When did the annual Housing event become a trade show?

I, like many others, attended #Housing24 last week, and for me it was time well spent.

Not only is it a great opportunity to meet old friends from the sector but also the chance to meet some new faces and tech company entrants into the sector. It’s also the chance for many to have a little fun both in the event hall and at the social events after the doors shut. On that note, a big thanks goes to Voicescape and Switchee . Gerry Kelly of OptusApp was my buddy for the night and as always I welcome his company and chat, especially on Rugby. An irishman and a Scotsman - What could possibly go wrong.

Well, nothing did go wrong. In fact, it was a lovely evening enjoying some great company, having a drink and watching a very boring England game. I guess that was outwith the control of our hosts.

Back to the event. I personally go for two main reasons. One was mentioned above and that is to network with the many attending professionals to find out what they are doing, what they are seeing and what excites them about tech in housing. It's not just about technology though. I also look to learn about many other things going on, especially policy, strategy and the many initiatives landlords are undertaking. The surprise session for me was on refugees and the housing crisis.

So, what did I think of the event? It did indeed prove worth it for the reasons above.

I couldn't meet everyone I wanted to, but did meet many, too many to list in this article. Some however, are getting a quick mention.

I have a lot of time for Matt Baird a recruitment specialist in the sector who also happens to host the fantastic The Social Housing Round Table . He's a great example of someone who truly cares, who regularly brings experts together to talk about everything from fire safety to data, and from customer experience to suicide.

I had a great chat with Simon Reay , an innovator who has disrupted the sector with his Rubixx Housing and Accounts cloud based solution. Thanks Simon. As always, a laugh, but at the same time informative.

Another innovator I seemed to bump into a fair bit was Ryan Dempsey FIET the founder and managing director of TCW , the Compliance Workbook. I like what Ryan is doing. He is literally changing the way landlords manage compliance in an extremely positive way.

There was another more devious side to our chat's and that was to formulate a strategy to sabotage our dear friend Stewart Davison MSc and his day use of a mobility scooter. Seeing the speedster slowly driving up and down the aisles in his scooter, not only seeing how difficult it can be for folks that do that all the time, but also we would have thought getting a speeding ticket...NOT. I did ask if his moon boot was for real but there was no proof. Has he invented the best marketing trick of them all? I fear not, as his serious post about how difficult it was can be seen here.

Overall, I was not impressed with one thing and that is for me it was saturated with too many suppliers of all sorts. Crammed into the far end of the hall many suppliers were competing for interest. It just seemed to me more like a trade show and for ocean media to get as much bang for their own buck. I am happy to be corrected on this.

Would there be a better solution to have a separate trade show where those who really want to get quality time from landlords and not be lost in a mass of little booths with the multiple squeezy homes, pens and notepads as enticers. I am not having a go at the suppliers, far from it. I just don't see how they get value for money. Especially so when we now have a separate show, sorry, event in the autumn with the CIH and NHF The Housing Community Summit hosting more opportunities for suppliers. How do you chose? What event is going to come out on top? Is there space

I also had an issue in listening to the fringe events with folks downing drinks rather loudly at the Social Telecoms stand. I love what Social Telecoms do and the fun theu bring to the stand but have some respect organisers for those listening to the fringe talks, many inspiring and informative. There was also the opposite issue in a way with my not being able to concentrate on my discussion with HACT on their stand due to piano playing and an over enthusiastic volume level from the fringe.

As I say, its all about respect in planning.

Other highlights of a more light hearted nature were:

Mark Holdsworth breaking a deck chair. Nothing to do with the result of the England game.

Finding Aidan Dunphy crouched over a bin eating a sandwich before hitting the Switchee event. (Disclaimer - Sounds much worse than it actually was).

My annual trip to the Britons Protection where I unexpectedly (not) bumped into Tony Smith ThatHousingITGuy BSc(Hons) ACIH as I chatted to my old friend Gary Hind .

My heart to heart with David Hendry of Data Protection People . We have both been through the mill and always love chatting to him. Thanks mate.

Whacking Colin Sales with a stress ball as I tried my arm at fast bowling in the aisles (after hours).

So,

Will I be back next year?

Will I go to The Housing Community Summit instead?

Will I go to both? Who knows. Lets see.

Side note: Lets be having more chairs to sit at for coffee, networking etc.