Let's Talk Ideas

Welcome back to Let's Talk Ideas.

This is the second part to our two part series where we are joined by Imran Mubeen to talk about how the social housing sector could finance it's mission into the future.

If you haven't already, we highly recommend you listen to the first part of the discussion here as it provides a lot of context for what is included in this episode.

Again, if you would like to connect with Imran check out the links below:

• ⁠Newbridge's Website⁠

• ⁠Imran's LinkedIn⁠

  Imran's email & contact number:

  e: [email protected] m: 077 11221464 

Resources mentioned:

• Lloyds white paper ⁠Building futures: A new era of investment in social housing⁠ 

• JP Spencer (Director of Devolution Policy, Labour Together) ⁠https://www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/nation-rebalanced⁠  

• Tracey Harrison (CEO, Northern Housing Consortium) See: ⁠https://redbrickblog.co.uk/2025/04/10-year-plan-devolution/⁠ 

• Atrato Renewables: ⁠https://roofenergy.uk/⁠ 

Welcome back to Let's Talk Ideas.

In this episode we are joined by Imran Mubeen, Director at Newbridge Advisors, who specialise in the areas of corporate finance, treasury and sustainable finance.

Today we talk about how the social housing sector could finance it's mission into the future. How could funding models potentially change to better serve the missions of the sector and how could innovative solutions like mergers unlock financial capacity to help deliver within our ever turbulent economical and governmental landscape.

If you would like to connect with Imran check out the links below:

Resources mentioned:

• Lloyds white paper Building futures: A new era of investment in social housing 

• JP Spencer (Director of Devolution Policy, Labour Together) https://www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/nation-rebalanced  

• Tracey Harrison (CEO, Northern Housing Consortium) See: https://redbrickblog.co.uk/2025/04/10-year-plan-devolution/ 

• Atrato Renewables: https://roofenergy.uk/ 

Welcome back to Let's Talk Ideas.

In this episode we are joined by Tom Fenton, CEO of Senze, a company that has created a ground breaking measurement and analysis tool for the built environment, aiming to revolutionise housing retrofit and aid in the journey towards net zero.

Bromford and now Bromford Flagship have worked with Senze on pilots that use their technology in collaboration with a major uk bank and this episode discusses all of the thinking behind this kind of data collection and what it could mean for the future of asset management and energy solutions within housing and beyond.

If you'd like to follow up with Tom you can visit:

www.senze.co.uk

or contact

[email protected]

Welcome back to Let's Talk Ideas.

In this episode we are joined by Geoff Smith, entrepreneurial non-executive business director and key player in the post-covid revival of Gloucester Brewery.

Geoff has previously joined us on one of our place webinars explaining how this project was undertaken and why, but today we dive deeper into Gloucester Brewery's direct impact and influence on it's surrounding community and what that could mean in the context of the wider private sector.

We can't recommend enough the list of resources below that were mentioned at various points in the podcast:

• Gloucester Brewery Website
• Kai Reeves - Gloucester Brewery
• Nikki Budding – Sponsorship and Business Engagement Officer, Hartpury University and Hartpury College
• Samanthan Pennington – Practice Director, Tayntons Solicitors
• Talitha Nelson – CEO, Gloucestershire Community Foundation
• Julie Kent MBE – Vice Chair Pied Piper Appeal, Founder of Emilys Gift, Public Speaker and next High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
• Greg Pilley – Managing Director, Stroud Brewery
• Claire Cheal – Operations Manager – Chrurchdown Community Centre
• Made in Gloucester – Book with photography by Carmel King and text by Josephine Murray ISBN9781068739606, features the likes of Gloucester Brewery, Walls, Janes Pantry, T Neilson etc.

If you'd like to follow up with Geoff you can go to:

His Linkedin

His Website

Welcome back to Let's Talk Ideas.

In this episode we are joined by Dan Gregory and Oliver Holtaway, co-founders of social infrastructure practice Popular.

Today we talk about social capital and infrastructure, which speaks to the networks of relationships among people who live and work in a particular place and the essential facilities, services, and spaces that support social well-being and community development.

We can't recommend enough the list of resources below that were mentioned at various points in the podcast:

• Dan Gregory's paper - Skittled Out: The collapse and revival of England’s social infrastructure
• New Social Spaces in Stir to Action
• Dan giving evidence to APPG on ‘Left behind’ neighbourhoods
• 99% Invisible podcast: Palaces for the People
• Social Capital 2025: The Hidden Wealth of Nations by Andy Haldane and David Halpern

• Britain’s Lost Spaces
• Camerados and Public Living Rooms
• Onward’s landmark research report: The State of our Social Fabric

If you'd like to follow up with Dan or Oliver you can go to:

www.popular.org.uk

Dan's LinkedIn

Oliver's LinkedIn

Local Trust

Welcome back to Let's Talk Ideas.

This is part 2 of our discussion with Mike Dawson and Toby Savage, discussing the devolution white paper, 'power & partnership' that was released by the government just before Christmas.

We highly recommend you go and listen to part 1 before listening to this episode, as it provides important context to the imminent government reforms.

In part 2 we discuss the establishment of strategic authorities and their role in local government.

Don't forget, you can ⁠connect with Mike through his Bromford email, [email protected], and Toby through his LinkedIn handle⁠here.⁠

You can also read more about the white paper ⁠here.

Welcome to Season 4 of Let's Talk Ideas.

In this episode we are joined by Mike Dawson, recently retired executive of Tewkesbury Borough council with around 50 years of local government experience and Toby Savage, previous leader of South Gloucestershire council and previous committee member of the mayoral authority for West of England combined authority.

Today's episode will be the first part of our two part discussion around the recently published devolution white paper, 'power & partnership'. We will talk implications, wider impact and the significant changes to the wider organisational structure of councils across England.

You can ⁠connect with Mike through his Bromford email, [email protected], and Toby through his LinkedIn handlehere.

You can also read more about the white paperhere.

Taps Mtemachani is Director of Transformation and Partnership for NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB).  A significant part of his role is building relationships and innovative strategic partnerships within and beyond the Black Country.

Taps is known for his radical thinking and ideas, and in this episode he shares his perspective on the healthcare challenges the NHS and UK has to address. He also talks about the link between health and housing and offers practical advice on where we need to start.

You can connect with Taps on Linkedin and find links to many of the initiatives he talks about here.

In this episode we talk to Rob Rowlands and Andy Wright about the value and challenges of having meaningful community conversations, the benefits they can bring and the tools that can assist in enhancing them.

How can AI help in community conversations? Should we have a Community Curiosity Fund? And what is the harm in trying something completely different?

Rob and Andy have joined forces in a new venture Engaging 4Thought which combines their track record in consultation, research and leadership coaching to deliver effective engagement and embed critical skills and confidence within your organisation for long term benefit.

You can connect with both Rob and Andy on LinkedIn.

Please also subscribe to our YouTube channel. 

In this episode we are joined by Tom Knox, who is a Netherlands based solicitor and consultant whose knowledge bridges the best of Dutch and UK Housing expertise.

He’s the founder of One Future Consultants who are committed to creating a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and helps to improve the quality of affordable housing across the UK and the Netherlands. He is also a contributing solicitor at a leading Legal 500 law firm in the UK social housing sector, MSB Solicitors.

Tom talks with Paul Taylor about the differences between Dutch and English culture, how to have more direct conversations, and the need for us to engage differently to think about tomorrow today.

You can connect with Tom on LinkedIn and find out more here about One Future Consultants.

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