On the Air

Guests this episode include Joe Ross, Service Improvement Manager who provides real insight of how the sector is already tackling stigma and shares his thoughts on the "right to buy" policy as a catalyst for the negative perception of social housing. Rick Liddiment, Head of External Affairs, Flagship, along with Dr. Mercy Denedo, Durham University and Professor Amanze Ejiogu, Sheffield Hallam University bring us insight from their extensive research and propose actions the housing sector can take to challenge organisational stigma. We explore the real cause of stigma, its impact on people living in social housing and what can be done to challenge it? 

We are joined by Kate Stetsiuk, Head of AI at The Dot Collective, who will bring insights on AI's real world applications and the latest developments in responsible AI use. Jon Cocker, Chief Information Officer at Platform Housing Group, is here to discuss AI's impact on data, governance, and operational efficiency and Gareth Lloyd, Chief Information and Transformation Officer at Stonewater, shares his perspective on AI in housing, regulatory challenges, and what the future holds.Could AI replace employees? Can AI be trusted? What are we using it for? We navigate all this in episode 4.

With guests; Chair of Stonewater's Board, Sheila Collins and Chief Officer for Customer Experience and Growth, Jonathan Layzell we discuss Stonewater's decade of success, some of the hurdles they've overcome, and their own experience of mergers and acquisitions. This episode also features HACT Chief Executive, Andrew Van Doorn bringing a critical perspective on mergers and advocating for greater collaboration in the sector and Sharon Thandi, Senior Associate at Devonshires, offering a legal perspective on the challenges, realities and opportunities in housing mergers.  

With co-host Stonewater Director of Development Operations, James Bradbury we discuss the new Labour Government plan for housing with guests Anne Costain, Stonewater Chief Financial Officer, Isabelle Kirk, Stonewater Assistant Director of Treasury and Director of Housing and Development at Lloyds Banking Group.From funding challenges, development hurdles and everything in between On the Air brings to light how the sector is placed to support the Governments plan for housing and what we need to help deliver much needed housing. 

Join host Paula Palmer joined by co-host, James Bird, Managing Director, Innovation & Insight, Cavendish and guests; Dave Lockerman, Director of Housing Operations, Robert Panou, Director Asset Strategy & Investment, Stonewater, Alistair Smyth, Director of Policy and Research, NHF and Aileen Edmunds, CEO, Longleigh for the Episode 1 of Season 5. As we kick off this new season, we're excited to explore some of the most pressing issues facing the housing sector today. We're going to be talking through our central theme, stepping into a new era of social housing.In the first of what will be six episodes, we'll be exploring the critical steps the new UK government must take to support and transform social housing, setting the stage for a brighter future for communities across the country. 

Guests Abi Deeprose (HR Advisor), Anne-Marie Alexander (Commercial Services Team Leader) share their thoughts on what makes Stonewater a great place to work and the things that matter to them. With internal policies on topics such as the menopause support, networking groups, flexible working and Stonewater's overall commitment to being there for colleagues in the moments that matter we'll find out how all this affects colleague morale, performance and sentiment within the organisation.  We are joined by Jill Headford (Partner and Solicitor in employment and dispute resolution at law firm, Tozers) who talks about why these  things matter and are great for social mobility. 

Guests Donna Warr, Head of Organisational Capability and Sair Leahy, Organisational Development and Learning Experience Manager outline the Competency and Conduct proposals, Stonewater's response to the consultation and who and how they might affect in the organisation. We also talk about Stonewater's current plans and culture for colleague learning and development, from initiatives like Step up to Manager, apprenticeships and the graduate programme and how these support colleagues to fulfil personal development goals and achieve industry-recognised qualifications.  Sair talks about 'Routes in Stonewater', encouraging diversity and opportunities for all by encouraging people from all walks of life to consider a career in housing with the support and development available to succeed.

With guests; Dave Lockerman, Director of Housing Operations, Dani Bowater, Customer Engagement Co-ordinator, Gareth Morgan, Stonewater scrutiny panel member and Jenny Osbourne, CEO of Tpas. The session focuses on internal and external changes, which include forthcoming regulatory changes and the increasing shift within consumer standards for brilliant customer engagement and communication. We discuss the proactive changes we are making to improve how we communicate with our customers and meet their expectations. The discussions will also explore our approach to handling situations when we sometimes don't get things right.  We quiz Jenny on her view about the changes, the importance of engaging customers and best practice coming through.

In this episode we invite previous guest Clare Rainsford, Environmental Business Partner back to co- host along side Paula Palmer. We met Clare at the launch of the Greenoak Centre of Excellence where she introduced us to the Circular Economy principle, this time Clare is going to talk about what else she is working on with team members Molly Auchterlonie, Environmental Business Partner to Finance and Suzanne Le Sauvage, water and ecology as they discuss how Stonewater is embedding sustainability and social value across the company and reduce our impact on the environment.   

Alongside host, Paula Palmer is guest host Emma Mifflin, Decarbonisation Manager at Stonewater and two of her Team; Helen Dextor and Jerrad Murphy, Retrofit Project Managers, to discuss the measures Stonewater are taking to ensure all existing homes are EPC C by 2030. Whilst discussing the retrofit project, they are also joined by Matt Ratcliff, Osmosis as they chat about how we are approaching the challenge, from identifying homes, design, installation, funding and after care. We find out how the measures and retrofitting of upgraded or replacement features  will increase the longevity of our properties and positively impact the energy efficiency and therefore the quality for our customers.  

Guest Host, Adam Master, Assistant Director of Environment and Sustainability is joined by members of his team to give an overview of how sustainability is viewed and actioned at Stonewater. Guests Rhys Bevan and Emily Batchford, Environmental Sustainability Partners along with Arthur Gott, Development Manager talk about the technology Stonewater is using in new developments such as heat pumps, Wondrwall and Switchee among other technologies. They talk about the design and build stage, balancing the cost to the business whilst ensuring our customers benefit from energy savings and comfortable homes to meeting net zero targets and future-proofing our new builds.Emily, as business partner to the Customer Experience team talks about how we're taking our customers on this journey with us and how we're making sure the technology and measures are right for them.      

November saw the launch of the Greenoak Centre of Excellence for sustainability in the housing sector, a partnership between Greenoak Housing Association Ltd and Stonewater. This special edition was filmed and can be viewed at https://youtu.be/hMCNgyGreZI - the film comes with  full subtitles .This bonus episode comes ahead of a trio of podcasts that will dig deeper into sustainability at Stonewater and how we are balancing the needs of customers, climate and cost to the organisation.

With guests Dean Ballard, Head of Data; Isabel Varey, Director of Housing Service Development and Becky Palmer, Neighbourhoods Peer Leader at Stonewater we discuss how Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs), are shaping our customer offering and operations. TSMs are designed to improve the sector for customers and we want to understand how Stonewater is using technology to adhere to the new measures and how they are recorded. In addition, we hear how Stonewater has developed a digital roadmap within the business, more about the vision for that and developing the customer portal - MyHome - the digital poverty working group and other things our guests would like to see social housing incorporate into their customer offering.  

We are joined by Retirement Living colleagues Linda Rayfield, Wellbeing & Community Capacity Delivery Manager (guest host) and Charlene Barnett, Wellbeing & Community Connector and Customer Engagement Coordinator, Kim Avantaggiato as we discuss what Stonewater is doing to tackle the digital divide and use of technology for our older generations.  We are are also joined by Pat Harvey a Retirement Living customer and member of the Ageing Well Board. With an update on the INVITE project, research that aimed to investigate how assistive and everyday technologies can be implemented in retirement living properties to improve residents' quality of life and sustain inclusive communities we learn about what's next and what else Stonewater is doing to help our customers access the digital world with confidence.  

Guest host Paul Blaydes, Assistant Director of Data at Stonewater joins the show with Kishore Rajendran from Microsoft in a discussion that Paula Palmer, our regular host tries to keep up with. Explaining all about Microsoft Azure and it's many many benefits Paul and Kishore share how it has helped us to work better remotely, utilise our data to serve our customers more efficiently and what might come next.

Guest host Allison Howe, Stonewater Income Team  Leader joins regular host Paula Palmer on this episode with guests Emma Kernahan, Policy and Impact Lead at Clean Slate, a Longleigh Foundation partner and Stonewater customer Debbie. Whilst Debbie shares her struggle with making ends meet after losing her job during covid  and the support she received from Stonewater and Clean Slate, Emma and Allison describe the range of help and advice available to help pay the bills, cope with the emotional effects and  destigmatise asking for help. 

Guest host Nicky Mason, Stonewater Partnership Manager joins our regular host Paula Palmer on this episode with  guests Tracey Leatherland, also from Stonewater and Manjeev Makur, Longleigh Grants Officer as they explain about the partnership between Longleigh and Stonewater.  Discussing the impact of the cost of living crisis on customers and how Stonewater and Longleigh are able to help with rising household costs and being able to afford to live. We'll hear about customers who have been supported with everyday struggles and those who have larger one off grants that make a fundamental difference to their quality of life. 

Host Paula Palmer will be joined by guest host Emily Batchford and guests Holly Edwards and Kim Gibson to share their thoughts and provide insight on what Stonewater is doing to support it's customers and colleagues. Asking questions such as what support is available within Stonewater and beyond, how do we know what support our customers need and focusing on what we are doing to support with the energy crisis.  Kim Gibson, Customer Partner and Fuel Engagement Specialist shares more about our online Energy Hub; our award winning campaign to help people deal with rising energy costs.

New research has found that introducing low tech gadgets to retirement living schemes has a major impact on health and well-being.Stonewater, in partnership with housing and ageing experts at University of Stirling and funded by Longleigh Foundation, began the INVITE project to find out how technology could best support retirement living residents. Guest host Dr Vikki McCall,  INVITE project lead and lecturer at University of Stirling  is joined by Janet Benett, Stonewater Retirement Living Customer, and Susie Sear, Stonewater Retirement Living Support in Eastbourne who share their experiences of the project and the findings.Further informationRead the findings report titled Promoting Inclusive Living Via Technology-Enabled support:  https://www.stonewater.org/about-us/thought-leadership/invite-project/

On the first episode of Inside Jobs (a two-part special), our guests talked about increasing financial pressures on households and the impact of remote working on low paid workers.In part two, guest co-hosts David Button and Jenny Sawyer, will be continuing the conversation to explore what employers can do to ensure the benefits of homeworking are experienced equally.  Featuring special guests Dave Lockerman (Director of Housing Operations), Andy Peers (CEO at Longleigh Foundation), Katy Neep (Campaign Manager at Business in the Community) and Stonewater customer Louise Kitson.Further informationRead the findings report of Stonewater's research with Demos: https://www.stonewater.org/remoteworking/  Interested in joining Stonewater's team and reaping the rewards of its employee benefits? Check out the latest vacancies: https://www.stonewater.org/careers/discover-stonewater/  About Stonewater's hybrid model: https://www.stonewater.org/news/press-releases/stonewater-leads-the-housing-sector-in-announcing-permanent-move-to-homeworking/  

Earlier in series 3 (episode 4), Stonewater announced that it had commissioned new research by Demos, Britain's leading cross-party think-tank, to understand the impacts of remote working on low paid workers in the UK. In the first episode of this two-part special guest co-hosts Jenny Sawyer (Director of People, Culture and Change at Stonewater) and David Button will explore the findings of the report ‘Inside Jobs' and the recommendations from the research to ensure the benefits of homeworking are experienced equally.Featuring special guests Dave Lockerman (Director of Housing Operations), Andy Peers (CEO at Longleigh Foundation), Katy Neep (Campaign Manager at Business in the Community) and Stonewater customer Louise Kitson.Subscribe to On the Air's channel wherever you listen to your podcasts to make sure you don't miss part two.Further informationRead the findings report of Stonewater's research with Demos: https://www.stonewater.org/remoteworking/Interested in joining Stonewater's team and reaping the rewards of its employee benefits? Check out the latest vacancies: https://www.stonewater.org/careers/discover-stonewater/About Stonewater's hybrid model: https://www.stonewater.org/news/press-releases/stonewater-leads-the-housing-sector-in-announcing-permanent-move-to-homeworking/

For more information about the project:https://www.stonewater.org/news/press-releases/green-light-for-renewable-energy-smart-city-in-oxford/https://www.kensacontracting.com/energy-superhub-oxford-eso/https://www.pandhengineering.co.uk/features/kensa-heat-pump-village

For further information on topics explored in this episode, visit:https://www.raceequalitymatters.com/race-equality-week/https://www.stonewater.org/news/press-releases/stonewater-s-equality-achievements-win-national-praise/If you are looking for a new role and want to work for an employer that wants you to be nothing less than yourself, then make sure you check out our latest vacancies: https://www.stonewater.org/careers/

Find out more about Stonewater's refuges here. 

For many, fuel poverty is just poverty by another name. While some emergency help and financial support does exist for those who are struggling to pay their energy bills, it often doesn't go far enough. On this episode of On the Air, Host Anisha Patel is joined by guest co-host Emily Batchford, Environmental Sustainability Officer at Stonewater to talk about the work the organisation is currently doing to maximise the efficiency of its homes to ensure they are warm and affordable now and in the future, for customers. Also joining the discussion is Stonewater's Executive Director – Customer Experience, Sue Shirt and Simon Francis, Co-ordinator at End Fuel Poverty Coalition to talk about campaigns this winter and its recent England Fuel Poverty Index.Additional information:http://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/english-fuel-poverty-index-2021/https://www.stonewater.org/news/press-releases/opinion-piece-2021-must-be-the-year-we-put-an-end-to-fuel-poverty/Get in touch on Twitter @StonewaterUK #SWOnTheAir

To find out more about the modern poverties research project, please click here. 

Featuring: - Lisa Lembergs (Co-host, Stonewater) - Dr Grant Gibson (Lecturer in Dementia Studies and Co-Investigator, University of Stirling) - Dr Steve Rolfe (Research Fellow from University of Stirling) - Pat Harvey (Stonewater Retirement Living customer)

In this latest episode of On the Air, host Anisha Patel is joined by guest co-host Jonathan Layzell, Executive Director of Development at Stonewater to talk about launching the George Blunden Public Art Prize and the value of public art to its customers and communities. Joined by metal sculptor Mick Kirkby-Geddes and Jacqueline Burton, development manager at Stonewater, the two panellists give their insight into producing public art and what artists should consider in their entry.For more information about entering the George Blunden Public Art Prize, see the competition brochure here: https://www.stonewater.org/media-pack-blunden-prize/public-art-competition/If you have any questions, following this episode then get in touch by e-mailing awards@see-media.co.uk

To listen to the full episode, click here

To listen to Waterworks Lane (Series 1, Episode 4), click hereTo find out more about the scheme, click here

https://www.stonewater.org/news/press-releases/new-employee-benefit-scheme-helps-colleagues-onto-the-property-ladder/

Download full transcript here.Featuring:David Lockerman - Customer Experience Director, StonewaterDebbie Chun - Assistant Director of IT, StonewaterSteph Hurdman - Head of Mobilisation, Wates

To view the full transcript for this episode please click here.Featuring:Beverley Booth-Jones - Senior New Homes Executive, StonewaterKathryn Hopkins - Customer Experience Manag, StonewaterElla Cheney - Shared Ownership Programme Manager, National Housing FederationKelly McCabe - Managing Director, The Mortgage PeopleTo find out more about Stonewater's shared ownership programme please go to the Stonewater Homes website.To listen to Shared ownership: Part 1 please click here. 

To view the full transcript for this episode please click here.Featuring: Shamela Khatun - Coach, Stonewater's South Asian Women's RefugeAlison Inman - Former President of the CIH founder of the Make a Stand campaignValerie Wise - National Domestic Abuse Lead, Victim Support Sian Rios - Specialist Project Coordinator, Stonewater's dedicted LGBTQ+ provision ‘Safe Space'For more information about Stonewater's domestic abuse service please refer to the Stonewater website.

You can read the full report here. 

https://www.stonewater.org/get-involved/stonewater-scrutiny-panel/

https://www.stonewater.org/news/case-studies/waterworks-lane-veterans-self-build-project/

If you need support or are interested in finding out more about Stonewater's specialist supported housing schemes, visit our website: https://www.stonewater.org/find-a-home/supported-housing/ 

Featuring Susie Palmer a shared ownership customer and Stonewater colleagues; Beverley Booth-Jones, Abigail Harries and Kathryn Hopkins.https://stonewaterhomes.co.uk/buying-shared-ownership-home  

Featuring David Blower – Corporate Services Director, Dean Ballard – Head of Customer Insight and Clare Bray – Development Manager at Stonewater. https://www.stonewater.org/about-us/our-vision/

Stonewater's first ever podcast series will focus on the important topics around social housing , right now. From essential questions about shared ownership to celebrating community projects for veterans, we have you covered!