SFHA Annual Conference 2025

Conferences
Tue, 10th Jun 2025 - Wed 11th Jun 2025
10:00 to 15:00
The Radisson Blu, Glasgow

In 2025, SFHA is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. Since 1975, we’ve been connecting, representing and supporting our 130+ members, who provide safe, warm, affordable rented homes to over half a million people. And we know that social homes change lives.

Members : £
352.00
Non-members : £
545.00
Annual Conference header image

At One Voice: Celebrating fifty years of bringing Scotland’s housing associations together
 

Senior leaders and staff will come together to network, learn and discuss challenges and opportunities past and present. The conference will also feature content from those of our members who are themselves celebrating a significant anniversary.  If you’re in social housing this conference is a vital event in your calendar and we look forward to welcoming you to Glasgow

As we face challenges such as affordability and demand, sustainability and net zero targets, and tighter regulations, the future of housing will require innovation, collaboration, and bold action. Together, we’ll explore how Scotland’s housing associations can continue to lead the way in building a fairer, greener, and more inclusive future for everyone.

Join us for an exciting opportunity to look back at the difference our housing associations and co-operatives have made in the last half century, as well as a look towards where we need to go next

Kirsty Wark is one of the UK’s trailblazing female news journalists. She presented BBC’s Newsnight for 30 years, stepping down after the 2024 General Election. Her long career on Newsnight has seen her holding politicians and public figures to account with her formidable interviewing skills. She made her reputation as a journalist and producer on BBC Scotland, memorably reporting from the scene of the Lockerbie bombing, before joining BBC 2’s arts strand The Late Show as a presenter, moving on to Newsnight in 1993.

Kirsty continued to span both arts and news/current affairs, hosting The Review Show for over a decade, as well as a range of BBC Arts series and documentaries. Over the years she has had memorable encounters with everyone from Margaret Thatcher to Madonna, Harold Pinter to Pete Doherty, Damian Hirst to George Clooney and the likes of Toni Morrison, Donna Tartt and Philip Roth. Kirsty hosts Radio 4’s long-running flagship series The Reunion, and regularly presents of Start the Week. She continues to present arts programmes on TV and Radio, cultural history series such as The Women Who Changed Modern Scotland and Panorama specials.

Kirsty has won several major awards for her work including BAFTA Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Broadcasting, Journalist of the Year and Best Television Presenter. In 2024 she was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the RTS Journalism Awards.

Image of Kirsty Wark keynote speaker

Why attend?    

The conference is an opportunity to:  

  • Gain insight into the future of housing
  • Hear from industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators about the key challenges and opportunities facing Scotland’s housing sector.
  • Be part of meaningful discussions and participate in engaging sessions
  • Share your thoughts and contribute to shaping the future of social housing.
  • Celebrate 50 years of iImpact
  • Network with peers and experts
  • Exchange ideas and build partnerships that will help drive progress in the sector.
  • Gain practical insights that you can take back to your own organisation.

Date & venue

The conference will take place on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 June 2025 at The Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.

The purpose-built Radisson Blu offers a superb location in central Glasgow. Within walking distance of Glasgow Central Station and with Queen Street Station close by the hotel offers easy access by road, rail, or air.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow

Is the conference for you?

The conference is an important date in the diary of housing professionals across Scotland will be beneficial for professionals across the housing sector and beyond, at all levels. 

NextGen Leaders Award

As part of SFHA’s 50th anniversary celebrations, we’re looking to the future of Scotland’s social housing. So, we want to celebrate the young people making a difference to your organisations and give them a platform to go even further.   

If you’ve got a young colleague you believe should be celebrated, we’d love you to get in touch.  

To nominate, please set out in no more than 400 words why the person you are nominating is a rising star of social housing in Scotland. Nominees must be under 30 on 12 July 2025 and work in an SFHA member organisation.  

Entries must be in by midnight on April 30. Winners will be announced as part of SFHA’s annual conference in June (with a free place), where they’ll be able to network and learn from current and future leaders. You can send nominations to features@sfha.co.uk 

Sustainability

Our vision for future SFHA events is to produce them to the highest quality while ensuring that they are sustainable and reduce our carbon footprint, where possible. Read our full sustainability policy here

Costs & how to book

Delegate rates start at £348 for SFHA members and £396 for non members.

Book two places and bring a colleague for free! *   

We’re offering a group discount: buy two of the same ticket type and another colleague can attend for free.  

*Tickets must all be the same type and booked at the same time to receive the deal, excludes residential tickets* 

The discount will be automatically calculated on checkout.  

To book your place, use the buy tickets button.

Photo of registration desk with badges

Conference Programme

  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • 09:00
    Registration and networking

    Registration will take place in the hotel foyer and tea, coffee and breakfast rolls will be available in the exhibition. 

    10:00
    Conference Welcome

    Douglas Mackie, SFHA Chair will open the conference

    10:10
    Chief Executive’s Address

    Sally Thomas will give her opening address

    11:00
    Keynote speaker: Kirsty Wark

    Kirsty Wark is one of the UK’s trailblazing female news journalists. She presented BBC’s Newsnight for 30 years, stepping down after the 2024 General Election. Her long career on Newsnight has seen her holding politicians and public figures to account with her formidable interviewing skills.

    Refreshments and networking
    From 12:15
    Breakout sessions Block A
    A1 Update to ARC indicators

    In this interactive session, delegates will be given the opportunity to ask the SHR directly about any issues they are encountering in collecting data and clarify any points that they might have on the new indicators.

    A2 Looking to the future: what do young people want from our social homes?

    Join a panel of young social tenants as they discuss and debate the future of social housing in Scotland. As part of this, we’ll be launching exclusive results of our work with YouGov that explored young people’s attitudes, experiences and thoughts on social homes. What will the next 50 years look like?

    A3 Sponsors session

    Join our sponsors in this breakout session

    A4 Leading Through Change

    We are facing change at a pace never seen before and strong leadership is key to navigating it. This session covers practical strategies to guide your team through transitions with confidence and clarity.

    A5 Cuts or reform? Labour’s welfare reform proposals and the impacts on Scottish social security

    Join our speakers as we explore how changes to disability and sickness benefits south of the border will impact on devolved disability benefits in Scotland - and the potential knock-on impact on Scottish social housing tenants.

    13:10 50 minute lunch and networking
    14:00
    Keynote Address: by the First Minister, John Swinney MSP
    John Swinney speaker photo
    networking break
    From 15:30
    Breakout sessions Block B
    B1 Tenants Together Scotland – how to get more tenants involved

    Tenants Together is a national network which empowers tenants to influence housing policy in Scotland. Join this session to learn more about their work and how your organisation can support.

    B2 How Do We Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethically?

    As AI becomes a key part of business and decision-making, ethical considerations are essential. In this session our panel will explore the risks and challenges of AI, from bias and accountability to transparency and trust. Join us for an engaging discussion on balancing AI’s potential with ethical best practices.

    B3 Holyrood elections 2026: what do we know and how can you get involved

    At our last annual conference before polling day, this session will look at what we might expect in terms of issues and polling for the election, and with the prospect of a large turnover of local MSP representatives how SFHA members can engage in the election themselves to build the constructive relationships they need. We'll be joined by Political analyst Professor Sir John Curtice.

     

    B4 Session details to follow
    B5 Identifying and Addressing Domestic Abuse: Practical Tools for Housing Staff

    This session is an essential opportunity for housing professionals to build their understanding of domestic abuse, improve their practices, and gain valuable tools, including the Self-Reflection Toolkit, to support their work in this vital area.

    19:15
    Drinks Reception
    sponsored by Thistle
    Thistle Insurance
    20:00
    Conference Dinner and Entertainment

    During the evening we’ll be announcing the winners of the SFHA's NextGen Leaders award to celebrate the young people in Scotland’s housing associations and co-operatives. As part of SFHA’s 50th anniversary celebrations, we’re looking to the future of Scotland’s social housing. So, we want to celebrate the young people making a difference to your organisations and give them a platform to go even further.

    8:45
    Day Delegate Registration with Refreshments

    Tea, coffee and pastries will be available in the exhibtion 

    9:30
    Celebrating our Past

    In this session, we’ll hear from past and present CEOs as they share pivotal moments from SFHA’s history and the sector’s incredible journey over the past 50 years

    30 minute networking break
    11:00
    Looking to the future:What Will the Next 50 Years Bring?

    As we look ahead to the next half-century, the landscape of social housing is set to transform dramatically. Advances in technology, evolving tenant expectations, and shifting economic and environmental priorities will redefine how social housing is designed, delivered, and managed.

    Join our panel as we explore key trends shaping the future, including 

    • The role of smart technologies
    • How will digital tools enhance tenant engagement and service delivery? 
    • What innovations will make homes more adaptable to changing demographics? 
    From 11:55
    Breakout Sessions – Block C
    C1 50 years of supporting Scotland’s housing associations: The story of SFHA

    Join us to look back over 50 years of SFHA and many of our members. We’ll explore our timeline, key points in social housing in Scotland’s history and the impact of housing associations and co-operatives over the past half century. 

    C2 Get Governance – GBM Induction Guidance

    This is a crucial aspect of the journey for any new GBM as they try to settle into what can be a daunting new role.  The practical guidance outlines the key components that should be included in any GBM induction, and provides a template to help carry out induction training. 

    C3 Lessons from South of the border

    Learn whether Labour’s plans to fixing the housing crisis in England, with the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, hold any lessons for us here in Scotland 

    C4 New approaches to retrofit funding

    The scale of the retrofit challenge is immense, requiring significant investment in both energy efficiency and clean heat technologies. This session will explore recent proposals by the Green Heat Finance Taskforce and Scottish Futures Trust to enhance existing Scottish Government support and develop new investment models to deliver social housing retrofit.

    C5 Neuropsychology of change

    More information to follow

    60 minute lunch and networking
    13:45
    Breakout Sessions – Block D
    D1 Bringing Generations Together: Creating a Unified Workplace

    This session aims to explore generational differences and how they shape workplace behaviour and encourage greater collaboration with colleagues from different generations and explore how this can drive innovation and sustainable success.

    D2 Sponsors session

    Join our sponsors - more information to follow

    D3 Homes fit for the future

    Housing to 2040 acknowledges that homes need to be accessible and adaptable to support people at all stages of life, but do we have the strategy, policy and regulations to ensure that our homes will be fit for the future?

    D4 AI in practice

    In this session we’ll be looking at practical applications of AI in sector  showcasing its potential to improve efficiency and service delivery. 

    D5 Update on UK economic policy

    Join our speakers as we explore the latest UK economic trends and developments - from financial markets to public spending and welfare reform - and their impact on the Scottish social housing sector.

    14:40
    Closing panel: Spotlighting Success: Housing at Scotland’s Heart

    Many SFHA are celebrating milestone anniversaries, and we’re excited to recognise their incredible journeys. Over the last five decades, they’ve made a lasting impact on tenants and communities, shaping lives in meaningful ways. We’ve invited some of them to share their most memorable moments and reflect on the difference they continue to make every day

    15:30
    Chief Executive’s Round Up and close

    Sally Thomas will close this years conference

    Exhibitors

    Evouchers (Wonde Ltd)

    Evouchers

    Visit website
    NorDan (UK) Ltd

    NorDan

    Visit website
    Utility Aid Ltd

    Utility Aid

    Visit website
    Housing Insight

    Housing Insight

    Visit website
    Omniledger

    Omniledger

    Visit website
    Voicescape

    Voicescape

    Visit website
    PFH Scotland

    PFH Scotland

    Visit website
    Stelrad

    Stelrad

    Visit website
    CR Smith

    CR Smith

    Visit website
    Openreach

    Open Reach

    Visit website
    GCU (Glasgow Caledonian University)

    Glasgow Caledonian University

    Visit website
    SDM Housing Software

    SDM Housing Software

    Visit website
    faqs

    Book your place

    Day Delegate
    Day 1 Delegate - SFHA non member

    This rate is for full day attendance on Tuesday and includes:

    • Refreshments at breaks
    • Lunch
    • Access to conference app and presentations post event
    £545.00
    - +
    Day 2 Delegate - SFHA non member

    This rate is for full day attendance on Wednesday and includes:

    • Refreshments at breaks
    • Lunch
    • Access to conference app and presentations post event
    £534.00
    - +
    Day 1 & Day 2 - SFHA non member

    This rate is for full day attendance on Tuesday and Wednesday includes:

    • Refreshments at breaks on both days
    • Lunch on both days
    • Access to conference app and presentations post event
    • This rates does not include dinner or accommodation
    • This rate is for individual attendance only at the conference.
    £1015.00
    - +
    Day 1 + Dinner - SFHA non member

    This rate is for full day attendance on Tuesday and includes:

    • Refreshments at breaks
    • Lunch
    • Drinks reception and gala dinner
    • Access to conference app and presentations post event
    £607.00
    - +