People & culture conference

Conferences
Tue, 25th Mar 2025
10:00 to 16:00
The Studio

Join us this March for a dynamic conference where we’ll explore critical themes in workforce development and organisational culture. 

Book now
Members : £
265.00
Non-members : £
370.00
Housing association staff

About the conference

Join us this March for a dynamic conference where we’ll explore critical themes in workforce development and organisational culture. Dive into engaging discussions on career pathways, staff development, and strategies for retaining top talent, all while fostering a thriving workplace culture.

This event is your opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, share insights, and gain practical tools to elevate your people-focused strategies.

Benefits of attending

  • Hear insightful sessions tailored to the unique needs of housing associations
  • Learn from industry experts and thought influencers in people and culture
  • Connect with peers and professionals to share best practices and build valuable relationships.
  • Discover emerging trends in staff engagement and development
  • Participate in interactive sessions and to exchange ideas and solutions

Is this conference for me?

This conference is ideal for professionals in housing associations who are passionate about workforce development and culture.

We would also like to highlight this conference is for anyone, at any stage in their career and would encourage those new to the sector to come along.

Building a Learning Culture - Pam Donnelly Download PDF 

What culture do you want to build - Richard Fairley Download PDF

A1 Retaining and attracting staff - Nigel Fortnum Download PDF

A1 Retaining and attracting staff EKHA Download PDF

A2 Self Development - Kirsty Wells Download PDF 

B1 Upskilling, Reskilling and Leadership Download PDF 

B2 Building Positive Relationships - Maureen Watson Download PDF 

B2 Building Positive Relationships - Sharon Flynn Download PDF 

How do you build the ideal culture - Richard Fairley Download PDF

Conference programme

09:15
Registration

Please go to the SFHA registration desk upon arrival

10:00
Welcome and opening remarks

Louise Moules, Director of Operations at SFHA will open the conference

10:10
Opening plenary: How to build a learning and development culture

This session will explore practical solutions for fostering professional development in the workplace. Discover strategies to develop your team, create meaningful career pathways, and build a culture that supports continuous learning and growth. We will address challenges faced by organisations and ask whether the sector could do more to collaborate on these issues.

10:40
What culture do you want to build?

Richard will kick off the discussion by exploring the importance of having a strong organisational culture. Drawing from his experiences across three different organisations, he will discuss where to begin when building culture and how to shape the next generation of workplace culture. Steph will then get the conversation flowing by asking the audience what they want from their culture.

20 minute networking break
11:50
Breakout sessions Block A
A1 Retaining and attracting staff

This breakout will explore practical strategies to build an engaging workplace, attract skilled professionals, and retain your existing team. Join us to discuss innovative approaches to workforce development and create a culture that people want to be part of!

A2 Self development – developing your skills

How can you take charge of your own career and personal development? This session will explore opportunities for growing your skills while highlighting the benefits of developing your mindset and actively steering your own professional journey.

50 minute lunch break
13:30
The future of the office: the debate

Join us for a lively and thought-provoking debate on the future of the workplace. From hybrid models and full-time office setups to the rise of the four-day workweek and flexible working arrangements, this session will explore what’s next for how and where we work. Share your views, hear diverse perspectives, and join the conversation about shaping the future of work.

14:30
Breakout block B
B1 Future-Ready Workforce: Upskilling, Reskilling, and Leading Change

As the workplace evolves, professional development is key to building a skilled and flexible workforce. This session will look at how upskilling and reskilling can help meet changing industry needs, including the qualifications that might be needed for careers in housing. It will also cover the role of strong leadership during big changes, and the potential impact of upcoming 2026 legislation. Finally, it will highlight why good people management is essential for navigating these shifts successfully.

B2 Building positive relationships

This session will look at how you can create an environment where colleagues can build peer to peer relationships where they can share knowledge, skills, and support in a less structured way than formal mentoring. The aim is to create an environment where both individuals thrive and develop through shared learning and continuous support.

10 minute comfort break
15:15
Final plenary: How do you build the ideal culture?

Our final plenary explores the foundation of organisational culture, looking at it three crucial lenses:

  • The impact of history, past experiences, and sector on shaping culture.
  • The vital role of leaders in setting and influencing the cultural tone.
  • The contribution of individual employees in understanding, shaping, and strengthening the culture.

And then building on the lunchtime discussion about defining the culture you want, to finish we will focus on actionable steps to bring that vision to life.

16:00
Closing remarks

Louise will give the conference closing remarks

faqs

Book your place

Non member