That’s why our new Comms and Influencing Conference is in January – for the planners out there.

The day is designed to equip you with new knowledge, tools and inspiration so you can refresh your comms and influencing plans, and start the year with a strategic boost.

It’s perfectly timed at a key point in the run-up to the Spending Review to gain insightful political updates, from former advisors to both Labour and the Conservatives, and learn how your influencing plans can strategically support sector-wide influencing plans. We’ve all seen the impact when we speak with one voice – it led to our calls for a long-term plan for housing becoming a commitment from government. And there is even more we can achieve, together.

It's also a chance to think beyond the political to public perception, and hear from journalists at The Guardian and The Sun. Social housing is unique, and we don’t often get the chance to be in a room of specialist housing professionals to reflect on our sector narrative, and what more we can do to make the case for social housing. The conference makes space for that. To be reminded that each comms team connects and creates a powerful voice.

And, vitally, the conference will have a big focus on why we do what we do – the people, our residents. Comms teams are a vital touchpoint for residents, and with changes in regulation, this touchpoint has become increasingly important. Different organisations take slightly different approaches to communicating, so there’s lots we can learn from each other on how to be clear, inclusive and empathetic in 2025.

I’ve worked in housing comms for over eight years now and I’ve always been impressed with the humility and genuine desire for collaboration that housing comms teams have. There is no sense of competition, just a passion to learn and share to ensure we’re all doing the best we can for residents and our organisations.

I know that will be the tone of our Comms and Influencing Conference – honest, caring and open to doing things differently – and that’s the best recipe for creating a day that will have an impact for the rest of the year.