Investors in Excellence welcomes government report on social housing

A government report which aims to give social housing providers the freedom to self regulate has been welcomed today (20 October) by Midlands-based Investors in Excellence, one of the UK’s leading providers of assessment services and performance improvement tools for business.

Published this week by the Department of Communities and Local Government, the ‘Review of Social Housing Legislation’ is part of the government’s overall strategy to reduce costs and increase efficiencies in the public sector.

As well as looking at ways of cutting unnecessary regulation and inspection, the report actively supports a move towards co-regulation and self assessment – something which Investors in Excellence has been championing for over five years.

“In a world full of red tape, this report is a welcome breath of fresh air and treats housing providers as mature organisations who want to take a proactive approach to customer service and value for money,” said Julian Beaney, head of performance solutions at Investors in Excellence.

“We’ve long held the belief that the fundamental responsibility for effective service delivery in the housing sector lies with landlords and their tenants and not a regulatory framework. It is time that housing organisations, like private businesses, are given the opportunity to unlock their potential away from the madness of inspection preparation.”

Not for profit and independent, Investors in Excellence is currently working with over 80 housing organisations across England. As well as practical advice in terms of self assessment and benchmarking, the organisation offers the only nationally recognised framework for measuring, achieving and celebrating excellence – The Investors In Excellence Standard.

Through self assessment, the Standard enables companies to develop a continuous improvement culture and a recent independent study into the use of the Investors in Excellence Standard across a range of businesses demonstrated a 19:1 return on investment, as well as measurable customer and performance improvement changes.

Mr Beaney continued: “Honest and robust self assessment of performance works best when it is independent from a regulatory system. Those housing organisations that are already using the Investors in Excellence standard for this purpose have got tremendous benefit from being able to use a standard that not only gives regulators and funders confidence, but also acts as a framework to drive improved customer focus and value for money services.”

For more information on Investors in Excellence please call 01675 460997 or email: iie@investorsinexcellence.org