sponsor profiles - Housing Technology

14 | housing technology 2012 conference & executive forum
business & technology presentations
suite 5 | 1400
gentoo group
The importance of engaging front-line staff in
the software development process
Scott Richardson, Neighbourhood Safety
Development Manager (Streetwise),
Gentoo Group
Steve Green, Project Delivery Manager,
Gentoo Group
suite 4a | 1400
halton housing trust
From sloth to chameleon
Neil McGrath, Executive Director of Business
Services, Halton Housing Trust
Neil Higham, Director of ICT,
Halton Housing Trust
suite 1 | 1530
hastoe housing association
Show me the T in VFM!
Paul Nicholson, Head of Business Performance,
Hastoe Housing Association
suite 1 | 1145
met
Don’t ‘cloud’ the issues
Ian Vickers, Managing Director, MET
Gentoo has used front-line intelligence
to gain a competitive edge within the ICT
market. Streetwise has been developed
by in-house IT specialists together with
vital input from front-line staff.
Using this methodology, it ensures the
system meets the needs of the business
and the wider commercial social housing
market. As well as developing a product
fit for purpose, this intelligence is crucial
when developing and identifying new
development or product opportunities,
thereby adding value for end-users.
The presentation will describe the journey
of Halton Housing Trust as an LSVT from
its early days to the present, focusing
particularly on how HHT has used ICT
as an enabler to deliver its mission of
‘operating as a business with a social
conscience’.
HHT is now embarking on its latest ICT
project which is the replacement of all of
its core business applications.
Hastoe has put technology at the heart
its value for money (VFM) strategy and is
reaping some unexpected rewards. But
not everyone in Hastoe was so sure that
technology could really improve VFM.
Faced with a choice of radically
improving operating margins or cutting
an ambitious rural house-building
programme, the sceptics were won round
to the idea that IT is not just an expensive
overhead, but the IT department had to
take a long, hard look at itself first.
Security and infrastructure specialists
MET will be discussing important
considerations when moving to a cloudbased
delivery model.
Cloud computing is now a strategic
ambition within many boardrooms so
it’s imperative that you choose a partner
with specialist skills and experience for
managing and ensuring a successful
transition. Furthermore, the security and
performance of your data will become
even more critical when you have your
applications delivered by several cloud
providers.
Scott Richardson is responsible for
leading and managing all aspects of the
group’s business development within
the Neighbourhood Safety agenda. He
has over 12 years’ experience in the social
housing sector and joined Gentoo in 2005,
gathering extensive front-line experience
first as an enforcement officer and later in
a data analysis role.
Steve Green has worked in the IT sector
for over 30 years. He is from a traditional
development background and has
worked in both the public and private
sectors. He is currently responsible for
delivering all new software projects
within Gentoo Group.
Neil McGrath has spent most of his career
working in the social housing sector.
He worked for North British Housing
Association for 12 years before joining
West Pennine Housing Association in
2001 as assistant director of finance. He
joined Halton Housing Trust as director of
resources in 2005.
Neil Higham has over 25 years’ ICT
experience working in a variety of
business sectors, both commercial and
non-commercial. He moved into the
housing sector in 2005 at Northern
Counties before joining Halton Housing
Trust shortly after its transfer in 2006.
Paul Nicholson has seven years’
experience in social housing as well as
wider experience of the public and private
sectors after a spell with a business
services outsourcing company.
He is a qualified Prince 2 practitioner
with extensive experience of successfully
leading ICT and business transformation
projects.
Founder of MET and Layerseven,
Ian Vickers continually strives for
excellence and innovation and this is
reflected through MET and Layerseven’s
achievements over the years. Vickers
is fascinated by how technology can
improve businesses, health and education
and is continually looking to identify
emerging technologies that can affect
significant change.
Gentoo aims to make a positive mark
on the future by investing in people, the
planet and in property. We create bespoke
products and services that meet customer
and community aspirations and that are
sustainable in the future.
By applying innovation and creativity, we
aspire to have a tangible and positive effect
on the way people and communities live,
develop and improve.
Halton Housing Trust was formed in
December 2005 as a result of the stock
transfer of homes from Halton Borough
Council. Covering the towns of Runcorn
and Widnes, the Trust owns and manages
over 6,100 homes.
Our vision is to ‘deliver high quality and
excellent services for all’ and our mission
is to ‘operate as a business with a social
conscience’.
Hastoe is the country’s leading developer
of affordable, sustainable rural housing
across 60 different local authority areas.
Hastoe has a strong track record for
innovation that leads to more homes,
closer communities and better services.
MET specialises in ICT outsourcing,
project design and delivery, and expert
ICT advice. Established in 1998, MET has
over 13 years’ experience delivering and
supporting complex ICT projects for many
UK flagship projects such as the East
London Rail Line (Olympic 2012) and the
London underground METRONET.