Stakeholder Summit reveals successes and challenges
Hard work from our colleagues has ensured our Stakeholder Summit provided an in-depth look at our successes, opportunities and challenges facing us and the wider housing sector.
Our annual Stakeholder Summit, held last week, drew more than 50 partners to our networking event, featuring guests from a wide range of local organisations who received updates on our Strategic Plan.
Strategic Plan
Trent & Dove CEO Ursula Bennion
Our CEO Ursula Bennion explained how the plan is evolving, aligning with our values of People, Purpose and Performance and our new Tenant Satisfaction Measures, while looking at how we will retain our G1/V2 grading.
Our partners also took a deep dive into our successes, ranging from our investment in our employees and future generations, to and investment in our communities, thanks to our brand-new developments, such as Tyldesley Court and Eager Close.
We looked into our next Strategic Plan 2027-2032 and how we want to include our customers and stakeholders to help shape this and support how Trent & Dove can move forward.
Customer Voice
Trent & Dove Head of Customer and Communities Rachael Hughes
Our Head of Customer and Communities Rachael Hughes focused her attention on our Customer Voice, showing how we ensure we listen, understand and act upon the needs of our customers to improve our service delivery.
We collate this feedback through a range of platforms, including our Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs), community project, Customer Engagement and Community Projects, to name but a few.
Our TSMs were greeted with interest from guests who saw how we compared against the housing sector as a whole. They were told that we scored as high as, or higher than, our counterparts.
Our work in the community was also highlighted, showcasing the importance of our volunteers and the support we receive from our partners in making a difference in our communities.
Guests also received a call to action to see how they can get involved.
Customer Committee Q&A
Two Trent & Dove Customer Committee members, Marcin Kazmierczak and Chair Tracey White, took to the stage to answer a series of questions around customer involvement.
Tracey said it was important that the committee had a say in sharing the Customer Annual Report and rent increase communication. She said she had developed as a person by being able to express her opinion.
Asked what he has learnt as a Customer Committee member, Marcin said he feels equipped with the knowledge of Trent & Dove and associated legislation.
Trent & Dove Customer Committee members, Marcin Kazmierczak and Chair Tracey White
As an example, Marcin said the EDI strategy document was “ok”, but using his passion for EDI, he was able to create a new, easily digestible draft which will be presented to the Board and Customer Committee. He added that he felt confident enough to contribute to writing the document.
Tracey said she was most proud of the customer input into the Customer Voice strategy and was proud of the way she felt listened to.
They both agreed Trent & Dove was strong at using diverse ways to gather feedback and were aware of the technological limitations of customers.
Marcin added Trent & Dove takes ‘measuring and reporting to listening and learning’, saying “Trent & Dove get silent voices heard”.
Government announcement and affordability
Trent & Dove Development Director, Charlie Riley
Our Development Director, Charlie Riley, took a microscope to the latest Government announcements affecting the affordable housing sector. This included the Spring Statement and Spending Review, and additional financial support available to us.
Spending Review, and additional financial support available to us.
Thanks to our Resources Director Jan Griffiths, our stakeholders were also made aware of our funding routes and where our money comes from, such as grants and private loans.
They also looked into our future with our development activity and how much we will be spending and where.
Trent & Dove Resources Director Jan Griffiths
Conclusion
The event concluded with a networking lunch and provided an opportunity for stakeholders to mingle and issue feedback. Our Chair of the Board Claire Winfield provided a closing speech. Many even had a go on our famous Spin the Wheel.
Thank you to all our stakeholders who joined us for the update and had the opportunity to ask some great questions.
We hope they left with a better understanding of Trent & Dove, how it operates, and the successes and challenges it faces.