Housing associations 'struggling to deliver' on business plans

Housing associations are struggling to deliver on their business plans because of the credit crunch, according to new research.

The Asset Skills Barometer Survey questioned 104 housing organisations as part of a rolling six monthly project charting the link between skills investment and productivity.

The report found increasing customer demands for housing provision since the downturn and new challenges in dealing with climate change and the low carbon agenda.

New and additional skills were needed by 65% of companies to keep up with legislation and changes to building regulations.

Chief Executive of Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for housing, said: "These latest results show the far reaching impact the downturn has had on the workforce in housing.

“Staff are dealing with a completely different picture to the one before the recession and that is reflected in their shifting skills needs.

"Our Barometer Survey is a useful method of being able to keep track of the issues facing employers.
 
“As the SSC for housing we are developing new vocational qualifications that will help the sector meet these new challenges.”

Other challenges cited by employers included improving services despite rents being capped, and internal issues such as keeping up to date with new technology and managing workloads.

The number of mergers as a result of the recession had led to a need for better communication skills among staff, while housing site managers and assistants were found to be lacking in people management skills.

The research also found 32% of housing companies said they plan to extend into new areas of activity in the next year while 30% said they do not have staff with the skills and knowledge needed for this.

To view the Barometer findings in full, click on the following link:

www.assetskills.org/Research/Projects/Barometer_Questionnaire.asp