CHIC will be hosting a prize giving ceremony for our Trainee of the Year Award at our annual CHIC Conference & Exhibition on Wednesday 17th November 2021 at Sixways Stadium, Worcester.

Presented by BBC Home Editor Mark Easton, the main objective of the award is to recognise the achievements of an exceptional trainee who has ideally worked on a CHIC Contract or is part of a CHIC Member organisation.

Nominations are now open!

Candidates will be shortlisted and final judging will be endorsed by the CHIC Board. Winners and runners up will receive a trophy and a cash prize to recognise their achievement.

Please click here to submit your nominations.

Deadline for submissions is Monday 25th October 2021.

If you have any questions or need any information, please contact Curtis Coulson at ccoulson@chicltd.co.uk

More about the conference

Meet. Learn. Share

A must attend event for housing professionals

Our annual CHIC Conference & Exhibition is right around the corner and we have an exciting programme of topical workshops, delivered by a range of informed speakers.

Some of the topics include Building and People Safety, Decarbonisation, Technology and Strategic Asset Management.

The conference is free to attend and we would encourage as many of our members, staff, board members and residents to attend, along with our supply chain partners.

You can find our full programme on our website at https://www.chicltd.co.uk/event/chic-conference-exhibition-21

CHIC reviewed its current Social Value Strategy as part of the overarching Business Strategy review for 2021-2026. With a core focus on creating apprenticeship and employment opportunities, CHIC’s social value will be delivered through the following initiatives:

Contractual Apprenticeships

All CHIC procured contracts where the annual value is >£1m will be expected to deliver apprenticeships and training. CHIC will monitor and support all contracts where this requirement applies, to ensure outcomes are achieved.

Employment Sponsorship

CHIC will work with and financially support Local Employment Groups (LEGs’) in the main regions of CHIC’s active members, to secure permanent employment for people who are distant from the workplace or disadvantaged.

Community Chest

CHIC will provide small grants for local projects being promoted in the communities our members support. Projects may involve training and skills development for disadvantaged people, community support initiatives or capital projects, where top up grants will help make a difference to peoples lives and wellbeing.

Annual Awards

The promotion of annual awards for apprentices and trainees, to recognise high achievers within our members, contractors and suppliers’ businesses.

Apprenticeships

The Agent ARK Consultancy will be required to appoint and support a graduate apprentice, to work as part of the dedicated CHIC team.

If you have any questions about how CHIC delivers social value, or to find out how you can contribute, please contact Fred Bentley at fbentley@chicltd.co.uk

Recently appointed communities secretary Michael Gove has renamed the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to implement the new ‘levelling-up’ agenda, a movement to deliver a programme of tangible improvements and unity in every part of the UK as we build back better from the pandemic.

The Department for Levelling Up, will help deliver on the mission to “level up every part of the UK.”

A recent speech by Michael Gove at the Conservative Conference 2021 finally shed some light on the agenda and presented four key objectives of Levelling Up

• Strengthen local leadership to drive real change
• Raise living standards especially where they are lower
• Improve public services especially where they are weaker
• Give people the resources necessary to enhance the pride they feel in the place they live.

Michael Gove showed his drive towards making the new framework a success, stating some harsh truths about the current situation for some social homes, being “scandalously poor” partly due to “the supply of social housing overall not having kept pace with the demand and also the quality of social housing”.

Read more

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) – Myth Buster

Much has been written about Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Opinions differ and there are misconceptions about MMC, what it is and how it works. We are often asked questions and find ourselves busting myths in conversations with our members. Here are the top five myths we have found:

MMC is more expensive than traditional build

Not necessarily.  Though volume is key to cost efficiency when manufacturing and the whole development cost has to be considered. MMC is quicker and quality is higher.

MMC is for volume only build only

Although there are cost savings to be made on larger MMC schemes, there can be competitive costings on smaller schemes.  A lot of our members are looking at existing garage sites which can be small but by developing a number of them together, and treating them as one large development, they are achieving affordable MMC solutions.  We have several MMC providers in our portfolio of suppliers who will look at groups of smaller sites.

MMC looks like a prefabricated building

MMC can look identical to a traditionally constructed house type. But MMC also gives the opportunity to use different finishes – we shouldn’t be scared of these. Homes are built in a different way – factory build as opposed to site construction.  By doing this it does achieve a better-quality build, reducing construction time, maintenance and snagging.

MMC is difficult to fund and mortgage lenders don’t approve

MMC providers offer a range of warranty options, all lender approved, enabling funding to be as straight forward as traditional build and compliant with the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) terms.

MMC takes longer in the initial development process than a traditional scheme.

The pre-construction development process should take the same amount of time as a traditional build. However, MMC providers need to be involved at earlier stages of the development process, pre-planning, to ensure that the design is MMC compliant and prevents odd details that could add unnecessary cost.

• Corporate, Governance & Finance
• Housing & Asset Management
• Property & Development

At CHIC’s Conference & Exhibition 2021, three firms on CHIC’s legal service framework have offered to provide our members with expert, confidential legal advice.

A representative from each of Devonshires, Forbes Solicitors and Capsticks will be available on Wednesday 17^th November in a private room to answer your burning questions. There are only nine slots total, so be sure to book yours as soon as possible!

REGISTER FOR A SURGERY NOW

If you would like to find out more, please get in touch at ccoulson@chicltd.co.uk 

Some of the highlights

This strategy initiates a new era in CHIC’s growth and has been developed to reflect the following changes in the recent past:

• CHIC’s independence and new name
• The evolution of our governance model, now with an independent chair and some independent board members
• The new 5-year agency services arrangements with ARK Consultancy
• The range of Services having grown from 5 to 8. With a wider selection of underlying products
• Changes in business development focus, encompassing all stakeholders
• New markets CHIC now supports – both geographically and in different sectors
• The launch of CHIC’s Online Management System – COMS
• The launch of CHIC’s Dynamic Purchasing System

CHIC’s values and cultural aspirations largely remain the same:

1. A member owned and governed consortium.

2. Easy access for members to secure services.

3. A proactive partner, supporting both members and the supply chain.

4. Flexibility – we will tailor services to individual needs.

5. Service and fee transparency for members.

6. Strong systems and effective processes.

7. Securing savings, efficiencies and creating added value.

8. Innovative and creative.

9. A market leader in multiple sectors.

10. Customer and supplier satisfaction and support are core to our success.

Enterprise Workplace Partners (EWP) is pleased to be appointed to the CHIC Lot 6 (Asset Management) Consultancy Framework Agreement 2021.

Defining Return to Office (RTO) strategy in a post-pandemic world, re-shaping and optimising the use of core office + operational assets, reducing carbon footprint and addressing the challenges of underlying workforce / cultural change will be matters high on the business agenda of CHIC Members.

The scope available within Lot 6 enables CHIC Members to utilise the expertise of independent consultants to provide the necessary support to consider, define and implement compelling solutions to address these and other asset related challenges.

EWP offer a range of critical services and capabilities to assist clients in establishing a new workplace vision with supporting policies / protocols, new hybrid & agile working models, effective: integrated: sustainable and beneficial business change programmes.

To raise awareness of the potential benefits Workplace Services can bring to CHIC Members EWP are offering a number of “free”¹ introductory Workplace HealthCheck sessions designed to highlight the maturity of your Workplace, potential improvement and business benefit opportunities.

EWP have implemented a wide range of successful corporate workplace transformation and change programmes for clients across the public, private and voluntary sectors. CLICK HERE for a copy of their company overview is attached for your reference and retention.

¹ To take up this introductory offer please contact CHIC initially and EWP will contact you to arrange a date and time for the initial virtual meeting.