08/11/2010

REPORTING FOR DUTY

The Bridge Group is leading the way in developing best practice for housing associations’ annual reports, with a regional award.

Sixteen providers entered our competition to find the best new-style annual report to residents in the Midlands. The judges - including two residents, our engagement consultant Ian Hembrow and Debbie Larner, head of good practice at the Chartered Institute of Housing - picked Optima Community Association’s entry as the best of the bunch.

The award, sponsored by The Bridge Group, was presented at the Resident Involvement Champions national conference, held in Birmingham on November 2.

Our team is now gathering feedback from housing associations across the UK on how they felt the 2010 annual report process went, and best practice ideas for next year.

To request a copy of the report once it’s completed, please email Ian Hembrow.

05/11/2010

MAINTAINING GOOD COMMUNICATION

National facilities management company Ian Williams has renewed The Bridge Group’s PR service for a further year.

This latest contract extension, which includes the delivery of media, copywriting and design services, sees us work together for the fourth year, having originally taken on Ian Williams’ PR in August 2007.

Major achievements as part of the contract include speaker slots secured at major conferences, joint events with leading public sector partners, editor visits with the client’s primary titles and coverage in The Times.

Media attention was also gained over the other side of the pond, with Fox News’ interest in Ian Williams’ lighthouse painting work. Mike Turner, development director at Ian Williams, said: “We believe long-term relationships offer our clients best value for money, which is why we apply the same to our PR contract.

The Bridge Group delivers a high-quality service which pays careful attention to our business objectives, as well as offering us an additional insight into changes affecting our public sector clients.”

01/11/2010

RESIDENT RESPONSIBILITY

Three housing providers are putting residents at the heart of their business, by creating new approaches to customer scrutiny.

With the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) set to be abolished, many housing providers are looking for new ways to ensure they are accountable to residents.

Wellingborough Homes, Orbit Heart of England and Severnside Housing are all working with The Bridge Group to ensure that their services, business and decisions are open to real resident scrutiny.

Ian Hembrow, engagement consultant at The Bridge Group, said: “We’ve helped residents at these organisations to understand what scrutiny means, and how it’s different to other kinds of involvement and consultation. All three housing associations now have a solid platform to grow this aspect of their work. It’s great to see that, despite the TSA’s demise, the commitment to meaningful resident involvement lives on.”

Louise Oakley, head of business excellence at Orbit Heart of England, said: "Ian was an excellent facilitator for our project, bringing real insight, innovation and fun to what could have been a very dry subject.

“The Bridge Group’s approach kept us focused on what we needed to achieve, and ensured that we had a very positive and constructive partnership with our residents. Their input was invaluable."