In the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the subsequent Hackitt Report, it is clear that the whole construction industry is undergoing a wholesale review of its practices. As part of this review, competence has rightly become a clear factor that must be suitably considered.
Tim Benstead has written a practical guide to Grade D Fire Alarm Systems to help electrical contractors and others involved in fire safety to understand their roles and responsibilities clearly.
Matt Jollands has worked in and around social housing for the best part of a decade, and through discussion with peers, observations of the industry and current discussions sector wide he believes that there is an issue with data in UK social housing.
Housing Associations love to talk about being ‘data driven’, but if we’re honest, in most circumstances the data that drives decisions, allows performance management and benchmarking, and ultimately could help to improve the service that tenants receive is patchy at best, and unusable at worst.
In this article Matt explores the sector’s challenges with data, and urges it to really, really, acknowledge its importance and potential.
A new, innovative open access procurement platform has been launched by Orbit and Supply Change – a social procurement provider – to connect suppliers and buyers to deliver commercial value and social impact.
The new Social Supplier Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) allows buyers to source goods and services from suppliers who can deliver a quality service and a positive impact, such as social enterprises, charities and sheltered workshops.
Society, including the housing sector, has a tendency to use words like ‘vulnerable’ as an umbrella term, and to use phrases like ‘giving a voice’ when talking about pepole who for some reason or another have been placed in a position of less power, by others, potentially them.
This article explores what the use of these phrases implies and which power imbalances it creates and upholds. It argues that the sector should stop using language like this and works towards an inclusive language that doesn’t contribute to maintaining power imbalances and stigmatising perceptions.
More and more prime-time television series address everyday issues. From covid to Black Lives Matters, the last year has seen a surge in TV writers sharing their thoughts about the world and ‘the system’ through their series. New Amsterdam is one such series. A modern hospital drama. It has (and still is) addressing Covid and BLM in very (much needed) painful ways, and combined it in its latest episode with a focus on (effects of) digital exclusion. Dr Gaby Wolferink gives you the key lessons here.
The dire state of housing and the poor conditions in which many private rented sector, council and social housing tenants are living has been brought to the forefront yet again in recent weeks.
Good, because this needs to be addressed. SHM’s Dr Gaby Wolferink writes about her views and experiences and thinks about how sensor technology can and should be used to build better housing, fit for the 21st century, for everyone, not just those who can afford it.
In this article Dr Gaby Wolferink looks back to 2020 and what she feels should be the key lessons to be brought into 2021 and beyond.
It ended up a story of privilege and a call to action for tech providers, architects and social housing providers to start building homes fit to harbour someone in a pandemic, in safety, instead of being yet another concern.
We always think of innovation as being ‘digital’, ‘technology’, ‘shiny’ and combining this into ‘groundbreaking’ stuff, like rocket science…
But, just because rocket science is innovation, innovation isn’t rocket science. Too often we see ‘digital’ and ‘technology’ as the goal, rather than improving people’s lives.
Leading technology provider Alertacall has published the results of its new survey examining digital engagement trends in social housing, providing a snapshot of the importance of technology for residents throughout the COVID crisis.
This article shares the key findings.
By: Marcel Vogel (qlinker): About three years ago, qlinker was presented as the first digital housing association in the Netherlands. With the experience of a
We use language every day, in everything we do. Whether it’s spoken, written, signed or even drawn. It’s how we communicate, and, as recipients get an idea of what people think of us. That’s why language matters in social housing.
By: Raymond McGurk of BRS Technology @BrsTechnology On the surface of it, the recently announced Green Homes Grant seems like great news – eligible homeowners
By: Dr Gaby Wolferink @drgabywolferink The Tree Imagine I was moaning to someone about the massive tree in my back garden blocking out the summer
When we talk of digital exclusion and people not being able to ‘do things digitally’, we often or mostly talk about the people who use our services. But what about the people providing your services; do they know what they’re doing?
By Dr Gaby Wolferink @drgabywolferink Everyone who knows me knows that in my daily life, apart from administrative and in my twitter handle I’m not
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