommendations to scheme promoters, and the review of the existing evidence base, will prove of value to NHC local and combined authority members as they progress local schemes.”

The report can be downloaded here.

NHC provide evidence to Commons Net Zero Inquiry

| |by

On Monday 12th July, the NHC’s Brian Robson appeared before the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee to provide evidence as part of the Committee’s inquiry into Local Government and Net Zero.

As part of a session focused on housing, local government and net zero, the committee covered a wide range of ground:

  • On Retrofit, Brian noted the potential for 77,000 jobs undertaking green home upgrades across the North, and called for the Chancellor to bring forward the £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund in his Autumn Spending Review, injecting confidence into the market, growing the skills and the supply chain we need across all tenures
  • Responding to a question around the role of local authorities, Brian shared with the Committee the NHC’s research on the loss of over 50% of the North’s housing and planning capacity since 2010, and argued that local authority capacity needs to underpin everything we do on net zero. He argued that the relative success of the local authority delivery element of net zero: upgrading 55,000 homes from a standing start 12 months ago, showed what local authorities can do when they are put in the driving seat
  • On the Future Homes Standard, Brian noted that over 5 million existing homes across the North will require retrofit measures, and that we cannot afford to add to this total by building new homes that will require retrofit in future. It is cheaper and less disruptive to get it right first time. He made the case for local authorities to continue to be able to set higher standards, where this is felt appropriate.

 

The HCLG Select Committee is an influential cross-party committee which conducts inquiries linked to the remit of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Upon production of a Select Committee report, Government must respond to the recommendations of the Committee. The NHC submits written evidence to a range of Select Committee inquiries, and this is the third time in 18months that our team have been called to give oral evidence off the back of a written submission.

Commenting, NHC Chief Executive Tracy Harrison said “I’m delighted that the evidence base we have assembled on issues that matter to our members continues to attract the interest of influential select committees. It is heartening that we are able to represent our members interests in this way, and I look forward to reading the Committee’s final report in due course.”

Members can:

For further details on the NHC’s activity responding to calls for evidence and consultations, contact Karen Brown (Senior Policy Advisor) karen.brown@northern-consortium.org.uk

Managing burnout – Claire Russell, CEO, Mental Health in Business

| |by

The mental health impact of all that we have experienced since early 2020, is huge – and will be long lasting.

Claire Russell, CEO, Mental Health in Business.

“On a population-wide basis, the negative mental health effects of the pandemic are likely to last much longer that its physical health impacts. The effects of physical distancing, social isolation, and lockdown on individual mental well-being, as well as the loss of a loved one, increase the mental health challenges for the UK population”
(Mental Health Foundation, Jan 2021)

Various studies* carried out in the last 17 months have shown that the number of people experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions has increased significantly.

People employed in some specific sectors or professions have been identified as experiencing especially high levels of stress – including those working in the NHS and education; and those working in the sectors most significantly affected by lockdowns and restrictions.

We’ve all been affected to some degree. We have all had change forced upon us – lockdowns, restrictions, homeworking. Many of us have experienced health concerns and very sadly many of us have lost people we love. Those with existing physical or mental health conditions may not have been able to access the treatment or support they have needed.

That’s a lot of stress for a lot of people.

In general terms, the stressfulness of any difficult situation is related to how long it lasts. As the effects of the pandemic have dragged out, over many months, people have been exposed to chronic stressors throughout all of that time.

That wears people down.

“Pandemic fatigue is an expected and natural response to a prolonged public health crisis”.
(World Health Organisation, November 2020)

For many people the stress and fatigue will find its expression in burnout.

Burnout is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion.

In 2019, ‘burnout’ was recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an ‘occupational phenomenon’. However, as the lines between work and home have blurred so much for so many, throughout the pandemic- ‘burnout’ can, and is, and will affect us in and out of work.

46% of UK workers feel ‘more prone to extreme levels of stress’ compared with a year ago
(Mental Health UK March 2020)

Dr Mike Drayton, author of ‘Anti-Burnout’ describes burnout as “the biggest public health crisis of the 21st Century”.

So, what are some of the typical signs of burnout?

  • Feeling tired or drained most of the time
  • Feeling helpless, trapped and/or defeated
  • Feeling detached/alone in the world
  • Having a cynical/negative outlook
  • Self-doubt
  • Procrastinating and taking longer to get things done
  • Feeling overwhelmed

These are all signs to watch out for in yourself and in your colleagues.

Burnout can happen within the context of an organisational culture. Business leaders, urgently, must make it a top priority to develop an anti-burnout culture – a workplace that is psychologically safe, where people feel safe to ask for help, where they know they will be heard and supported.

Claire Russell, CEO, Mental Health in Business.

 

Services for NHC members:

NHC members can benefit from a 15% discount on all MHIB’s services and a

  • FREE organisational mental wellbeing assessment.
  • To find out more about our free organisational wellbeing assessments, click here.
  • To see an overview of our services, discounted for NHC members, click here.
  • Managing Stress and avoiding Burnout workshop

Workshop details:

We all experience stress to some degree – some might say that some stress is healthy or helpful, because it motivates us and keeps us moving.

However – there is considerable evidence that high levels of stress, persistently, can lead to mental ill-health and contribute to serious physical ill-health.

Since early 2020, we have collectively been living through an extraordinarily stressful time – most people have been coping with unforeseen change and challenges, uncertainty, anxiety and worry.

Many people have had their businesses hugely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, many have lost their jobs, been adapting to working at home, coping with isolation and home-schooling children who may themselves be struggling emotionally. Sadly, many people have been bereaved during the pandemic and, like many people with existing physical or mental health conditions – may not have been able to access the support needed.

Numerous studies* carried out between June 2020-June 2021 have identified the risk that many people may be heading for burnout.

“A recent study by Monster found that 69% of employees working from home are experiencing symptoms of burnout. It’s unsurprising when you consider how many of us are juggling busy work schedules, video calls, home-schooling and household chores everyday”
Mental Health Charity, Mind; March 2021

Join CEO of MHIB, TEDx speaker, mental health campaigner & Samaritans volunteer, Claire Russell, for this powerful workshop to help you manage stress, improve mental well-being and avoid burnout.

 

Outline

During this 2-hour workshop participants will learn about the effects of stress on mental, emotional and physical well-being; how to manage stress; the link between burnout and mental health and how to avoid burnout.

The session will involve interactive discussions and group exercises which are specially designed to ensure effective learning in a short timeframe within an online environment.

Session Objectives:

  • Would you like to have more understanding about what causes stress and the effects of stress on mental, emotional and physical health?
  • Are you worried about the effects of stress on your colleagues/team/organisational well-being?
  • Do you worry that you – or your colleagues – are heading for burnout?
  • Would you like to have more understanding about how to create an anti-burnout culture, so that you / your colleagues / your team can enjoy great well-being and thrive at work?

 

After attending this workshop, you will:

  1. Understand the impact of stress

You will be able to spot the signs of stress in yourself and colleagues and know how to manage stress better, in order to enjoy better mental, physical and emotional well-being.

  1. Recognise the signs of burnout

You will be able to identify if you, or your colleagues, are showing signs of burnout. You will understand the relationship between burnout and mental health and be able take steps to avoid burnout and promote good mental well-being for all.

  1. Understand what an anti-burnout culture looks like

You will be equipped to burnout-proof yourself, your team and your organisation and be able to create a psychologically safe and healthy working environment in which every person is supported and enabled to experience good mental well-being and to truly thrive.
Workshop hosting details and cost

The workshop will be hosted on Zoom or Webex, to be agreed depending on your organisational requirements.

Cost: Reduced from £1500 plus vat to £995 plus vat for up to 25 attendees (POA for larger groups) – with an extra 15% off for NHC members

Included:

  • Powerful 2 hour workshop
  • Written resources for all attendees

“Burnout is a state of vital exhaustion. It refers specifically to the phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life”.

World Health Organisation, 2018.

(* https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmhealth/22/2207.htm; https://www.bma.org.uk/news-and-opinion/stress-and-burnout-warning-over-covid-19; https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/)

 To find out how MHIB can help you, or your organisation, please contact the team on NHCMember@mhib.co.uk or call 01788 340180 – quote ‘NHC’.

Northern Housing Consortium – 2021 Election of Directors

| |by

The Northern Housing Consortium represents the views of housing organisations in the North of England, with our membership of local and combined authorities, ALMOs and housing associations representing 9 out of every 10 social homes in the North.  Our vision is to use our collective voice to have unrivalled influence in achieving housing policy that works for the North and provide outstanding services that support our members to create great places to live.

The overall management and strategic direction of the Northern Housing Consortium is entrusted to the Board of Directors who are subject to election each year from Full Member organisations.  Membership of the board is balanced between the three Northern regions and consideration is made of sectoral representation across different organisation types as well as the need for balance across the range of equality categories – age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation. We would strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds to support our inclusion and diversity objectives.

Under the Consortium’s governance arrangements, all nominations for the position of Director will be reviewed by the Board (or their nominated representatives), against a Skills Set for Directors to ensure that they meet the Board’s requirement to fill any vacancies – the Skills Set and Board Director Role Profile are enclosed in the Board Director Nomination Pack.

In accordance with a procedure agreed by the Board, we are seeking nominations for a total of seven Directors’ places to be filled for the three-year period 2021-2024. The Directors who are retiring this year but who wish to stand for re-election are as follows:

  1. Ian Wardle, Chief Executive, Thirteen
  2. Liz Haworth, Chief Executive, Halton Housing
  3. Yvonne Castle, Chief Executive, Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust
  4. Leann Hearne, Chief Executive Officer, Livv Housing Group (previously co-opted to fill a casual vacancy on 12th March 2021)
  5. Charlie Norman, Group Chief Executive, Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group (previously co-opted to fill a casual vacancy on 12th March 2021)

NB The Board have confirmed their support for the re-election of the above candidates.

Should the number of successful nominations exceed the vacancies available, a ballot will be arranged and the results announced for formal approval by the Full Members at the Consortium’s Annual General Meeting on 9th December 2021.

A nomination form is included in the Nomination Pack, and I invite you to consider and make nominations of candidates no later than 18th August 2021.  Please note that you can nominate more than one candidate but in doing so, you should note the conditions for nominating candidates included in the Nomination Pack.

An application form can be obtained from kay.wiseman@northern-consortium.org.uk This must be completed by the nominee and returned with the nomination form no later than 18th August 2021.

If you would like to discuss your nomination for the position of Director, please contact:

Tracy Harrison

Chief Executive

T: 07809659492

E: tracy.harrison@northern-consortium.org.uk

Look out for our member perceptions survey

| |by

The NHC are embarking on a new perceptions survey to help us understand what we’re doing well, where we need to improve, and where we should focus our attention for the future.

As a membership organisation, it is vital that the work NHC does is relevant and adds value to our members. As we now start slowly emerging from the shadow of the pandemic, we are looking to the future and the challenges and opportunities that face our sector in the coming years.

Our member’s views are hugely important in shaping how we respond to those challenges and opportunities. The results from this survey will help us in shaping the direction of our new corporate plan and we will be feeding back results and next steps when the research is complete.

The work has been commissioned from an independent communications and research company called Quorus. A contact at every NHC full member organisation will receive an invitation from Quorus to take part – if you receive the invitation for your organisation, please do complete the short survey and help shape our future work.