CHP

Huge congratulations to Gill Adkins, we couldn't be more proud 🏆

We are pleased to announce that we have finalised a £150m private placement with five investors across the UK and North America. This deal will help us provide more much-needed, warm, safe, and affordable homes for local people. The transaction used our sustainable finance framework, which was established in 2022, with proceeds allocated to a mixture of eligible social and environmental projects. Neil Perrins, CHP’s Chief Financial Officer, said: “I am delighted with this transaction, which adds new relationships to the long-term funding of our development and investment programmes. While many housing associations have scaled back on their development aspirations, we remain committed to an ambitious housebuilding programme to help address the housing crisis, alongside investing in our existing homes. We want to build homes that are not only affordable and energy-efficient but, crucially, that people want to live in too. I’m particularly pleased with both the professional support we had through the process and that the transaction was more than nine times oversubscribed than our original requirement - reflecting the clarity and strength of the CHP story”. The transaction was supported by Lloyds Banking Group, NabSecurities LLC (Joint Placement Agents), Newbridge Advisors LLP (Advisor), Devonshires (Issuers Counsel) and Pinsent Masons (Investor Counsel). 

Thanks, Barclays Corporate Banking for sharing this and highlighting our retrofit programme and its challenges. By working with Switchee we're able to collect and analyse real-time data on home performance through smart thermostats. This intelligence means we're not only able to ensure our homes are warm and energy efficient but also crucially provide extra support for customers when and where they need it. 

We partner with Alertacall Ltd. to ensure that our customers in sheltered housing have access to human contact 365 days a year. This year, Alertacall committed to planting a tree for every customer using the service, and they've planted 926 trees in the Lake District to represent our customers. You can find out more on YouTube here - https://lnkd.in/e5X-DtJC

We had a really successful night last night at the Essex Housing Awards ceremony. We’re grateful that we were able to be involved in a night which recognises high quality services and individuals from all around Essex. 🏆Rosie O’Neill, our Trainee Wet Trade Painter, won the Mo Slade Rising Star Award for constantly showing that she’s hard working, keen to learn and progress. She’s always polite, receiving compliments from both customers and colleagues alike with her college also commenting on her dedication. Rosie goes above and beyond her work, volunteering for community events, advocating for women in construction and promoting diversity and inclusion within the industry. 🏆Vikki Barnes, our Development Manager (New Homes), was highly commended in the Housing and Development Professional of the Year Award. Vikki was recognised by the judges for her practical expertise in housing, including development, building contracts, and defects management, made her a standout nominee. Her commitment to excellence and her role as a mentor and role model for colleagues exemplify the values we uphold at CHP. 🏆Our development in Brierley Paddocks, West Mersea, was highly commended in the Medium Housing Schemes category. This category recognises medium developments which make a significant contribution to meeting housing needs while improving the image and perception of housing in Essex. Thank you to the judges for recognising these homes, which were our first in Mersea and addressed the housing needs in the area. 🏆CHP was highly commended in the Meeting Housing Need category. This category acknowledges efforts that tackle challenges like homelessness and fuel poverty, focusing on impactful outcomes and collaborative approaches. We’re over the moon to be recognised in this important area and extend our thanks to every colleague across our organisation. Their hard work and dedication are integral to this achievement, as each team member’s contributions help us better serve our communities and make a tangible difference in people’s lives. We’re incredibly proud of Rosie, Vikki, and all our colleagues for their hard work and passion. Also, a big well done to everyone else who won or was shortlisted in their category.

Three more 3 bedroom houses & one 4 bedroom house completed at the Barbrook Lane development in Tiptree, Essex. Not only are these properties aesthetically pleasing but also energy-efficient and built to the highest quality standards benefitting from in-roof solar panels with full infrastructure for the future installation of an electric vehicle charging point. Again, great collaborative partnership working between CHP, Bloor Homes, Oxbury Chartered Surveyors, Birketts LLP & Gowling WLG providing safe, quality affordable housing for families and individuals within the Colchester district. #affordablehousing #affordablehomes #socialhousing #newbuild #newbuildhomes #pvpanels #solarpanels #renewableenergy #energyefficienthousing #sustainablehomes #housingcrisis #housingforall #ukhousing #essex

We’re pleased to share S&P Global Ratings has affirmed our credit rating at A- (stable) in our annual review, following their outlook revision to stable in October 2023.   A strong and constant credit rating provides lenders and investors with a level of assurance regarding our operational and financial performance, as well as the future direction of our business. We are two years into our current Corporate Strategy and remain committed to our track record of providing warm, safe, and affordable homes to our customers across Essex. By working with key strategic partners such as M&G and LGAH, our strategy results in more homes being built within our communities, but slows the pace of growth on our balance sheet, improving financial metrics for debt and interest cover.   Paul Edwards, Chief Executive, said: “This is fantastic news for CHP as a business and the customers we support. An A- (stable) rating supports our plans to push forward with our current strategy and acknowledges the progress we’ve made over the last 12 months despite a tough economic environment. As many other housing associations pull back from investing in new homes in Essex, our strategy is to work together with trusted partners to solve the housing crisis. This means we remain well-placed to continue providing great homes and services for our customers and communities across Essex.”

A huge well done to Gill Adkins, our Head of Customer Resolution and Insights, for being shortlisted for the Accomplished Leader award at the 2024 CCA Women in Leadership Awards. We think Gill is brilliant and we're pleased that the judges have recognised her amazing contribution to our team, our business and crucially our customers.    Well done and good luck to everybody else who was also shortlisted for an award.

We’re proud to share that we've retained our accreditation from the Housing Quality Network (HQN) following an annual assessment. The HQN scheme recognises repairs and maintenance teams that exceed good practice standards and offer a best-in-class service to customers.  We were one of the first housing providers to be awarded HQN accreditation in 2011 and we gained accreditation for the fifth time this year. Every three years we’re required to make a submission to renew our accreditation and retain the award. The HQN carries out an annual inspection to ensure organisations are maintaining their accreditation standards. The assessment process is long and involves help from all colleagues around the business, as well as a panel of ourcustomers.  In our recent assessment, HQN noted how our strengths far outweigh the weaknesses in all areas. They also commented on how we have a skilled and experienced leadership and management team in place, and professional staff who are all extremely knowledgeable.  The assessor’s report includes a list of recommendations that will help us to improve in the future. Some of these includes adopting or developing new IT systems, such as looking an app for customers to book and change appointments.  Gavin Page, Head of Operations said: “We’re delighted to have successfully retained our HQN accreditation for another year. A huge thank you to everyone who worked hard to keep our standards high and help us achieve this. It really shows our ongoing commitment to our customers, employees, and good practices.” 

We’re delighted to have resecured, via competitive tender, CHP’s Heating Servicing, Maintenance and Repairs Contract, for a further 6+1-year term. Rob Wood, CHP’s Head of Strategic Asset Management said: “We have worked successfully with Aaron Services over a number of years and are pleased to continue this partnership. We own and manage over 11,700 homes across Essex and the Aaron Services team plays an important role in helping us to keep them safe and well maintained”. David Lummis, Managing Director of Aaron Services said: “Our contractual relationship with CHP, their residents, and local community has been long standing and strong. Working to a partnership model has enabled us to fully support their contract, not only keeping residents safe by delivering their heating servicing, maintenance, and repairs work - but also investing heavily in their local community. We very much look forward to developing this model further over the extended period.” #TeamSureserve #NewContract #Partnership