Andrew Burke, NHMF Deputy Secretary and Advisor to the NHMF
In this feature, we speak to Andrew Burke, NHMF Deputy Secretary and Advisor to the NHMF. An independent consultant with over 25 years’ experience in housing, energy efficiency, construction policy and strategy, Andrew is responsible for what members tell us is one of the most valuable NHMF Contractor Forum resources – the Best Practice area of the website.
image source : Andrew B
Our NHMF Contractor Forum membership represents the housing sector’s very best in innovation, best practice and collaboration. Embodying a broad cross section of organisations with differing interests and specialisms, from the large to the small providers, we’re speaking to a cross section of our members and other stakeholders about the benefits they get from the Forum.
In this feature, we speak to Andrew Burke, NHMF Deputy Secretary and Advisor to the NHMF. An independent consultant with over 25 years’ experience in housing, energy efficiency, construction policy and strategy, Andrew is responsible for what members tell us is one of the most valuable NHMF Contractor Forum resources – the Best Practice area of the website.
“I’ve worked in housing now for almost three decades and have always been struck by its increasingly conflicting drivers of reacting to media pressure following tragedies, without knowing what the final government regulations will be after the legal process of consultation has finished. Of course, both are understandable as housing is such a complex arena, but they bring with them a unique set of challenges, which is why social landlords appreciate being able to use the Best Practice section of the NHMF website to consider how they should respond. For example, the NHMF published briefings at key stages during the Government's review of NHMF: Building Safety Act 2022 – Lessons from Early Adopters (Aug update) as well as running webinars on the emerging legislation and lessons from early adopters.
“Ultimately, a thriving housing sector needs to be built on the foundation of collaboration, which is what makes the NHMF and the Contractor Forum such unique organisations. Collectively, our role is to encourage longer term perspectives within the market, rather than adopting stopgap or knee-jerk reactions. We learn from each other about how best to assess and balance risk. And these risks are high stakes, like the tragedy of Grenfell and now, the emergence into the public domain of the fatal consequences of mismanagement of damp and mould.
“Understandably as a sector, we want to do our best to rectify challenges, and plan for the future in a sustainable way where such tragedies never happen again. But doing this in isolation can be really tough, which is where the NHMF Contractor Forum plays such an important role. As an example, if you haven’t already seen it, we recently issued the NHMF: Damp and mould information to RSH – Quick tips bulletin, a considered response and evaluation of the current situation. It won’t solve the problem, but I hope it will go some way to supporting and signposting organisations who are struggling to form their own view and response.
“As well as tackling the pressing issues of the day, the Best Practice section of the website covers a plethora of other topics for social landlords and contractors, from the practical (asbestos, electrical and gas safety, lift and access, heating and hot water) to the broader ranging, including apprenticeships, decarbonisation, Health & Safety, legislation, compliance and regulations. In addition to the bulletins and best practice guides, we also hold regular seminars and workshops which offer a mine of learning from specialists and our peers.
“Of course, I don’t have all the answers and I don’t have a crystal ball, but what I do know, is that I am privileged to share Best Practice updates with the Contractor Forum members at their meetings, so they can benefit collectively in finding solutions that are well-informed and ultimately best for their clients. Membership of the Contractors’ Forum not only helps decide how these changes are implemented, but also helps keep us all as a sector ahead, relevant and attractive.”
If you haven’t already, check out NHMF: Best Practice to see if you’d find it helpful and we welcome new members to try us out. Contact imogen.bowen@m3h.co.uk if you’d like to join us as a guest at our next meeting.
Don’t forget either that it’s the NHMF Annual Conference on the 24th and 25th January and if you’re intending on booking, please reserve your tickets now. NHMF
