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Click here to download the SOCIAL_HOUSING_CROSSWORD_PUZZLE.pdf

The future of social housing was prudently addressed, following a riveting conversation held by Theresa Mays former chief of staff Nick Timothy at one of our own board awaydays, back in January.

Many believe that social housing is nearing the bottom of the agenda when it comes to the implications of Brexit and is being heavily overlooked.

Arguable, the main issue that the social housing sector is going to face is the logistical changes to supply chains. With materials like timber being heavily imported from the EU, many merchants have already begun contingency planning to maintain their sustainability, and have adopted the approach of stockpiling materials; however, it’s a very temporary solution

The overcomplicating of importing materials is set to have some implications on the affordability of social homes, whether this is going to be for the good or bad of renters in the UK.

But the question is, does anyone know what they are doing? Planning for the unknown is an impossible feat in all walks of life, let alone when looking to mitigate the effects of Brexit on an entire industry.

The potential knock-on effects are endless with the immediate ones possibly the most damaging. Will we begin seeing more or less jobs in the construction industry? Half of construction workers in London come from the EU and many have already gone back to avoid being ‘stuck’.

The effects that deal or no deal Brexit could be endless from temporary purchasing alternative materials to a complete logistical change, steering away from current just in time solutions.

Going from a blanket agreement to, well, who knows what, is going to be a huge change regardless of the specifics and the social housing market is inevitably going to learn to adapt no matter what comes its way; Deal or No Deal is just the beginning of something bigger.

With every future deal coming from UK Parliament, surely our government will do what is best for UK citizens? It is no secret that the UK has been in a housing crisis for some time now with the publication of reports like the Shelter’s “vision for social housing”.

Although the UK is going Brexit crazy, there’s no need to panic. CHIC has been actively collaborating with its members / suppliers to gather intel on what is the best course of action to mitigate the amount of disruption to the supply chain. 95% of Manufacturers and Distributors have already plans in place to mitigate for a No deal vote with the large majority being determined as low risk. (Testimonial from a supplier)

CHIC has engaged with it’s supply chain to ensure that members have contingencies in place for every aspect of property maintenance requirements.

CHIC’s Merchant Services Manager (maybe change it to Supply chain manager) is of the opinion that: “The worst thing that we in the social housing industry can do right now, is to put our heads in the sand and hope that this storm will pass us by. The first thing that will be affected will be supply chains, as we see in other sectors such as the automotive industry. Arguably if housing associations engage with purchasing groups, in respect of their suppliers, trends will be noticeable which means that steps can be taken to mitigate negative effects.”

As rightly pointed out purchasing groups such as CHIC, are better positioned to notice trends in the market that individual housing associations cannot see, and this is purely down to the number of suppliers each engages. Having a pool of suppliers providing the same type of service, normally via a framework, will allow members that purchase through that group a better understanding of where the market is going.

In these trialling times, co-operation is key, and instead of we can do it better, we need to do it better together.

The question is then, what has your association done to ensure that services will not drop.

Quote from Bournville to come: - need to chase giles again today.

If you are worried about the Brexit impact on your organisation, please give us a call.

 

Where we have been this month

CHIC Sponsored Walk – Goal Reached

The CHIC team has completed our 2025 sponsored walk and we are pleased to say we have exceeded our target, raising £1,207 so far. The funds have been donated directly to CHIP, supporting its mission to provide employment and training opportunities, fund local community initiatives and deliver social value projects that make a lasting impact.

It was a bright and sunny day and while the team are now icing their blisters, it was a great effort for a great cause. A big thank you to everyone who has donated.

Donations are still open, so if you haven’t yet and would like to support CHIP, you can do so here:
Donate here

CHIC Hosts Social Housing Panel at UK Construction Week

CHIC hosted a well attended panel discussion at UK Construction Week on Thursday 8th May, focusing on unlocking long term opportunities in social housing maintenance and building safety.
Chaired by CHIC’s Chief Executive, John Fisher, the session featured insights from Jennine Kirkwood (Head of Member Services, London – CHIC), Samantha Jane Rogers (Westminster City Council), and Alison Hann (Calfordseadon). Together, they explored how the sector is responding to the ongoing need for investment in existing homes and the role that frameworks play in offering structured, compliant routes to market for contractors and suppliers.

The discussion covered a range of topics including the impact of the Procurement Act, what clients look for from service providers and how both small and large contractors can access opportunities through CHIC’s frameworks.

Thank you to all who joined the session and contributed to the conversation.

If you would like a copy of the presentation content, we are happy to share it.

CHIC at CIH Brighton 2025

Members of the CHIC team also attended CIH’s Housing Brighton event last week. It was a great opportunity to catch up with our members and supply chain partners and to hear more about the key issues shaping the sector.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to connect with us.

CHIC Team Attends Asset Management Training with ARK

Many colleagues from the CHIC team attended an Asset Management Training session hosted by ARK Consultancy at Conference Aston on Wednesday 30th April. This training provided a ‘deep dive’ into the current challenges facing the social housing sector, particularly around asset management.
As both ARK and CHIC are heavily involved in this crucial area of social housing, it was essential for our team to share knowledge, develop our skills and stay up to date with the latest trends and challenges. By attending, we are better equipped to continue delivering the best service to our members and partners.

ARK is CHIC’s managing agent - a leading multidisciplinary management and technical consultancy, working across the UK with housing associations, local authorities, government bodies and the charitable sector. ARK has experts who advise on all business functions but who have particular expertise in asset management, development, governance, organisational change and regeneration.

Recent Contract Awards

Here is a look at the contracts awarded through CHIC since the last edition of CHIC CHAT, highlighting the wide range of services our members and partners provide

This Month’s Housing Updates

Planning Reform Could Add £7.5bn to UK Economy
The government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill aims to boost housing and infrastructure, with reforms potentially delivering £7.5bn in economic gains over a decade (Gov.uk). Changes like cutting statutory consultations could shave two years off housing projects and add £1bn in value. The OBR suggests these could help reach a 40-year high of 305,000 homes annually (OBR).

Solar Panel Mandate to Include Social Housing
By 2027, new homes—including social housing—must have solar panels, under the Future Homes Standard (Gov.uk). This could add £3,300–£4,000 to build costs. The Home Builders Federation urges realistic implementation to reflect housing design diversity (HBF).

18,000 Workers to Be Trained in Green Skills
The Warm Homes Plan will train 18,000 workers in heat pumps, solar panels, and insulation (BEIS). Funding includes grants, a skills programme and manufacturer investment. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme saw applications rise 88% year-on-year in March 2025.

Waking Watch Fund Extended with £21.1m Top-Up
The Waking Watch Replacement Fund is extended to March 2026, with total funding now over £41m (Gov.uk). It supports installing L5 fire alarm systems in buildings with a waking watch but cannot be used for work already started.

HACT Launches Innovation Programme for Social Housing
Social housing charity HACT is starting a sector wide innovation and R&D project, backed by 20+ partners (HACT). The initiative includes CEO interviews, stakeholder roundtables and a roadmap for sector transformation, to be launched in September 2025.

Housing Completions Rise Despite Fewer Starts
ONS data shows housing associations completed 10,270 homes in Q4 2024—a 36% rise (ONS). However, new starts fell significantly. Local authorities started only 230 homes. At this rate, the government may achieve up to 153,000 completions in year one.

Construction Sector Tops Insolvency Rates
Construction firms accounted for 17% of all insolvencies to February 2025, with 4,046 cases (Insolvency Service). February alone saw 367 cases—the highest since June 2024. Most involved self-employed workers and sole traders.

6.3 Million Homes at Flood Risk, Warns CCC
The Climate Change Committee warns that 6.3 million homes in England are at flood risk, rising to 8 million by 2050 (Climate Change Committee). The UK lacks adaptation plans, with threats from flooding, heatwaves and wildfires set to worsen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Procurement Update for CHIC MembersCHIC remains committed to delivering robust, member focused procurement solutions that support the full spectrum of asset management services. Here’s the latest update on our procurement programme:
Multiple Elements Framework – Tenders ClosingThe procurement process for the Multiple Elements Framework, which supports planned maintenance works, is live. The tender submission deadline will close today on Wednesday 14th May 2025.

Merchants & Materials Framework – Re-Procurement UnderwayOngoing planning is in progress for the re-procurement of the Merchants & Materials Framework. In partnership with Efficiency North, we are refining documentation and scope to ensure compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and alignment with members needs.

Imminent Procurement – Decoration FrameworkWe are moving into the latter planning stage for the Decoration Framework, progressing toward a formal tender launch. Further updates will follow as development continues.

Frameworks in Procurement Planning Stage
Initial planning is underway for the following frameworks:
• Consultancy Services
• Lifting Equipment & Mobility Aids

Upcoming Procurement
We are continuing early scoping and supplier engagement in the following areas:
• Asbestos and Abatement Services
• Risk Assessment Services

Framework Utilisation – Tender Completed for Sovereign NetworkWe have successfully completed a £240 million Decarbonisation procurement for Sovereign Network, delivering one of CHIC’s largest procurement programmes to date.

These workstreams will form part of CHIC’s future procurement pipeline and we welcome early engagement from interested suppliers.

For more details on CHIC’s procurement programme, please contact Sam Domican, Director of Procurement, at tenders@chicltd.co.uk.

 

 

CHIP Partners with BESAS to Support Employment Through Construction Apprenticeships

As part of CHIC’s ongoing commitment to social value, CHIP continues to support local initiatives that help individuals move into employment. Since its launch, CHIP has worked with a wide range of organisations to:
• Provide access to recognised qualifications
• Offer certificates to evidence skills• Deliver short courses and life skills training to overcome employment barriers

New Partnership with BESAS

This year, CHIP has partnered with the Built Environment Shared Apprenticeship Service (BESAS) – a national collaboration of not-for-profit agencies promoting shared apprenticeships in the construction sector.

Learn more at www.besas.co.uk

How Hosting a BESAS Apprentice Works:

•   Host apprentices for a set period at an agreed fee
•   BESAS manages training, development, and ongoing support
•   HR and pastoral care are fully handled by BESAS
•   Follow-on placements are arranged if a project ends early•   Option to directly recruit the apprentice at the end of the programme
Interested in Hosting an Apprentice?

To learn more about the scheme or to speak about taking on an apprentice through BESAS, contact CHIP’s Social Value Manager – Emma Macaulay, emacaulay@chipcharity.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With water bills rising sharply this year, the pressure is on for housing providers to find smarter ways to manage consumption and reduce water debt.

It’s a daunting challenge, but across a large portfolio, even modest reductions in consumption can deliver significant savings and environmental benefits.

Improving water efficiency also supports residents wellbeing by helping reduce utility costs in self-contained homes—an increasingly important part of tackling water and fuel poverty.

At Methven, our reputation and legacy has been built on creating products that offer performance without compromise, saving water while providing the best possible showering experiences.

The benefits of an increased focus on water saving showering technology go far beyond the bottom line – but how do you get there?