A call for collaboration - A review of #IPCC23
Last week the 2023 International Property Care Conference was held, once again at The University of Warwick.
This was arguably the most diverse and varied programme we have put together and equally was reflected in the diverse list of attendees, including more representatives from Housing Associations and Local Authorities than ever before too. Perhaps a sign of the times, but also a reflection that the PCA and its members are considered the 'go to' authority on dampness in buildings.
Collaboration, communication & consideration
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past year, you will have no doubt noticed a massive shift in tolerance towards dampness in buildings and the quality of the UK housing stock. This was very much the theme for the first session where we welcomed The Housing Ombudsman, social housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa, and the National HMO Network. The message very much centred around the critical need for stronger communication and collaboration between all parties – contractors, landlords and tenants.
The next session focused on what's ahead and the challenges of retrofit from a local authority perspective, guidance on best practice when insulating suspended timber floors and a forecast on what is in store for the UK housing market.
In a change of tone before a networking lunch, we heard from Reverend Kevin Fear who spoke about Building Mental Health in Construction. This was a hard hitting presentation delivering a very important message, that as an industry and as individuals, we really need to 'up our game' when considering our colleagues, employees, friends and the dangers of mental health.
The final session tackled the more technical aspects of managing and understanding water and included presentations from UCL, Dantherm Group and HR Wallingford covering surface waterproofing, structural drying and flood resilience.
Relevance going forward
Initial feedback has been very positive with comments such as “a brilliant day!!!” & “Excellent speakers & presentations”. However, we are keen to make these conferences as relevant and topical as possible. If you were unable to join us on the day, or you didn't get a chance to fill out the feedback form, we would still love to hear from you. What subjects would be beneficial to you and what topics would you like to see on the programme at future events? Any suggestions would be gratefully received, so please get in touch with James via the button below.
The PCA conferences have always been a platform for learning, elevating standards, building relationships and sharing knowledge and have always been a must-attend event for those wanting to be at the forefront of the sectors we represent. This year’s programme provided an abundance of forward thinking and reaffirmed that the PCA and its members set the standard when tackling moisture in buildings.
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