Hough Bellis News Roundup
Hough Bellis Communications
National communications agency. We love projects that improve people’s lives.
Welcome to another edition of the Hough Bellis news roundup, our whistlestop tour through what we’ve been up to recently and some of the big stories that matter to our clients. It’s been a great few months at HB Towers, with some exciting new partnerships and fantastic team members.
We’re also working with national journalist, Hannah Fearn on a new Board and Executive level workshop exploring communications, reputation and the media.
With party conference season in full swing, an election seemingly just around the corner, winter approaching and inflation still soaring, it’s fair to say that instability is the new stability. Oh, to be bored. ?
Take care and speak soon, ?
Ben, Bobbie, Nicola and the Hough Bellis team. ?
Political Glasto
As is tradition, every Autumn our political parties gather to make important decisions and announcements (raise loads of money). While intended to be a big display of unity for the viewing public, who are definitely all paying loads of attention, recently it’s been rumblings of disloyalty that have gathered the headlines. ?
It’s easy to forget that last year, it was Liz Truss making the big Prime Minister’s speech while her colleagues conspired in corridors and bars about how they were going to get rid of her. ?
For the Conservatives, Conference is essentially a rally. A set of speeches and announcements designed to set the agenda for the coming year. For Labour and the Lib Dems, the event is also the party’s decision-making body, although for Labour in particular the big issues are choreographed as carefully as possible. ?
With all of the key decision-makers gathered in one place, the events are one of the biggest opportunities that those from outside the political world have to influence the policy agenda.
That’s why some of the Hough Bellis team are popping over to the Labour and Conservative events – if you are around and want to meet up, give us a shout. ?
What’s the big news?
As I write this, we’re on the Monday of the Conservative conference in Manchester, where the Government has just scrapped HS2, Manchester's biggest infrastructure project in decades. The optics are amazing. It's also a little bit annoying that the same Government that makes your organisation jump through 983 different hoops to access a small pot of funding is now spending tens of billions of points on a rail link between Birmingham and somewhere in West London.
Other than that, a few limited announcements have been made, and there is likely to be a rabbit in the hat waiting in Rishi Sunak’s speech on Wednesday. So far, we know:
Just around the corner
The next big fiscal event, the Autumn Statement will take place on 22 November 2023. The line between Statements and Budgets is so merged these days that it might as well not be there, and with an election looming, we’re likely to see more tweaks to the economic landscape ahead. ?
Speaking of the election, Jeremy Hunt privately told an event he thinks Sunak will call it once inflation has fallen below 3%, which is forecast to be sometime next Autumn. Early October 2024 looks most likely to us at this stage. ?
The final reshuffle?
Since we last spoke, the Government’s front bench has once again been reshuffled. But – in words that I never thought I’d type – there isn’t a new Housing Minister!!!! Rachel Maclean, the 15th holder of the post in the current Conservative administration remains in place, alongside Secretary of State, Michael Gove. ?
Labour also reshuffled their ranks ahead of the General Election. Angela Rayner is Labour’s new Shadow Levelling Up Secretary, covering housing and local government. Shadow Housing Minister, Matthew Pennycook remained in place and Mike Amesbury rejoined the team as Shadow Minister for Homelessness and Building Safety. ?
Building Safety Act is now live
1 October marks the coming into force of the Building Safety Act 2022, signalling a wide-ranging and much-needed shakeup to the industry. This fantastic explainer in Inside Housing is the best place to find out what the changes mean for your organisation, and about some of the teething problems that are yet to be resolved. Our friend Vicky Saunders, managing director at BTP Architects gives her expert view. ?
New research on the broken welfare net
The Trussell Trust has published new research showing that half of working families in receipt of Universal Credit ran out of food in the past month, with nearly a third struggling to keep their homes warm as winter approaches. The findings were used to highlight the need for urgent action, both in terms of an inflationary uprating at the Autumn Statement and the introduction of an Essentials Guarantee. ?
Making the case for net zero
Our friends at NetZero Collective have issued this must-read response to the Prime Minister’s decision to water down the government’s commitment to the climate. Their director Neil Waite strikes at the heart of the matter: “the sooner we embark on the path to decarbonise our economy, particularly within the housing sector, the more cost-effective and transformative the outcome will be.” ?
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Homes at the Heart
Our friends at the Chartered Institute of Housing have released their new Homes at the Heart strategy, alongside a 10 point plan for housing, which the main political parties would do well to copy-paste into their manifestos ahead of the next election. ?
Tpas launch exciting new programme
The fantastic Tpas are bringing organisations together to ensure landlords are taking the right approach in putting the voice of tenants at the heart of social housing’s biggest challenges! Learn more about how you can get involved here.
Growing Buddies - an exciting programme from Garden Organic and Tpas Garden Organic has been working with Tpas, HACT, HQN and Housing Associations across the UK to develop a program to empower people to garden and enjoy the green spaces available to them.?To do this, they want to create a network of Growing Buddies – enthusiastic people who either already know a bit about growing or are keen to learn and who will introduce or develop growing clubs in housing association places/spaces. They are hosting a webinar?Tue 31st Oct 2023, 2-3pm, where you can?not only hear more, ?but help Garden Organic to shape the idea before launch. Sign up here. ?
Board level changes
Our congratulations to Tim Jones who has taken over as Chair at Gr?p Cynefin, to Cris McGuiness who has taken over as Chair at ClwydAlyn and to the new board members appointed by ForHousing. ?
Anti-social behaviour – making the most of tools and new powers
We’re working with our friends at HQN on an important online event on 9 November at 10.30am-3pm, which will explore how proposed changes to the Neighbourhood and Community Standard and TSMs will bring fresh scrutiny to how we keep neighbourhoods safe. ?
Big news at Hough Bellis
We’re delighted to officially welcome Account Executive, Will Sherry who many of you will already have met over the past few months. Will brings a wealth of experience from his previous career in publishing and has already secured some great coverage for our clients. ? We’re also really pleased to congratulate Elizabeth (Els) O’Keeffe on her promotion to Account Manager. Anyone who has met Els will know what an asset she has become to the team and how fantastic she is to work with. Well done, Els! ?
Finally, congratulations to Account Director, Nicola Douglas who has joined the Board at WISH Scotland. Nicola is also celebrating five years at Hough Bellis and has penned this blog about her career so far. ? https://houghbellis.co.uk/2023/09/11/newly-appointed-wish-scotland-board-member/ ?
NEW CLIENTS KLAXON
We’re so pleased to be working with some more fantastic social-purpose organisations on really exciting projects. ?
New Board and Executive level workshop
We’re working with Hannah Fearn to offer an exciting new workshop to upskill your top teams, looking at communications, reputation and the media. We’ll cover: ? - Why storytelling matters for housing associations and councils (how public and political narratives are made and sustained) - What are your stories and how can they have impact? - How to support your team to tell your story to the public - What journalists want and why there's no need to be scared of engaging with them ? For more information email [email protected]?
Attend these big housing events at Labour conference ?
A Fair Future: how can the next Labour Government tackle poverty?
As you’ll have already seen, we’re bringing together Shadow Homelessness Minster, Mike Amesbury MP and the social housing sector for a special fringe event discussing how a Labour government could address housing and welfare challenges to create a fairer deal for millions of people who are trapped in poverty.? ? Join us at Tate Liverpool and remember that you don’t need a ticket or conference pass to attend.
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Making ends meet through retrofitting our homes
Join HB’s own Ben Powell, Shadow Climate Secretary Ed Miliband and a host of others to discuss the critical importance of ensuring everyone can live in a warm, energy-efficient home. In the wake of the Government’s row back on Net Zero policy, Ben will make the case that the campaign for healthy homes can and must be won. ? Again, there is no need for a ticket or conference pass, just turn up on the day to join the debate.
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Awareness days for your diary