As I sit down to write my annual round up and look ahead to 2019, I have been reflecting back on our 19th year of business working with some of the leading Social Housing providers.
Highlights of 2018
We have continued to strengthen our portfolio of clients in the sector, working as strategic advisors to some fantastic registered providers across the UK including Pobl, Newlon, Stonewater and Grwp Cynefin. We have recently won some interesting new business in the sector with Barnet Homes and a Tri-Borough partnership with Islington, Camden and Hackney Councils.
2018 saw Vantage add three new members to the consultancy team, strengthening our work across agile, lean and business transformation. We also rolled out our new look branding to reflect our leading innovative and strategic work.
In October, we published our annual Financial State of the Sector Report FY17/18 including the new RSH metrics, showing the sector maintaining its largely improved financial position.
I am delighted to end the year with the news that Vantage are now an accredited certifier of lean competency. This means we are now able to award lean competency system qualifications to individuals on the lean training programme.
We hosted a fantastic end of year Christmas party for our much-appreciated team – if you haven’t seen the photos – take a look here.
Biggest challenge for the Sector
Financial viability remains strong in the sector, however I am certain there are still further significant efficiencies and economies to be achieved, particularly within management costs and the development of new homes. The impacts of Brexit, the next Social Housing Pensions Scheme review and future LIBOR changes are yet to be assessed. Following the recent positive political announcements in housing, lets make next year one in which housing providers rise to the challenge.
Most looking forward to in 2019
I’m looking forward to working with Executive Teams up and down the country on transformation change programmes that help them achieve their strategic goals.
I will be speaking at the National Housing Federation Finance Conference in March 2019 on how RPs can unlock the biggest value drivers, looking forward to catching up with new and old colleagues.
All the best for 2019!
Tony Bryan