Innovative Housing Trio Lead The Way

Published by First Adapt Editorial Team for First Adapt Limited in Housing and also in Communities

First Adapt customer Bromford Group who manage over 27,000 properties in central England have been nominated for the Orange Innovation Award for their Home Rewards Club. This is a scheme where tenants who carry out some of their own repairs receive a financial reward in return.

The first of its kind in the housing sector, it may well encourage similar schemes since Bromford reported a 72% drop in reported repairs in June.

The Innovation Award forms part of the Annual Business Awards and aims to recognise organisations who are taking really innovative steps in pushing forward research and development in products, services and processes.

Bromford Group are users of the Procurement Knowledge Map which helps organisations deliver cost and efficiency savings across the whole procurement life cycle.

Salix Homes, established users of the 100 Questions Knowledge Map and, more recently, an Options Appraisal Map, have also been in the limelight.

Combining the use of energy efficient technologies with the expertise of energy advisors, they are providing customers with home retrofit measures which will achieve sustainable energy saving outcomes for years to come.

This initiative entitled Salix Green aims to encourage a more self help approach with customers receiving all the support and advice they need to take a more pro energy efficient approach recognising that energy advice can account for over 25% of domestic energy savings.

As part of the Green Deal Agenda, First Adapt have developed a Green Deal Knowledge Map which collates all the multi-strands of Green Deal information available in one easy to understand and visual Map where everything you need to know is held in one centralised place.

Staying the in North West, Helena Partnerships recently hosted a gathering of more More than 30 housing, health and employment organisations to discuss the impact of welfare reform. A series of seminars and interactive workshops helped provide a platform for sharing best practice as well as an opportunity to create new partnerships.

With so many residents directly affected, this proactive approach was warmly welcomed by residents who see it as a positive step towards organisations being well prepared for when the benefit changes come into effect.

The challenges presented by welfare reform are amongst the biggest the housing sector has faced, so working together with local organistions to build on existing relationships or create new ones is seen as a vital step in tackling the many and varied issues which lie ahead.

Helena are users of a wide range of Knowledge Maps including the 100 Questions, Procurement and Health & Safety Maps which help underpin the organisation’s operations by providing a consistent approach to policies and procedures.