Blog: Scotland’s Housing Festival 2017

CIH Scotland Board member, Evie Copland, previews what visitors can expect at the Housing Festival event to be held at the SECC in Glasgow on March 14-15.

From smart homes to digital tech to help us do so much more with less, working in housing is pretty amazing right now. Whatever your role, wherever you come from – there’s something truly special on the horizon as CIH Scotland takes over the SECC in Glasgow in just two short weeks’ time for the very first Housing Festival.

We’ve got four themes this year: Build, Live, Grow and Change – but essentially they all go under the banner of creating a strong future for housing in Scotland. It’s about delivering affordable housing, increasing innovation and strengthening communities.

This year’s event will also have the Fringe – two days of excitement, inspiration and intrigue. No smoke and mirrors here, simply great people with great chat, there with a sole mission to help aspiring professions and future leaders from across the country (that means you!).

Chaired by myself and this year’s Bob Allan Young Achiever, Emma McShane – give us a follow on Twitter please – we’ve got some of the biggest names in housing coming to take 10 minutes out to talk with us outside the hustle and bustle of the conference.

We’ll be welcoming this lot over the two days:

  • Dave Kelly and Richard Footit from Positive Prison
  • Sir Peter Housden, former Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government (I just want a selfie with a Sir!)
  • Janice Stevenson from LGBT Youth Scotland
  • Patrick Flynn from Glasgow City Council
  • Josh Littlejohn from Social Bite
  • Juha Kaakinen from the Y-Foundation all the way from Finland
  • Julie Fadden – the actual president of CIH
  • Jon Barnes from CIH Cymru
  • We’ll kick things off by sharing housing journeys and views on how the sector as a whole is tackling homelessness. Day 2 will see us talk innovation and problem solving.

    Prepare yourself for fresh ideas, to get involved and to think something new. Not hard, just different. We’re here to inspire and motivate you – this is the game changer.

    If you do one thing today, talk to your manager, ask them for a tenner to train you and I’ll see you there.

    To book your place on the Fringe click here

    A booking will give you free access to the exhibition and two fringe events; The Housing Camp and the Solutions Showcase.

    If you would like to book a space on the main Conference please click here

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