This issue is all about celebrating excellence and showing the power of collaboration and learning, reflecting on our Direct Works March Conference and Awards, which were a smash hit!
Remember to log your CPD points for this event, too!
But before we dive into that, just a reminder that Direct Works is now part of Direct Works Group – which is growing! Driving continuous improvement is an essential part of Direct Works Group’s overall mission to foster a culture of learning and support for everyone involved in social housing.
As well as the newly formed Direct Asset running its inaugural meeting in parallel to the Direct Works March event, and Direct Consult showcasing the how they’re helping housing providers improve operational efficiencies, performance and resident satisfaction, we’re excited to announce that the launch of Direct Procure and Direct Compliance and Direct Mentors later this year.
Watch this space!
In the meantime, thank you to everyone involved in Direct Works. Your engagement and commitment play a crucial role in our collective success and the value we create together. This was reflected in our recent survey where more than 80% of you said membership offers value for money.
So a reminder…… If you haven’t yet renewed your Direct Works membership, now is the time! Email membership@direct-works.co.uk
If you’re not part of our group, contact membership@direct-works.co.uk to stay connected and ahead of the game!
Championing Excellence: Exploring key topics to drive efficiency and promote best practice in repairs and maintenance
Our March in-person Seminar and Awards provided plenty of scope for attendees to learn, network and share practical strategies to drive improvement, to the high turnout of members and affiliate partners attending.
Kicking off with the Direct Works Awards, provided us the perfect opportunity to celebrate achievements and showcase the huge array of technical expertise, passion and dedication within the housing sector.
A massive thank you to our Award sponsors including Procure Plus, More IQ, OneAdvanced, SparkSafe, and Niyaa People, and congratulations to all our nominees and this year’s winners.
The Winners
Best Apprentice: Mia Goodall, HMS
Commitment to EDI and Workplace Welfare: Thirteen Group
Best Innovation: John Saunders, Riverside Group
Inspirational Colleague: Gail Farley, HMS
Outstanding Resident Engagement: Zoe Collins, Riverside Group
Best Use of Technology: Magenta Living
Exploring best practice in repairs and maintenance
The agenda for the Seminar itself was described as ‘wide-ranging’, ‘hard-hitting’ and getting to the ‘nitty gritty’ of topics on the agenda, exactly what we aim to do.
Direct Consult, part of the Direct Works Group, took us Back to Basics on the importance of getting the fundamentals right when it comes to repairs and maintenance.
Delivered by consultants, Andy Thompson, Mike Wilson and Richard Hazard, the session posed some challenging questions around the negative connotations associated with the concept of back to basics, concluding that a focus on delivering what the customer actually needs, rather than getting distracted by the ‘shiny stuff’ or falling victim to role creep, is essential.
The full presentation and recording of the Back-to-Basics session is available in the Seminar & Webinars section of the Direct Works members’ area: https://direct-works.co.uk/resources/
Preparing for the Regulatory Inspection on the Consumer Standards– Scott Bridge, Havebury
Scott Bridge, Assistant Director of Asset Management at Havebury shared lessons learned on preparing for regulatory inspections. Scott’s session gave delegates the chance to share useful tips on how to brief board members to ensure they are equipped with the right information to report on the granular detail when the Regulator calls, to achieve C1 status.
The full presentation and recording of Preparing for the Regulatory session is available in the Seminar & Webinars section of the Direct Works members’ area: https://direct-works.co.uk/resources/
Financial modelling: getting it right: Rob Bryan, Vantage
With cost increases continuing to affect the sector, Rob Bryan, (CEO, Vantage) encouraged focus on the importance of good commercial management. The need to drill down into financial modelling to ensure teams have a robust understanding of the numbers and are measuring the right metrics, was a key recommendation to ultimately improve productivity and efficiency across the sector.
The full presentation and recording of the Financial Modelling session is available in the Seminar & Webinars section of the Direct Works members’ area: https://direct-works.co.uk/resources/
Compliance and Best Practices: Kevin Devine & Steve Repton at TIC Mould Control and Charlotte Bamber, SparkSafe
Direct Works is fortunate to have a wealth of expert affiliate partners on board to share their specialisms. These include TIC Mould Control, who have created a system that eradicates airborne and surface mould in under an hour. The portable kit allows housing providers to ensure operators are working in safe conditions and gives residents peace of mind that their property complies with the latest damp and mould legislation.
SparkSafe CEO, Charlotte Bamber also shared an update on the importance of electrical compliance. Charlotte demonstrated SparkSafe’s License to Practise system, which allows housing providers to check electricians’ credentials to make sure they have a fully qualified workforce on site at all times. The user-friendly software is focused on driving up safety standards and improving productivity to improve the work environment and create safer homes for residents.
There was lots of interest in the room for these sessions, so if you want to find out more, either reach out to Charlotte: charlotte@sparksafeltp.co.uk, Kevin: kevin@mytic.co.uk, or contact marketing@direct-works.co.uk
Full presentations and recordings of both sessions are available here in the Seminar & Webinars section: https://direct-works.co.uk/resources/
Consolidation, Clarity and Communication: Phil Pemberton, Riverside & John Tatham, Consultant
Another really informative case study was delivered by Phil Pemberton (Director of Property Services, Riverside Group) and John Tatham, (DLO Business Transformation Consultant) who worked together resolving the impact of consolidation following Riverside’s merger with One Housing. Key outcomes included the importance of creating a culture of accountability, with measurable targets in place, aimed at empowering team members and promoting positive outputs.
The full presentation and recording of the Consolidation, Clarity and Communication session is available in the Seminar & Webinars section of the Direct Works members’ area: https://direct-works.co.uk/resources/
With a packed programme and an engaged audience, the seminar provided plenty of lively discussion and the opportunity to share real-life strategies to common challenges. The over-riding message was clear: stay grounded in what really matters and empower your teams with the autonomy and tools they need to succeed. By fostering a culture of efficiency and accountability, this will lead to better internal operations and improved outcomes for residents.
Thank you to delegates, sponsors and presenters! See you next time!
