YHP Conference: Future proofing the housing sector by investing in our young professionals

Glasgow

Share spent a great day supporting our colleagues at GWSF with their Annual Conference on the 29th of November, which focussed on the theme of future proofing the community-based housing sector.

There was a great selection of topics under discussion for the social housing sector: how AI can help us to deliver for tenants, the challenges of retrofit, the value of partnership working and tenancy sustainment, along with many more.

As we look ahead to 2025, the sector faces some major challenges.  One area of future proofing that every association can invest in and control for their own future is staff investment.  Our staff teams are aging and many that started with the movement are retiring, taking with them our well wishes and commendations for their long service, but also decades of knowledge, skills and experience.

Every organisation should be looking at their staff succession and development plans for the short and medium term, ensuring that they are investing in training and development as well as culture and wellbeing to grow and retain the best workforce that they can.

One area that merits particular attention is hiring and developing the young workforce in housing.  As the leading provider of Modern Apprenticeships in housing in Scotland, Share has been working for nearly a decade helping the young people entering our sector to achieve their qualifications and grow in confidence and skills in their role.

Our Young Housing Professionals Network has been established for over a year and has quickly become our best attended network at Share, buoyed by the enthusiasm and energy of its members.

To build on the work of the network, we are delighted to introduce our first ever Young Housing Professionals Conference. This afternoon event will bring together some key issues for those establishing their career in housing including discussions around young leadership, governance and why it matters to everyone, and lessons from experienced leaders.

This small conference has been designed to foster discussion and networking opportunities and spaces are limited, we have ensured costs are kept to a minimum and would encourage any young or new housing professionals to join us.

The conference will take place on Thursday, 20th of March 2025 at the Clayton Hotel in Glasgow City Centre. 

You can find out more and book your place HERE or email your details to events@share.org.uk

Share is providing one sponsored space on our Management Development Programme, and all attendees on this conference will be eligible to complete an application for the space after the conference, which will be judged by a panel of speakers and leaders in the sector.