From the moment Jason Bradbury from The Gadget Show flew in on his hoverboard for his keynote presentation, I knew I was in for a treat at the Housing Technology 2025 conference in March.
It was superb to be back in Nottingham for my third consecutive Housing Technology conference, with the opportunity to learn from thought-leaders on how technology can support the UK social housing sector in the future.
Integration & transformation
I arrived on the first full day of the conference and attended an excellent presentation from Manifest Software Solutions’ Alan Swift on ‘Implementing integration & automation – What are you waiting for?’. It was useful to hear about the stages for ensuring successful integration projects as well as plug-in AI capabilities.
I then went to Plentific’s ‘Transforming housing – The digital future of housing operations & supply chain solutions’, hearing from Henrik von Bahr, Emily Shaw and Phil McCavish how digital solutions are revolutionising the way housing operations are being managed at Anchor. It was also fascinating to hear how integrating real-time centralised data, predictive analytics and automated tools are connecting people, processes and solutions.
Award-winning projects
The evening drinks reception was a great opportunity to network and a precursor to the ceremony for the second Housing Technology Awards. It was good to see George Grant dressed up in his dinner jacket for the awards. It was particularly interesting to learn about the Outstanding Achievement Award winner BillyChip. You can buy BillyChips (£2 each) from a growing number of outlets and give them to people experiencing homelessness. They can then redeem them for food, clothing and pet provisions.
Homelessness is a cause close to my heart; to its credit, Housing Technology supports The Big Issue and backed the making of the inspirational documentary ‘Someone’s Daughter, Someone’s Son’, directed by Lorna Tucker.
Innovation & robotics
On the final day of the conference, I attended Infinity Group’s session on ‘How to actually innovate in housing – Developing Microsoft-first tactical apps’. It was interesting to hear from Sarah McRow and Luke Basnett on how Infinity’s BRIKHousing enables the creation of low/no-code canvas apps quickly using Power Apps and how Microsoft’s Azure AI can automate numerous manual processes.
My last session was something rather different from North Star Housing’s Sean Lawless on ‘Robotics in social housing – How to get started’. It was inspirational to hear how working with partners Heriot-Watt University, the National Robotarium in Edinburgh and technology experts Waterstons, the housing provider has trialled a conversational robot barista at one of its housing schemes for older people.
In a class of its own
For me, what sets Housing Technology’s annual conference apart is the opportunity to meet clients and network, gain insights and collaborate with experts committed to using technology to make a positive difference.
Everything is on site at the East Midlands Conference Centre, with the catering included in the cost of the ticket (not always the case at housing events!) – it’s novel just to get a decent cup of coffee when you feel like it without having to pay for it!
Special mentions and thanks to Alastair Tweedie, George Grant and the entire Housing Technology team who once again put together another fun and thought-provoking conference.
Phil Brotherhood is the managing director of Brotherhood PR, a specialist communications consultancy providing strategic public relations to housing providers and housing IT suppliers.
