CHIC’s Board met in mid-June for its quarterly review of CHIC’s operational performance and future plans and projections. The Board comprises of nine member representatives and two independent directors, including the chair. More details of the Board are provided below.
Included in the business considered by the Board in June was:
• A review of the updated strategic risk register, following detailed consideration by the Audit and Risk Committee.
• The current CHIC performance dashboard, management accounts and financial year end forecast. CHIC’s financial year ends on 30th June; performance is predicted to just exceed the budget target.
• The procurement plan for replacing and enhancing the range of CHIC’s service offer through a comprehensive range of Frameworks and new Dynamic Markets, now being procured under the 2023 Procurement Act.
• A review of CHIC’s solutions and member utilisation of Technology Services.
• Feedback on CHIC’s Annual Conference, Exhibition and CHIP Charity Dinner. The Board agreed these had been popular and successful events and would be repeated based on the same format in 2026.
Key business decisions by the Board included: • Approval to extend the Supply of Services Agreement with ARK Consultancy Limited for a further term. CHIC’s Board commissioned an independent review of contract performance prior to making this decision, to ensure that its governance responsibilities were robustly exercised. CHIC has to provide ARK with 12 months’ notice for each term of the contract extension – so this decision confirmed extension to June 2029.
• Approval of the 2025/26 CHIC Budget. Further growth is predicted during the year, so approval included the addition of some new roles across the CHIC team.
The Board also received two presentations:
1. From Fusion Insight – with feedback on the recently completed CHIC Stakeholder Independent Survey.
2. From Endotherm – about a potential Carbon Credit Scheme for CHIC’s members and their residents.
More details about the stakeholder survey outcomes will be included in a future edition of CHIC CHAT.
CHIC's Board
- Amanda Long | Chair- Ian Davies | Director of Property Services, EMH – Vice Chair- David Wells | Executive Director of Customer Experience, Housing Plus Group- Jayne Stringer | Group Procurement Manager, Connexus- Sarah Payling | Strategic Partnerships Director (Housing), Oceanmedia- Charlotte Johnson | Executive Director of Property, LHP- Caroline Lawley | Executive Director of Business and Finance, Taff Housing- Steve Porter | Director of Asset Investment & Procurement, Wales & West Housing- Vic Speakman | Senior Procurement Business Partner, Bromford- Chantal Pottage | Group Procurement Manager, Sanctuary- Sandip Shergill | Director of Procurement, Notting Hill Genesis
Work Experience Placement We are pleased to welcome Mihir Jance, who has joined CHIC on a two week work experience placement to support our competitor analysis and market insight work. Mihir is focusing on researching sector trends, benchmarking CHIC’s services against other procurement consortia and helping us identify opportunities for continued improvement. His work will play an important role in informing our strategic planning and ensuring we continue to deliver value to our members.
Recent Contract AwardsHere is a summary of the contracts awarded through CHIC since the start of our financial year 2024/25, which started last July. There is also the total new members and the regions they reside.
This Month’s Housing Updates
Modular Housing Firm Enters Administration
Telford-based Elements Europe, a modular construction specialist and CHIC stakeholder, has entered administration - halting major projects and resulting in 141 job losses. The move underscores the ongoing challenges facing off-site housing delivery. (Roofing Today)
SHDF Wave 3 Data Release
The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero released updated Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund statistics on installations and allocations, covering progress up to June 2025. (gov)
Construction Sector Insolvencies Continue
A recent PBC overview showed multiple UK construction firms, including SME contractors, have entered administration this month, continuing a worrying trend into mid-2025. (pbc today)
National Housing Bank to Fund 500,000+ Homes
The government announced the launch of the National Housing Bank, backed by £16 billion in public investment and designed to leverage £53 billion in private capital to accelerate the delivery of over 500,000 homes. The initiative aims to expand access to low interest loans and guarantees via Homes England to boost affordable and social housing supply. (gov)
Modular Homes Pilot Approved in London
Planning consent was given for an 18 unit modular housing pilot led by Havering Council and Wates Residential. Designed to provide high quality, energy efficient temporary homes, the development is expected to fast track relief for families in hotels and B&Bs while demonstrating the scalability of off-site construction. (offsitehub)
