A consultants guide to Housing 2024
Ahead of Housing 2024, at Manchester Central 25 – 27 June, Tom Hargreaves, Head of Projects and Housing Lead at AG has penned his tips to making the most of the housing sector’s annual conference.
As a seasoned Housing Conference attendee, and local lad, here’s some quick tips ahead of next week:
Plan – It sounds simple, but to get the maximum out of the conference you must plan. A blend of the conference itself (panel attendance and exhibition hall), fringe and drinks events have worked well for AG over recent years with 121 coffee meetings scheduled in-between.
Make time – Don’t jam pack your schedule. One of the pleasures of the Housing Conference is bumping into people from across the industry and having impromptu conversations.
Hanging out on the square in front of the conference centre itself (Windmill Street) is a great way to bump into old connections – and get introduced to new ones.
Pace yourself – It is a whirlwind few days of breakfasts, lunches and drink receptions. Do not go too big on day one or it will be a long few days!
Good coffee – you’ll need plenty of this. The immediate venues such as Haunt and The Midland Hotel are great meeting spots, but can be busy at peak times. Instead take the short stroll across St Peters Square (watch out for the trams) and you’ll find some quieter meeting spots such as 200 Degrees Coffee or Black Sheep Coffee. For something stronger, try the Rain Bar with its fantastic outdoor seating area.
Follow up – Be sure to follow up with your new connections. Schedule time to do this following the event and carry a notebook to write down any conversations/useful points. Again, sounds obvious but easy to overlook.
Enjoy it – It’s a pleasure to spend time with clients, friends and industry colleagues discussing all things housing.
Comfort first – Remember to wear some comfy shoes as you will be on your feet all day and clock up your steps!
Pop in to see AG – Our office is in Canada House on Chepstow St, a short stroll from the conference centre itself. Drop in for brew and a chat, or even a desk to catch up on emails (yes, the emails don’t stop during the conference).
If you’re heading to Manchester Central next week, hopefully these tips help you feel more prepared, and if you’d like to meet for a coffee – get in touch.
At AG Built Environment Consultancy, we’re committed to guiding our clients through these processes with expertise and care. Need support? Get in touch for down-to-earth and commercially aware advice. Let’s talk.
