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Board Accelerator Programme

Do you want to strengthen your governance at Board level?

The HDN Board Accelerator Programme equips new and existing board members with the knowledge and skills to succeed in today’s fast-moving environment. Boards now work in a time of increasing complexity and regulation, and are confronted with a multitude of new risks, challenges and trends. The need for more sophisticated board governance skills has never been greater. our programme draws on thought leadership from sector experts and leading practicing directors to give participants a deep understanding of the emerging issues that the housing sector faces

HDN’s Board Accelerator Programme is designed to increase the capability and confidence of individual board members to improve the effectiveness of your board and organisation The programme centres on practical, interactive training delivered by expert trainers with extensive board experience It is a development programme which enhances strategic thinking and examines both regulatory requirements and current and emerging challenges in the housing sector.

People often ask what is the difference between this and the Board Trainee Programme? Our response is that this programme is for existing board members and the trainee programme for aspiring board members.

Entrants to the programme can therefore be at any level of experience as a board member, from entrants to experienced chairs. The programme combines workshop sessions (both in person and virtual) with mentoring sessions. The Programme is specifically focussed on the needs of the board member and the sponsoring organisation.

I now see my role as ‘raising the red flag’. I am prepared to speak up about the elephant in the room. If you don’t do this, that is when the organisation will get into trouble.

Accredited Programme

Programme Objectives:

  • Understand what it means to be a board member in the context of the demands of the housing sector.
  • Keep up to date with good governance, strategic thinking and risk practices that are aligned to the interests of tenants and residents.
  • Appreciate what an ‘effective board’ looks like and understand how you should be adding tangible value to the organisation.
  • Receive insight into the tools and techniques used as part of a well-run board performance evaluation.
  • Broaden participant’s knowledge of the housing sector.
  • Improve participants confidence and self-awareness, as well their influence and relationship-building skills.
  • Improve participants ability to challenge and ask the right questions.
Stock image: man giving a talk on board governance

Organisation Benefits:

Staff members being htrilled by good board governance

Participating organisations derive multiple benefits from the programme. The mentoring element especially develops board members who are who are more knowledgeable, confident, effective and more diverse in their thought and contribution. Many programme participants have taken up key positions as chairs of committees, or the board itself.

Reasons to join the programme:

  • To gain confidence and understand your governance role more thoroughly.
  • To understand assurance, risk, regulation, compliance, finance, treasury, value for money, new development, board dynamics and your role more widely.
  • To meet, share experiences and learning with board governance from across the sector, and gain access to on-line additional resources.
  • To gain insight from speakers and mentors who are board members and senior staff, including input from the Regulator of Social Housing, National Housing Federation, National Federation of ALMOs and the Chartered Institute of Housing.

The programme is suitable for:

  • Board Members who are new to governance, or new to the housing sector, who want to start making an effective contribution to the running of their organisation
  • New board members who wish to rapidly get up to speed on the challenges facing the sector, how other housing associations are responding and build a network of colleagues.
  • Board members who are considering becoming chairs or deputies. The programme deepens and consolidates knowledge and and offers the opportunity to share experiences with sector leaders.

The programme includes:

  • Group workshops which focus on current issues and challenges within the regulatory, social and economic environment with speakers from across the sector
  • Personal development including assessing feedback from peers, strengthscope assessment and one-to-one coaching session at the start.
  • Tailored one-to-one mentoring sessions with a carefully matched and trained external mentor.
Mushtaq Khan, HDN CEO giving a talk on board governance
Mahara Haque
Mahara HaqueBerneslai Homes
I'm a lot more confident in my ability as a Board Member now, than I was 18 months ago when I was starting this journey. I think a massive part of that was the mentoring I had as part of the programme. My mentor was a 'rock' throughout the whole process and we still meet up, beyond the HDN programme. They've been great at helping me - by discussing issues and working through things together - they've been amazing. My Strengthscope feedback was really good and there is so much content in the programme. Overall, I've taken a lot out of the Board Accelerator Programme.

We would be happy to talk to you about the programme, to share experience and to tailor the package you need to suit your own organisation.

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