CHIC Conference & Exhibition

Wednesday 17^th November 2021

Our annual CHIC Conference & Exhibition was delayed this year from its normal early June slot, due to COVID-19 restrictions.  We rearranged it for November and it is now only 13 weeks away.  We have an exciting programme outlining the current sector challenges, delivered by a range of informed speakers.

Our Workshops

08:50 – 09:40 BUILDING AND PEOPLE SAFETY – CAN WE BE DOING MORE?

Learn what others are doing to change their approach to keeping residents safe. Discuss the sectors response to the Building Safety Bill.

09:15 EXHIBITION OPENS

10:00 – 10:30 PITCHVIEW SUITE – CONFERENCE LAUNCH

Mark Easton and CHIC’s Chair Maggie Punyer will be launching CHIC’s new services and announcing the winners of our Trainee of the Year Awards.

10:50 – 11:40 DYNAMIC PURCHASING – HOW DOES THIS WORK?

Hear how a Dynamic Purchasing System offers an alternative, efficient route to market to more traditional procurement solutions. Debate how it might help you to deliver efficiencies?

10:50 – 11:40 DECARBONISATION – HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACHIEVE ‘NET ZERO’?

Achieving net zero carbon is perhaps the biggest challenge the sector has faced for a generation. Find out how others are tackling it and how the Welsh Government has forged its own ambitious path.

12:10 – 13:00 ENGAGING THE SUPPLY CHAIN – HOW FAR SHOULD YOU GO?

Learn how clients who separate materials supply from contracting services achieve savings, improve quality and how their contractors take less risk. Share your own experiences and learn how CHIC can help create the golden thread.

12:10 – 13:00 THE FUTURE IS TECHNOLOGY – SO HOW IS IT CHANGING WHAT WE DO?

New technology in homes helps to monitor energy use and so improve efficiency. New technology in contract management helps to improve process efficiencies. Find out how others are using technology to improve their customer service.

14:00 – 14:50 NEWBUILD – WHAT’S CHANGING?

Is MMC reality or bluster? Learn about some of the experiences of those who have embraced the change already and debate how the sector can really change its approach.

14:00 – 14:50 STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT – WHAT DOES BRILLIANT LOOK LIKE?

Hear what others have been doing to ensure that strategic asset management is central to their corporate planning. Existing residents need great homes, so how do we make sure they don’t get trumped by the development programme?

15:15 – 16:15 KEYNOTE

All delegates and exhibitors will engage in this plenary session. Mark Easton will chair a lively debate with leading sector figures, that looks forward to changes in the housing and construction sectors.

17:15 EXHIBITION CLOSES

The conference exhibition space is now full – thank you to our supply chain partners for their support.

Please come along to this free event and encourage your colleagues and board member to attend as well.

Alongside the change of our registered name earlier in the year, 2021 has provided an opportunity for CHIC’s Board to review our services. The Board principally comprises of members, so it is in a good position to understand what best reflects the needs of the sector.

With recent regulatory changes, there has been some new terminology developing within the housing sector and we wanted our Services to describe the full breath of what CHIC can now offer as well as appealing to other sectors including health care, blue light organisations and charities.

So CHIC’s services have increased from five to eight, reflecting the diversity of procurement and contract support products across multiple sectors, but still primarily focus on Smart Asset Management.  Our services are:

Each Service is underpinned by a range of options to help members deliver their asset management and related services. These are through a variety of frameworks (offering direct call off or mini-competition), some long term CHIC contracts or our comprehensive Dynamic Purchasing System.

Stephen Sharman
Head of Member Services (Midlands & South East)
07468 697612
ssharman@chicltd.co.uk

 

Victoria Speakman
Head of Member Services (South West & Wales)
07793 071784
vspeakman@chicltd.co.uk

 

Lesley Dixon
Head of Member Services (Cumbria & North West)
07840 537979
ldixon@chicltd.co.uk

 

 

Social Value at CHIC

 

 

CHIC is committed to creating added social value outcomes from its work for its members with contractors and suppliers.

 

CHIC’s Board is currently reviewing a Social Value Strategy. Core to our work so far has been our standard contractual requirement for all contracts with an annual value of over £1m to deliver apprenticeships. CHIC works closely with our suppliers and contractor partners, to ensure that these outcomes are achieved.

 

CHIC has also recognised the great achievements of trainees and apprentices with our Annual Awards – presented at CHIC’s annual conference. These celebrate the high achievements from our members, suppliers and contractors.

 

In recent years, CHIC has worked closely with and provided sponsorship to some Local Employment Groups. With CHIC’s support, these organisations have been able to access people distant from the workplace and directly support them into sustainable employment.

 

Over the last 2 years we have supported 30 people into employment through the Jericho Foundation:

 

“Our partnership with CHIC has enabled Jericho to offer life changing apprenticeship opportunities in our social enterprises, combined with a holistic programme of wrap around support to young people who would otherwise have struggled to get a break. The team at Jericho are extremely grateful to CHIC for supporting us in our mission to break down barriers and change lives”

 

Richard Beard, Chief Executive

 

CHIC’s current review of the Social Value Strategy will consider how we test build on our achievements so far. CHIC’s Board will consider the future strategy as part of CHIC’s business plan for the next 5 years and we will report on this in our Autumn edition of CHIC CHAT.

 

 

Housing 2021

 

 

CHIC is delighted to be exhibiting at Housing 2021 this year. We have a lot of exciting things to showcase including new Services, Frameworks and DPS Solutions. We are looking forward to catching up with our members and supply chain partners. We will also be demonstrating the new CHIC Order Management System (COMS) on the stand.

 

The CHIC team will be there both on our stand and meeting members, suppliers and contractors during the 3 days of the conference. If any members or partners would like to arrange a meeting or a COMS demonstration, please email ccoulson@chicltd.co.uk who will make the arrangements. If your organisation is hosting any fringe event, please do forward us an invitation!

 

We will be located on stand G42, next to the main conference centre entrance.

 

Unlock Net Zero Stage

 

CHIC is a Founding Partner of the Unlock Net Zero Hub, formed to underpin the sectors work on what Carbon Zero really means and how it will be achieved. If you would like to see the latest developments and work CHIC has been doing to support decarbonisation, please click HERE

 

The Unlock Net Zero stage seeks to inform, educate and connect people, local authorities, housing organisations, consultancies and the supply chain involved in adopting a Net Zero approach, identifying the technologies, infrastructure and behaviour change required. John Fisher, Chief Executive of CHIC will be speaking at the event on The Net Zero procurement and skills challenge at 14.55 on Wednesday 8th September. Luke Hurd, Chief Operating Officer will be chairing the event Wales: A comprehensive path to achieve Net Zero and what this means for their homes and communities at 14:55 on Tuesday 7th September. We welcome all of our Members to attend both events and find out more on how CHIC is supporting our members in their work on decarbonisation. You can see the full agenda including dates and timings here