techUK supports HACT to bridge UK housing digital leadership gap

9 Dec 2016 09:22 AM

techUK is pleased to support HACT and Hannington Tame in launching a major digital leadership initiative aimed at placing leading players from the UK’s digital economy on every housing provider board, to help UK housing bridge its digital governance gap.

techUK, housing innovation agency HACT and leading digital recruitment specialists Hannington Tame have launched a major initiative aimed at placing leading players from the UK’s digital economy on every housing provider board, committing to helping UK housing bridge its “digital governance gap”.

The initiative will seek to match technology sector leaders to housing providers, provide extensive onboarding support and establish a groundbreaking digital governance network.

Launching the project HACT CEO-designate Andrew Van Doorn said:

“The UK economy stands on the brink of digital transformation. Ubiquitous connectivity, advanced data analytics, machine learning and automation are transforming manufacturing, retail and service sectors, delivering increased operating efficiency, better services and radically improved customer experience. We want to help UK housing achieve a step change in digital capability at board level to help it become a part of that digital revolution."

James Minter from Hannington Tame said:

“With ever increasing pressure on operating budgets and an urgent need to reinvent business models, a lack of effective digital leadership at Board level represents a major unaddressed governance weakness for many housing providers and a significant threat to the long term success of the sector. We’re aiming to deliver a massive increase in the ability of housing providers to engage with digitally-led change at board level over the next three years.”

Matthew Evans, Executive Director of techUK’s IoT Programme, said:

“The UK technology sector is one of the country’s economic powerhouses, driving growth through fast-spaced innovation that can then underpin changes across the wider economy. We’re delighted to be part of an initiative that will bring the knowledge, expertise and leadership that exists across UK technology into the housing sector. Housing providers and technology businesses will work together to address the challenges faced in housing over the coming years, finding ways to create efficiencies and add value.”

The initiative will:

• seek to match digital leaders from across the UK technology sector with housing provider boards, delivering a significant increase in digital capability at governance level at a time when digital transformation is becoming an increasingly important issue for many landlords, drawing on the experience and relationships of leading digital recruitment specialists Hannington Tame and technology industry body TechUK.
• provide full onboarding support, helping new board members understand the challenges and opportunities within the housing sector, and maximising their ability to succeed in their new housing roles.
• establish of a network of tech-focused housing association board members to ensure that housing provider boards are equipt to engage with the major digital transformation challenges that will face all housing businesses now and in the future.

If your interested in joing the board of a housing provider or to find out more contact: digital.leadership@hact.org.uk 

techUK and HACT held an event in October around the opportunities for technology in social housing, with a follow up event on the 23 January.