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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.

 

 

 

Rising repairs and maintenance costs across the housing sector can feel like a double edged sword - a “big shock” to budgets, yet a necessary investment in safer, warmer and more sustainable homes. Providers are grappling with inflationary pressures, ageing stock, compliance demands and evolving resident expectations, all of which are driving demand for increased spending. Rather than a short term spike, this trend reflects a structural shift. Organisations are moving from reactive fixes to proactive asset management, long term planning and resilience focused investment. Read More

This perspective is reinforced by the latest sector intelligence. According to Inside Housing’s 2026 Repairs Tracker, England’s largest providers collectively spent £10bn on repairs and maintenance in 2024/25 which is a fourth consecutive record year and 42% above pre pandemic levels. Data drawn from the Regulator of Social Housing Global Accounts highlights drivers including damp and mould remediation, fire and building safety works, energy efficiency upgrades and tighter regulatory standards. With forecasts approaching £11bn annually over the next five years, the sector’s challenge is not whether to invest, but how to do so efficiently while delivering better outcomes for residents. Read More

Quality Over Cost: The New Direction of UK Procurement

UK procurement is moving beyond a lowest price mindset toward decisions based on long term value, quality and resilience. Economic pressures and supply chain challenges have highlighted the hidden risks of choosing the cheapest option, from poor performance to higher lifecycle costs. As a result, organisations are placing greater emphasis on reliable suppliers, sustainability, social value and outcomes that deliver lasting benefits rather than short-term savings. Read More

When Suppliers Go Bust, How Frameworks Can Help

Supplier insolvency remains a significant risk across the UK construction and housing sectors, where financial pressures, tight margins and late payments continue to drive business failures. When key suppliers collapse, projects can stall, costs can rise and essential services for residents may be disrupted. Smaller subcontractors are often hit hardest, as cash flow issues cascade through the supply chain, increasing the likelihood of further failures.

Procurement frameworks help reduce this disruption by providing pre-vetted suppliers, financial checks, and compliant routes to quickly appoint replacements. While they cannot prevent insolvency, frameworks enable organisations to respond faster, maintain service continuity and protect residents by drawing on an established network of approved contractors and structured contracts designed to manage risk and maintain accountability. Read More

Welsh Government Announces £99m Boost for Social Housing Retrofit and Energy Compliance

The Welsh Government has allocated almost £99 million to its Optimised Retrofit Programme this year to help social housing providers upgrade properties with energy saving insulation, low carbon heating and renewable technologies. This supports better regulatory compliance, lower bills and reduced carbon emissions while creating opportunities for compliant suppliers. So, what does this mean for our members and supply chain partners. Read More

 

 

We are delighted to introduce a new colleague to the Business Intelligence & Optimisation Team: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet our Housing Horizons Exhibitors  We are excited to announce that Housing Horizons, our pilot event in partnership with The Housing Forum, has officially sold out of sponsorship and exhibition packages. Thank you to all the supply chain partners who have supported the event, we look forward to welcoming you on the day. The one day conference opens with an interview by Mark Easton with Fiona MacGregor, CEO of the Regulator of Social Housing.  For those wishing to attend as delegates, a limited number of free tickets are still available. Secure yours HERE or find out more on our website

 

This Month’s Housing Updates

Building Safety Regulator Becomes Standalone
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has officially transitioned to a standalone regulator, separating from the Health and Safety Executive. This move strengthens oversight of higher risk residential buildings, streamlines decision making and represents a key step toward a single construction regulator to improve compliance and safety outcomes.

Read more: Gov.uk

Thousands More Families to Get Warm, Secure Social Homes
The government has unveiled a new social and affordable housing package aimed at delivering thousands more warm, secure homes for families. The measures will give councils, housing associations and other providers greater financial support and flexibility to accelerate housebuilding, while also raising expectations on quality, energy efficiency and the management of disrepair.

Key elements include expanded low interest loans to support development, updated Decent Homes Standards to tackle issues such as damp and poor insulation and reforms to Section 106 arrangements to unlock uncontracted affordable homes. The package also places renewed emphasis on energy-saving improvements, helping social landlords enhance property performance while enabling tenants to reduce their living costs.

Read more: Gov.uk

Government Accelerates Planning Reforms
The UK government is advancing planning system reforms in 2026 to speed up housing delivery, clarifying expectations for councils and developers, updating design guidance for new build developments and streamlining decision making as part of its wider housing growth agenda.

Read more: Gov.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHIC remains committed to delivering robust, member focused procurement solutions that support the full spectrum of asset management services and have been embedding in the Procurement Act into all framework activities. Here is the latest update on our framework procurement programme:

Live Procurements

CHIC Consultancy Framework 2026-2030 – Open for Tenders
We are pleased to announce that CHIC’s Consultancy Framework is now out for tender for a multi-disciplinary consultancy framework that can be accessed by existing and future members of CHIC.

The scope and lot structure will cover a wide range of built environment related professional consultancy services comprising but not restricted to Building Surveying services, Contract Administration, Employers Agent, Quantity Surveying services, and Principal Designer and any other roles that may be required to support the delivery of high quality works. Support may be required at any project stage from Inception to Post Completion/In Use and may be in relation to Planned Works Programmes, individual works contracts, or any other projects that may arise during the term. The Framework Contract will be for the provision of construction related professional services by a number of consultants and their supply chains.

The Framework will provide national coverage across the United Kingdom (UK). The opportunity is provided for suppliers to identify those areas or regions where they will be able to provide a service. Tender deadline is 18th March 2026. Further details and how to bid can be found here

CHIC Merchants Framework – Evaluation in progress
The evaluation of bids is underway for the re-procurement of the CHIC Merchants & Materials Framework, in partnership with Efficiency North. More information can be found here

Frameworks in the Procurement Planning StageInitial planning is underway for the following new frameworks:

Asset Compliance & Assurance Framework - This framework includes lots and sublots for Audit, Water Hygiene, Asbestos and Abatement Services and General Risk Advisory Services. UK1 Pipeline notice has been updated to inform the market of the upcoming procurement here

Roofing - This is a comprehensive multi lot framework to deliver all types of roofing repairs and replacements.

Dynamic Markets

In parallel, CHIC is actively developing a comprehensive strategy for the implementation of the CHIC Dynamic Marketplace, aimed at increasing procurement agility and supplier access. In line with the Procurement Act 2023, CHIC’s Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) must be progressively replaced by Dynamic Markets.

 

Are you registered for the Government’s new Find a Tender service?

The Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) has now been in force for almost 1 year.

PA23 legislated for provision of a Central Digital Platform (CDP) to facilitate the publishing of required notices and documents in accordance with the new regulations.

An enhanced Find a Tender service (FTS) was launched by the UK Government on 24th February 2025, which is the CDP for public procurement. FTS is where all UK contracting authorities publish information relating to procurement. It is also the place where identifiers are recorded and/or issued and for suppliers to input their commonly used information. It is a fully integrated digital platform where noticing and supplier information all works together to support public sector procurement.

Find a Tender is free to use for everyone. There are no charges and you should not pay to view opportunities in the public sector Notices for competitions published on CHIC eSourcing.

Where a PA23 notice is required, it will also be published on FTS. Where PA23 notices are not required CHIC eSourcing opportunities will only be published on CHIC eSourcing.

PA23 notices for competitions from all other areas of the UK will be published on FTS. If you intend to bid for above threshold or notifiable competitions in any part of the UK, as a supplier you will need to register on FTS and complete your organisations details. You will then share your FTS/CDP organisation details with the Contracting Authority running the competition for which you are tendering via a share code.

For more information see the button below for a guide produced by the UK Government which provides help on:

FIND OUT MORE CHIC eSOURCING PLATFORM 

NOTE: The Central Digital Platform (CDP) is a UK Government online service, it is not directly associated in any way with Communities & Housing Investment Consortium Ltd (CHIC).For more details on CHIC’s procurement programme, please contact Sam Domican, Director of Procurement, at tenders@chicltd.co.uk.

 

 

National Apprenticeship Week is a celebration of apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. It highlights how apprenticeships provide valuable hands on experience, develop future talent and open doors to meaningful careers. At CHIC, social value is at the heart of what we do, delivered through all CHIC procured contracts and through our aligned charity CHIP. In recognition of this important week, we spoke with CHIC’s graduate apprentice Mihir Janve who is undertaking a two year programme with us and Lucy Taylor, a past CHIP Awards winner who is now a Quantity Surveyor at Lovell Partnerships. They share their individual journeys, insights and experiences of apprenticeships. Here’s what they had to say. 

 

 

In this video, Lucy shares how her apprenticeship opened doors to a rewarding career while allowing her to make a tangible difference in her community. She reflects on the confidence, skills and professional network she has built, as well as the support she received along the way. Lucy’s story highlights how apprenticeships can be life changing, offering real responsibility, growth opportunities and a pathway into long term employment. Her experience also demonstrates the wider social impact of programmes supported by CHIP, helping individuals progress while strengthening the housing sector and local communities. Watch the interview

 

 

   Mihir Mihir Janve discusses his first six months as a graduate apprentice at CHIC, offering insight into the transition from education to the workplace. He describes the variety of projects he has contributed to, the new skills he has developed and the supportive environment that has enabled him to grow both professionally and personally. His journey showcases the value of graduate apprenticeships in bridging academic learning with real world application, while also contributing to CHIC’s mission of delivering social value across the housing sector. Watch the interview or Read More 
    

 

 

 

Keep up to date on the CHIP Instagram Page We are excited to announce the launch of the CHIP Instagram Page. There we will showcase the positive impact of CHIP’s work in communities and you can expect to see regular updates on social value projects, funding and volunteering activity, partnerships with housing and industry organisations and coverage of events and fundraising initiatives. We will also be celebrating the people behind this impact, including apprentices, award winners and individuals who have benefited from training, employment support and community programmes such as the Community Chest Fund. Follow the page to stay up to date with the latest news, opportunities and success stories. If you have content, achievements, or community activities you would like to be featured, we would love to hear from you. Please email marketing@chicltd.co.uk Click the link to follow the page and be part of the growing CHIP community.   

 

There’s Still Time to Nominate for the CHIP Charity Awards Do you know an individual, team, or organisation making a real difference? There’s still time to submit your nomination for the prestigious CHIP Charity Awards, which celebrate those who go above and beyond to create opportunities, support communities and change lives. These awards shine a well deserved spotlight on the people whose dedication and impact might otherwise go unrecognised. Your nomination could ensure their work gets the recognition it deserves. Nominations are open across five inspiring categories:

 

How Procurement Powers the Warm Homes Plan
Luke Hurd, Chief Operating Officer.

The UK Government has recently announced the long anticipated Warm Homes Plan, an initiative designed to help residents cut their energy bills and make their homes more energy efficient. With £15 billion of public investment, this is the largest home upgrade programme in British history.

 

 

 

 

Delivering a programme of this scale needs to be supported by strategic asset management and procurement. The choices of materials, technologies and suppliers will impact on the success of the upgrades. Effective procurement balances cost with long term value, helping to make homes more energy efficient, sustainable, and future proof. A key strategy is separating materials from labour within procurement frameworks. By sourcing materials independently from installation services, providers achieve greater cost control, enhanced transparency, and reduced risk from market volatility. This approach supports consistent quality, enables programmes to scale more effectively and allows contractors to focus on safe, high quality delivery. By treating procurement strategically, social housing providers can turn the government’s plans into reality, delivering affordable, energy efficient homes that benefit tenants and support net zero goals. Find out more about the Warm Homes Plan here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stelrad Reaffirms Commitment to Heating Homes Sustainably by Publishing EPD Data for all Steel Panel Products

As a business Stelrad Group plc 's core purpose is to heat homes sustainably. This purpose is supported by driving better environmental performance and enabling an exceptional workforce, underpinned by conducting business responsibly.

Stelrad Group plc spend over £100m pa on Steel. Given the large volume we use, even the smallest improvements can make a big impact on our usage and our scope 3 emissions. Our production team is constantly working to run our factories as efficiently as possible.

All waste steel from our production process is fully recycled separately depending on its stage of production. Since our baseline in 2021, our emissions intensity has reduced by 43%, driven primarily by increasing the amount of renewable energy purchased and by efforts to reduce energy usage and increase energy efficiency.

Embodied Carbon?

Scope 1 & 2 (Direct and Indirect Operational) carbon emissions have traditionally been the primary focus of those looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Scope 3 emissions from the manufacture of purchased goods are much harder for companies to tackle.

However, consumers and the industry are starting to take embodied carbon more seriously with following initiatives (amongst others) starting to gain momentum:

Watch: Understanding Embodied Carbon

Reduced Embodied Carbon Radiators

In December of 2023 Stelrad Ltd launched UK's first Low Embodied Carbon radiator the Green Compact. Offering a radiator range that contributes directly to a reduction in atmospheric CO₂ emissions today and accelerates decarbonisation in the future.

The Stelrad Green Series is the next step in our commitment to provide greener radiators, helping our customers to contribute directly to reducing atmospheric CO₂. This range will help to ensure homes across the UK can be powered by radiators made with greener steel: ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel.

How much CO₂ is being saved per radiator?

By using a minimum of 75% recycled steel and 100% renewable electricity, ArcelorMittal XCarb® steel has a CO₂ footprint of approximately 800kg of CO₂ e per tonne of finished steel. This is a 66% reduction compared with the same product made via the conventional steelmaking route.

A typical 8 radiator household fitted with Green Compacts saves the equivalent of taking a typical family car off the road for 1200 miles.

So… Where do EPD's fit in?

In April of 2025 Stelrad Ltd published its first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for the Green Compact.

An EPD is an LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) Study, which details the environmental impact of a product from raw materials through to end of life. When a LCA has been verified by a 3rd party consultant it can be published as an EPD transparently reporting objective, comparable and third-party verified data about products’ environmental performance for use by a companies customers.

Stelrad’s LCA’s & EPD’s were completed following ISO 14040/44 & ISO 14025 and are compliant with EN 15804+A2:2019

In an industry leading move in September of 2025 Stelrad Group plc published EPD's for all Steel Panel Radiator Ranges in the UK and across Europe, giving specifiers unparalleled access to embodied carbon data. Also including it in Stelrad’s Building Information Modelling (BIM) files which are freely available via our website as well as being hosted on Bimstore.

Stelrad also offers several free training courses for industry professionals, if you would like to learn more please visit www.stelradprofessional.com

Watch: What is an EPD and how is it made?

Stuart DixonArea Sales ManagerEast Anglia M: 07801679560E: stuart.dixon@stelrad.com