The Housing Forum has set up the Futures Network as a one-year programme for prospective future leaders from member organisations who are at a formative stage of their professional development. The aim of the Futures Network is to actively support the growth of skills in partnerships and collaborative working that both individuals and the housing industry need, to widen diversity and to build new and lasting networks.
Each member organisation of The Housing Forum may put forward one person each year to participate. The Futures Network offers participants opportunities for career development via building their network across the whole of the housing and construction sectors including:
- Mentorship via a mentor in a different type of organisation to your own
- Developing topical research projects, with support from The Housing Forum
- Attending events and providing support at The Housing Forum’s National Conference
- Training on presentation skills and/or other training opportunities
- Presenting findings from research at Housing Forum events
- Engaging with the wider cross-sector membership network
- Enrolment in The Institute of Management and Leadership’s ‘MyLeadership’ eLearning programme
General meetings will be organised by The Housing Forum and will take place at various locations across the country.
One-to-one meetings with mentors will be organised between participants and their mentors and can take place either in-person or online.
Informal meetings and ad-hoc social meetings will be organised by the Futures Network Chair and will provide a chance for participants to network and engage in topical discussions. The current Chair is Hayley Hayes, Head of Specification, Polypipe.
We expect Futures Network participants to be self-organised and self-directed and take responsibility for individual meeting organisation.
The Housing Forum is looking to recruit up to 20 individuals for the next cohort.
Member organisations will be able to identify one staff member to be put forward for the programme. Applicants should have:
- The potential to undertake senior responsibilities and develop their career
Professionalism and the ability to collaborate well with others
Enthusiasm for expanding their network in the wider housing sector
The recruitment process will take place during July 2024, with the 2024/5 cohort set to join the 12-month long scheme from September 2024 to August 2025.
The first meeting for the 2024/5 Futures Network cohort will be on 2nd October 2024 at The Housing Forum’s offices in London. This meeting will also include participants of the 2023/4 cohort who will provide an induction to the new starters to the programme.
Prospective members of the Futures Network should be nominated by email by a Director/Senior Manager of a Housing Forum member organisation accompanied by a supporting statement (no more than 500 words) from the candidate setting out how they hope to benefit and what they could bring to the network to provide a useful and distinct perspective to The Housing Forum. Member employing organisations should indicate by an accompanying email that they support the initiative and will make the required time available for participation.
Applications should be returned to George Thompson-Dunne, Membership Manager, The Housing Forum, at george.thompson-dunne@housingforum.org.uk, by 12 July 2024.
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