duration

Location
Virtual

Hear direct from the Regulator of Social Housing on the Sector Risk Profile 2025 and HQN experts as we dissect the implications of the Autumn Budget on business plans at our annual sector risk and stress testing event.

  • Read more

    The sector has a long-term rent settlement and a significant increase in the Affordable Homes Programme, but we are still facing huge financial pressures. Inflation is rising again, the cost of improving existing homes is biting on development plans and some housing associations and councils are struggling to balance the books.

    With a new Decent Homes Standard planned to come in by the end of the next 10 years, Awaab’s Law commencing in October and changes to EPC measurements and the new MEES requirements, there will be no let up in the need to invest in existing homes. But the government wants the sector to step up and help deliver their 1.5m new home target.

    How will this be achieved? What information and analysis do executive management teams and boards need to make the best decisions in these tricky times?

    This year’s sector risk and stress testing event is the ideal opportunity to understand the implications of the Spending Review and Autumn Budget for your own business plans and to ask questions of the experts.

    HQN Chief Executive Alistair McIntosh and Housing Finance Network Associate Ian Parker will be joined by Will Perry, Director of Strategy at the Regulator of Social Housing, to take you through the current sector risks and potential future shocks.

    This session is your chance to hear the latest thinking from the Regulator on what they are watching out for. You’ll come away with practical tips to hone stress testing.

    Essential for:

    • Finance Directors
    • Executive Directors
    • CEOs
    • Chair of the Board
    • Board members.
  • Our speakers
    Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive, HQN
    Alistair McIntosh is one of the social housing sector’s most respected and best known personalities.

    As founder and Chief Executive of HQN, he is regarded as one of the foremost advisers on governance and regulation.  His hands-on approach sees Alistair leading on all HQN’s mock inspection exercises and chairing/speaking at conferences and events.

    Career highlights include setting up and running the National Federation of ALMOs, leading the popular consultation on the regulatory standards for housing, and developing an approach to VfM that won praise from the housing minister.

    A regular contributor to the housing press, Alistair’s columns are known for their humorous, pointed and painfully accurate assessment of the state of social housing.
    Jon Land, Head of Content, HQN
    Jon joined HQN in October 2015 after five years as editor of 24housing magazine. A journalist by profession, he started his career at the Hereford Times before joining allpay in 2005 to establish the 24dash.com news website and 24housing magazine. At HQN, Jon leads on business development and external relations.
    Will Perry, Director of Strategy, RSH
    Will heads the regulator’s strategy function, including private finance, policy, registrations, new entrants, business intelligence and stakeholder relations. Recently he has been leading the development of the Regulator’s response to the Social Housing White Paper.

    A qualified chartered accountant, he has previously worked in corporate finance lead advisory, government audit and housing consultancy and is a non-executive director of The Housing Finance Corporation.
    Ian Parker, Housing Finance Network Associate, HQN
    Ian has worked in the public sector for 40 years. During his career he has worked in senior positions in local government and has been the Finance Director at four RPs.  Ian has worked as a consultant for the last eight years and during that period has:

    • Developed HQN’s VfM metric model
    • Provided advice to clients about the sector’s VfM agenda
    • Undertaken in excess of 60+ mock In Depth Assessments (IDAs)
    • Developed HQN’s merger model.

    Ian is HQN’s Lead Finance Associate and in that role he provides advice to members of the Housing Finance Network and also ensures that they receive relevant news and technical updates.

     

  • Programme

    10:30am Welcome and introduction

    • Jon Land, Head of Content, HQN

    10:40am Sector risk and stress testing – what’s on the RSH radar?

    • Will Perry, Director of Strategy, RSH

    Will Perry will share the latest thinking from the RSH, offering a clear look at how they identify and prioritise the key issues to focus on in their Sector Risk Profile. He will highlight the approaches the RSH uses to scan for emerging risks, as well as the strategies they view as most effective in mitigating them. This session is a great opportunity to gain fresh insight into the regulator’s mindset and understand what sound risk management looks like from their perspective.

    11:20am Anticipating stresses and developing accurate scenarios

    • Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive, HQN

    Alistair will share his first thoughts on the impact of the Budget and what it means for the sector. He’ll explore how the housing sector can future-proof themselves by identifying emerging risks that have not yet appeared in the Sector Risk Profile, and highlight the importance of building the right culture to both prevent crises and respond effectively when they occur. This session will offer valuable insights for anyone looking to strengthen resilience and stay ahead of the challenges to come.

    11:50am Break

    12:10pm Stress testing and mitigation actions

    • Ian Parker, Housing Finance Network Associate, HQN

    Ian will discuss how to calibrate your finances and understand the buffers your organisation truly has, as well as how to establish effective early warning systems that spot trouble before it escalates. Ian will also outline proven strategies for managing a crisis when it hits and share approaches for meaningfully engaging boards and councillors in stress-testing. This presentation is ideal for anyone looking to sharpen their organisation’s financial preparedness and response.

    12:40pm The next big risk?

    • Jon Land, Head of Content, HQN

    1:10pm Closing remarks

    1:15pm Close

  • Testimonials

    • Really informative, well paced and pitched a right level.

      Karbon Homes

    • Brilliant, engaging and informative session.

      Valleys to Coast Housing

    • I regularly attend HQN sessions and always come away with one or two gems. I find the events well rounded with very knowledgeable speakers.

      Saxon Weald

    • The speakers brought some new insights into several aspects of stress testing, with some very practical suggestions that can be taken away and used to make improvements.

      Anchor
  • Cancellations and substitutions

    If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected]

    Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable.

    If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance.

    Cancellations must be made in writing and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited.

  • Price and booking

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    If you experience any issues when submitting your booking, please email [email protected] with the name and date of the session along with the delegate name(s), email address(es) and job title(s) and we'll process the booking for you.

Dates



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