About Us

Housing Partnership UK & Ireland (HPUK&I), is a network for CEOs comprising over 20 housing associations of different types, and sizes from all parts of the country which collectively own or manage over 300,000 homes. Membership is by invitation. The network has been in operation for more than 18 years and has evolved and developed to reflect new challenges and the changing environment.

The main aim of the group is to connect like-minded leaders interested in innovation and learning. It provides a development programme for CEOs. In this regard, it is a unique group which takes a different perspective and looks at different issues compared to other existing networks.

HPUK provides a rare opportunity for its members to meet and discuss emerging issues and challenges within a safe environment. The limited size of the group allows members to develop continuity and trusting relationships to allow friendly discussion in a spirit of openness.

The group usually meets 3 or 4 times a year. Events are often hosted by one of the members and the programme involves a combination of external speakers and site tours or visits. Speakers are not necessarily limited to our own sector and the visits sometimes include an overseas study tour.

The meeting format and visits provide an opportunity for experiential learning within a peer support group and action learning rather than formal structures of development for CEOs. The aim is to provide a different perspective on current issues.

Over time the meetings, visits and tours provide an extended network of contacts which can operate and provide benefits beyond the group. For example, we are formally linked to not-for-profit housing organisations in Canada, Australia and the USA under the umbrella of the International Housing Partnership, IHP. This extended network provides an additional opportunity to provide a different perspective on members’ own experience and thereby learn and challenge their thinking by exposure to a less familiar operating environment with relatable concerns.

IHP holds an annual conference for member CEOs which rotates around the four countries.  In 2022  it was held in Toronto. Last year HPUKI hosted the IHP Leadership Conference on 2 – 5 October in Glasgow in collaboration with Wheatley Housing Group. Taken together with the HPUKI focused study visits to European cities (Amsterdam, Stockholm and Dublin in recent years) there is an unparalleled opportunity to benefit from worldwide peer learning. The study visit in 2024 is Vienna from 2 to 5 July. 

If you would like to discuss these unique benefits of membership of HPUK&I with some of its members or find out more about our activities and approach please initially contact the Group Coordinator, Tony Cotter – tony.cotter@hotmail.co.uk  or 07768 696521