Updates from CHIC
Welcome to the team
We are delighted to welcome several new colleagues to CHIC, with new starters joining our Procurement, Member Services and Marketing & Communications teams.
We asked our new colleagues to introduce themselves and tell us a little about their experience, their new roles and what they’re looking forward to at CHIC.
Please join us in giving Shazad, Evan, Joshua, Josh, Tom and Millie a very warm welcome to the team!
Procurement Team
Shazad Iqbal
“I’m Shazad and I am proud to say that I recently joined CHIC as a Procurement Officer. I bring over 5 years of experience in the leisure industry, most recently working as a Duty Manager, where I had the opportunity to see first-hand how services can improve people’s quality of life. My experience includes operations management, achieving sales targets to drive club growth, purchasing, and stakeholder management. I look forward to delivering excellent procurement services for our members and working closely with colleagues to support innovation, efficiency, and growth”.
Evan Little
I’m Evan and I’ve joined CHIC as a Procurement Officer. I’m new to procurement but have knowledge of the construction industry. I’ve mainly worked in hospitality management before – so I am excited to progress into a professional career with CHIC!
Joshua Bough
I am Joshua and I have recently joined CHIC as a Procurement Officer. Before this I worked for 3.5 years at Birmingham City Council as procurement apprentice and acting up as a procurement officer, mainly focusing on procurement projects in the environmental services category (waste, parks, clean air zone, etc.). Through my apprenticeship I have obtained a Level 4 CIPS qualification. I am excited to have joined CHIC’s procurement team and look forward to supporting the delivery of procurement projects to fulfil our member’s requirements.
Member Services Team
Josh Fleet
I’m Josh and I have recently joined CHIC as Member Services Manager (Maternity Cover), on secondment from ARK Consultancy, where I have worked for almost 2 years. At ARK, I worked as a Graduate Data Analyst, supporting a range of projects delivered across the social housing sector, and using data analysis and reporting models to help housing providers better understand their assets and performance. In my new role, I will be working across CHIC’s Member Services and Strategic Services teams, supporting the delivery of projects and services for our members. I’m excited to be joining CHIC, broaden my experience within the sector and build strong relationships with colleagues and members.
Tom Law
I’m Tom and I have recently joined CHIC as a Member Services Co-ordinator. I’m bringing with me over 10 years of customer service experience & 5 years of experience within the manufacturing sector. Prior to joining CHIC, I worked at DS Smith where I was responsible for managing key customer relationships, coordinating requirements and ensuring a high standard of service delivery from start to finish. I’m delighted to be joining CHIC and can’t wait to grow within my role, contribute to the organisation’s success, and use my experience to provide excellent support to our members.
Marketing & Communications Team
Millie O’Mahony
I’m Millie and I’ve recently joined CHIC as an Administration and Communications Executive. I bring over three years of administrative experience, having previously worked for Aspire Energy Solutions, where I managed communications with customers throughout the process of funded boiler upgrades, insulation, and ventilation grants. I’m excited to be joining the CHIC Marketing Team and look forward to supporting our teams.
Our Latest Framework Introduction Video
Merchants Framework
In our latest video, Giles introduces the new CHIC Merchants Framework, delivered in collaboration with Efficiency North. He explains how the framework has been shaped around members’ needs, the range of merchant services and materials available, and the flexibility it offers across repairs, maintenance, investment and retrofit programmes. You will also hear about the ongoing support available from CHIC, from selecting the right route through the framework to supplier relationship management, reporting and catalogue management.
This Month’s Housing Update
New STAIRs Requirements Strengthen Social Housing Transparency
The Housing Ombudsman published its revised Scheme on 30th July ahead of the introduction of the Social Tenant Access to Information Requirements (STAIRs). From 1st October 2026, private registered providers will be required to proactively publish information covering areas including how their organisation is run and spends money, the homes they own, performance and services. From 1st April 2027, tenants will also gain the right to make direct information requests to their provider, with the Housing Ombudsman acting as the official complaints body for STAIRs.
Housing Ombudsman – STAIRs Update
Latest Building Safety Data Shows Further Progress on Social Housing Remediation
The Government’s latest building safety remediation data, published on 29th July, shows that 75% of social housing buildings with unsafe cladding where remediation is being self funded by registered providers have now started or completed works, up from 68% at the end of May. Across all monitored 11m+ residential buildings with unsafe cladding, 53% have started or completed remediation, while local authority enforcement action is being taken against 906 buildings with suspected unsafe cladding.
Building Safety Remediation – June 2026 Update
Regulator Publishes Latest Social Housing Judgements and Gradings
The Regulator of Social Housing published its latest round of regulatory judgements and gradings on 29th July. The updates form part of the Regulator’s ongoing assessment of registered providers and local authorities against its economic and consumer standards, providing the sector with further insight into expectations around governance, financial viability and delivery of landlord services.
Regulatory Judgements, Enforcement Notices and Gradings
Retrofit Funding Programme Improves Loan Terms for Housing Associations
The Housing Finance Corporation (THFC) has announced improved terms for its Retrofit Funding Programme, designed to help housing associations finance energy efficiency and decarbonisation works. Unsecured loan terms will be shortened from 15–17 years to five to seven years, while the requirement to maintain a Liquidity Reserve Fund has been removed. Backed by the National Wealth Fund, the programme launched with £150m of investment and aims to expand to £250m, supporting measures including insulation, low carbon heating, renewable energy, ventilation and heating controls. The changes are intended to make retrofit finance more accessible and cost effective for housing associations.
Retrofit programme to offer improved loan terms for housing associations