The 2025 ASCP Conference, Exhibition and Awards

By Luke Beard · 22 May 2025

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the ASCP (Association of Safety and Compliance Professionals) Conference, Exhibition and Awards in what proved to be an incredibly insightful day for anyone working in social housing compliance and regulation. As someone deeply embedded in this sector through our work at ARK Consultancy, I wanted to share my thoughts on the key sessions I attended and what they mean for housing associations, local authorities, and social landlords across the UK.

Residents, regs and regulators: are we winning?
09.30, Auditorium

The day started with a discussion that couldn’t have been more timely, considering the constant stream of new legislation and regulation reshaping our sector. What really struck me was the acknowledgement that this wave of change isn’t slowing down anytime soon, with key regulations due over the next 12 months.

That said, there’s definitely a positive side to all this. The new regime is genuinely putting tenants at the heart of what we do, and whilst this feels like endless legislation and regulation, it should start having a real impact on driving up standards. It’s all supporting our drive towards warm, safe and affordable homes, even if it sometimes feels overwhelming.

The key message? We need to embrace these changes because ultimately, they’re about better outcomes for our residents.

Making sure what you see is what you get – ensuring consistency between strategic assurance and operational performance
09.50, Auditorium

This session really made me think about how we approach board confidence and performance monitoring. The speaker challenged whether consistently green KPIs actually give us more confidence than mixed performance that reflects what’s really happening on the ground.

They made a really important distinction here: assurance is about building confidence initially, whilst reassurance is about restoring or reinforcing that confidence. The message was clear that boards need to be curious and dig deeper occasionally. Sometimes missing a target can actually be more honest than hitting it every month if those targets aren’t challenging enough in the first place.

Working as consultants, we see organisations struggling with this balance all the time. The main takeaway? Don’t just accept the numbers at face value. Try to understand the story behind them.

Electrical installer skills and individual competence: latest trends and initiatives
10.10, Auditorium

Andrew Eldred from ECA gave us some pretty sobering insights about the electrical trade. Whilst training uptake is increasing slightly, it’s not leading to employment, which is concerning. The problem? We’re delivering the wrong type of training.

The statistics were genuinely worrying. We need significantly more new entrants on top of current apprenticeship rates just to maintain existing electrician levels. This is a broader challenge across most trades unfortunately. We really need to make construction attractive for the next generation whilst ensuring training provides a genuine pathway to long-term employment.

For social landlords, this skills shortage directly impacts your ability to maintain properties and meet compliance requirements. It’s definitely a challenge that needs sector-wide collaboration to address properly.

Compliance with new heat network regulations – panel discussion
11.30, Auditorium

This was probably the most eye-opening session for me. Heat networks may well have slipped through the net for many social landlords, but new requirements are about to fundamentally change operating models.

If you run a heat network, congratulations, you’re now essentially an energy provider. This means your complaints process needs to align with Ofgem requirements, billing and pricing must be clear and linked to actual usage, and all gateway approvals need to be in place with Ofgem.

Many organisations probably don’t even realise they operate heat networks, let alone understand these compliance requirements. This could well be a significant blind spot that needs immediate attention.

Jamie Andrew, motivational speaker
12.25, Auditorium

Jamie Andrew delivered a really powerful reminder of human resilience. Despite losing his hands and feet to frostbite, he went on to achieve remarkable things in mountaineering and marathon running. His message about pushing beyond our limits and embracing opportunities really resonated.

In our challenging sector, where we face constant regulatory pressure and resource constraints, Jamie’s story reminded us that with determination and the right attitude, we can overcome seemingly impossible challenges. Sometimes we all need that reminder.

IGEM/UP/1b: What social housing landlords need to know
14.15, Auditorium

This was quite a technical session, but the implications are significant. The standard proposes tighter tolerances for gas leakage, which will probably result in more appliances being switched off.

The practical challenges include dealing with tenant-owned appliances that fail new standards, a potential surge in complaints, additional data requirements for LGSRs, and re-training engineers, QA staff, and non-technical personnel.

The question organisations need to ask is whether their current systems are flexible enough to handle these changes. This is exactly the kind of operational challenge we help organisations navigate at ARK Consultancy.

Raising the bar: fire safety compliance and equality in social housing
14.55, Auditorium
This was an engaging session on fire safety and equality. This really hammered home a crucial point: social housing providers must truly understand their residents, plan with them, and communicate fire management strategies effectively.

It’s not enough to just have policies and procedures. We need to ensure they actually work for all residents, taking into account their individual needs and circumstances.

Final thoughts

The ASCP Conference really reinforced that our sector is at a critical point. We’re facing unprecedented regulatory change, skills shortages, and evolving technical requirements. However, the underlying purpose remains clear: delivering warm, safe, and affordable homes for our residents.

The key is to stay curious, dig deeper into the challenges, and remember that behind every KPI and compliance requirement are real people who depend on us getting it right.

Looking ahead, the organisations that will thrive are those that embrace change, invest in their people, and never lose sight of their core mission: serving their communities effectively and with genuine care.

At ARK, we can help you to meet the many challenges the sector presents you and your organisation with. Whether that’s direct consultancy or providing the interim professionals you need, contact us today to start the conversation.

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