Achieving Efficiencies and Value for Money in Social Housing

March/May 2008

We are running a series of seminars on ‘Achieving Efficiencies and Value for Money in Social Housing’ at venues in England and Scotland during the spring of 2008.

The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review placed increased emphasis on achieving value for money and efficiency in all public services including social housing. In both England and Scotland there are Housing Green papers that require social housing providers to become more efficient and achieve greater value for money in new build, improvements, management and maintenance. Housing Associations in England have been given targets to deliver new affordable housing at lower grant rates while in Scotland a new strategic and competitive approach is proposed. Efficiency targets have been increased in both England and Scotland. These matters are also relevant to social housing providers in Wales.

Most housing organisations are now developing value for money strategies and procurement strategies and are getting to grips with OJEU procurement processes. There is still, however, a great deal of confusion about Value for Money and Efficiency and some approaches have complicated what should be a simple issue. Furthermore, some front line staff still have a limited understanding of Value for Money and Efficiency issues and how they contribute to this.

This seminar will consider government requirements for achieving greater efficiency and value for money in social housing and examine approaches that are being taken by successful housing organisations.

What the Course will cover:

• Value for Money and Efficiency in a Strategic context
• The regulatory requirements
• OJEU requirements
• Examples of how Value for Money and Efficiency is being delivered in a range of housing organisations
• Examples of how the most successful organisations have embedded value of money in their organisations and delivered staff commitment.

The session in Edinburgh will make specific reference to the situation in Scotland.

The course is accompanied by a very useful and fully updated book entitled ‘Achieving Efficiencies and Value for Money in Social Housing’.

Venue and Date

Nottingham: Westminster Hotel – 12th March 2008

St. Helens: Haydock Racecourse – 15th April 2008

London: Euston Square Hotel – 24th April 2008

Edinburgh: Capital Hotel – 14th May 2008