FUTURE FOUNDATIONS CONFERENCE 2026
AGENDA
Building Resilience, Innovation & Impact
Join us on Tuesday 6th October 2026 for the Future Foundations Conference being
hosted in the Premier Suite of the Bolton Wanderers Football Stadium.
Our current agenda includes:
| Date | Time | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, 5 October 2026 | 12:00 - 17:00 | Exhibitors may begin set-up from 12:00. Access will only be granted once the organisers have confirmed that the venue is ready. All exhibition stands must be fully set up by 17:00 | Premier Suite |
| 19:00 - 21:00 | Pre-Conference Exhibitors and Stakeholder Networking Event | Bolton Reflections Room Bolton Wanderers Hotel |
|
| Tuesday 6 October 2026 Conference |
07:00 | Doors Open for Exhibitors, Sponsors, Speakers & Organisers | Premier Suite |
| 8:00 | Breakfast Open | Kiosk & Catering Area | |
| 8:30 - 9:00 | Delegate Registration & Entry | Premier Suite | |
| 9:15 - 9:55 | Zone 1: Panel 1 Collab Zone open until 10:15 | Zone 1 | |
| 9:35 - 10:15 | Zone 2: Panel 1 Collab Zone open until 10:35 | Zone 2 | |
| 9:55 - 10:35 | Zone 3: Panel 1 Collab Zone open until 10:55 | Zone 3 | |
| 10:40 - 11:00 | Morning Refreshment Break | Exhibition & Catering Area | |
| 11:00 - 11:40 | Zone 1: Panel 2 Collab Zone open until 12:00 | Zone 1 | |
| 11:20 - 12:00 | Zone 2: Panel 2 Collab Zone open until 12:20 | Zone 2 | |
| 11:40 - 12:20 | Zone 3: Panel 2 Collab Zone open until 12:40 | Zone 3 | |
| 12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch Break | Exhibition & Catering Area | |
| 13:30 - 14:10 | Zone 1: Panel 3 Collab Zone open until 14:30 | Zone 1 | |
| 13:50 - 14:30 | Zone 2: Panel 3 Collab Zone open until 14:50 | Zone 2 | |
| 14:10 - 14:50 | Zone 3: Panel 3 Collab Zone open until 15:10 | Zone 3 | |
| 15:00 - 15:20 | Afternoon Refreshment Break | Exhibition & Catering Area | |
| 15:20 - 16:00 | Zone 1: Panel 4 Collab Zone open until 16:20 | Zone 1 | |
| 15:40 - 16:20 | Zone 2: Panel 4 Collab Zone open until 16:40 | Zone 2 | |
| 16:00 - 16:40 | Zone 3: Panel 4 Collab Zone open until 17:00 | Zone 3 | |
| 17:00 - 17:30 | Conference Closing & Departure | Premier Suite | |
| 17:30 - 00:00 | Exhibition Breakdown | Premier Suite | |
| Tuesday 6 October 2026 Awards |
18:30 - 19:30 | Awards Dinner Drinks Reception | Club McGinlays |
| 19:30 - 00:00 | Awards Dinner and Ceremony | Lion of Vienna |
|
Date |
Time |
Activity |
Location |
|
Monday, 5 October 2026 |
12:00 - 17:00 |
Exhibitors may begin set-up from 12:00. Access will only be granted once the organisers have confirmed that the venue is ready. All exhibition stands must be fully set up by 17:00 |
Premier Suite |
|
19:00 - 21:00 |
Pre-Conference Exhibitors and Stakeholder Networking Event |
Bolton Reflections Room |
|
|
Tuesday 6 October 2026 Conference |
07:00 |
Doors Open for Exhibitors, Sponsors, Speakers & Organisers |
Premier Suite |
|
8:00 |
Breakfast Open |
Kiosk & Catering Area |
|
|
8:30 – 9:00 |
Delegate Registration & Entry |
Premier Suite |
|
|
9:15 - 9:55 |
Zone 1: Panel 1 Collab Zone open until 10:15 |
Zone 1 |
|
|
9:35 - 10:15 |
Zone 2: Panel 1 Collab Zone open until 10:35 |
Zone 2 |
|
|
9:55 - 10:35 |
Zone 3: Panel 1 Collab Zone open until 10:55 |
Zone 3 |
|
|
10:40 - 11:00 |
Morning Refreshment Break |
Exhibition & Catering Area |
|
|
11:00 - 11:40 |
Zone 1: Panel 2 Collab Zone open until 12:00 |
Zone 1 |
|
|
11:20 - 12:00 |
Zone 2: Panel 2 Collab Zone open until 12:20 |
Zone 2 |
|
|
11:40 - 12:20 |
Zone 3: Panel 2 Collab Zone open until 12:40 |
Zone 3 |
|
|
12:30 - 13:30 |
Lunch Break |
Exhibition & Catering Area |
|
|
13:30 - 14:10 |
Zone 1: Panel 3 Collab Zone open until 14:30 |
Zone 1 |
|
|
13:50 - 14:30 |
Zone 2: Panel 3 Collab Zone open until 14:50 |
Zone 2 |
|
|
14:10 - 14:50 |
Zone 3: Panel 3 Collab Zone open until 15:10 |
Zone 3 |
|
|
15:00 - 15:20 |
Afternoon Refreshment Break |
Exhibition & Catering Area |
|
|
15:20 - 16:00 |
Zone 1: Panel 4 Collab Zone open until 16:20 |
Zone 1 |
|
|
15:40 - 16:20 |
Zone 2: Panel 4 Collab Zone open until 16:40 |
Zone 2 |
|
|
16:00 - 16:40 |
Zone 3: Panel 4 Collab Zone open until 17:00 |
Zone 3 |
|
|
17:00 - 17:30 |
Conference Closing & Departure |
Premier Suite |
|
|
17:30 - 00:00 |
Exhibition Breakdown |
Premier Suite |
|
|
Tuesday 6 October 2026 Awards |
18:30 - 19:30 |
Awards Dinner Drinks Reception |
Club McGinlays |
|
19:30 - 00:00 |
Awards Dinner and Ceremony |
Lion of Vienna |
Zone 1 – Governance & Resilience Hub
A zone focused on the leadership challenges facing housing providers, particularly boards and executive teams navigating a more demanding regulatory, financial and reputational environment. Issues such as Awaab’s Law, damp & mould compliance, consumer standards and resident safety expectations are placing increasing scrutiny on governance, culture and accountability at board level.
Panel 1 – Awaab’s Law – one year on: what providers need to know next
A panel looking back at the first 12 months of Awaab’s Law in practice, what has changed and where providers are still facing challenges. The discussion would also look ahead to the implications of Phase 2 and 3, and what organisations need to be preparing for now in terms of compliance, operations and culture.
Panel 2 – Future proofing social housing for an ageing Britain
A significant demographic shift has been taking place across the UK. People are living longer, more often, and the housing system needs to be prepared for oncoming change. Old age brings with it a number of additional needs and required support, and without action being taken today, the social housing sector risks being left unprepared to care for the population of tomorrow.
Panel 3 – Funding the future – innovation within finance
Social housing providers are finding themselves under more and more pressure in terms of resources, as rising industry standards and scrutiny compounds with external economic turbulence. The need for more social homes is paramount, but just as important is the maintenance and improvements of the UK’s current housing stock, the oldest in Europe. Panellists will discuss innovative practices within the finance department that can unlock further opportunities, and free up the resources needed to provide a high-quality service sustainably.
Panel 4 -Beyond compliance- social purpose under pressure
How social housing providers can ensure that compliance is treated as the floor rather than the ceiling- going above and beyond in order to ensure social value is embedded within their homes from the ground up.
Zone 2- Tech, data and innovation
Panel 1 – The SME advantage — Why the Best Tech for Housing Might Not Be the Biggest Name
A panel discussing the advantages of engaging with smaller, purpose-built SME’s rather than relying solely on established vendors who may be seen as more “safe”. Specialist SME’s bring agility, depth and responsiveness that in many cases can be missing with larger solutions, able to secure a genuine partnership. The panel will include stories from housing providers who have had positive experiences taking a risk with smaller service providers, and SME’s who can speak to what genuine partnership looks like as well as procurement specialists.
Panel 2: Stop Piloting, Start Doing — AI, IoT and Visualisation
Delving into the common phenomenon of “pilot paralysis” in the social housing sector, and asking why so many organisations seem unwilling to pull the trigger on technologies that have yielded positive results in the test phase. The panel will be framed around specific use cases that are genuinely mature, predictive repairs, energy monitoring, tenancy sustainment analytics, and ask whether the sector is losing out on innovative solutions due a risk-averse culture.
Panel 3: The Human Factor — Technology That Frees Your People Rather Than Replaces Them
Especially relevant to the fears surrounding widespread AI uptake, this panel would focus on the potential for AI to optimise human connection in social housing rather than replace it. Discussions will centre around the way that AI can free professionals from time-consuming tasks and allow them to prioritise resident-facing work that relies on human judgement.
Panel 4: Your Data Is the Problem — And You Already Know It
Discussing the elephant in the room when it comes to transformation ambitions in the sector, this panel will directly discuss the common data problems that underpin AI, analytics, and integration projects that underdeliver. The panel will delve into what good looks like, how organisations have tackled it, and what you can actually start doing now rather than waiting for a perfect data estate that will never arrive.
Zone 3 – People, Homes & Communities Forum
Discussion focused around the human elements of the sector, how social housing providers can continue to not only provide homes for those in need, but ensure the lives and formed around them continue to thrive.
Panel 1 – Division today: how to cultivate communities
Social and political tension has been on the rise in the UK, with housing at the centre of many of the arguments dividing communities across the country. Social housing’s diverse resident base and social mission places providers in a unique position for communities who in many cases are experiencing the consequences of this division first hand. The panel will explore the direct impact of these cultural tensions on residents today and steps providers can take to promote pride of place and connection between residents.
Panel 2 – Homelessness in 2026 – why prevention must come first
A panel focused on the success of the housing first strategy abroad and in a pilot capacity in the UK, with an insight into how the homelessness crisis has grown to the severity it has today. The talk will seek to challenge our current ideas surrounding homelessness and how to reduce it, and analyse key examples of rapid reductions in homelessness from both the UK and around the world.
Panel 3 – The resident’s perspective- how do we rebuild trust?
A talk led by social housing residents, discussing their experiences as a social housing tenant and building an open dialogue between residents and providers aimed at rebuilding trust between tenants and the professionals who govern their homes. Nic Bliss, Campaign Director of Stop Social Housing Stigma will be joined on stage by social housing residents , with discussions focusing on common miscommunications and points of tension between tenants and their landlords, and how these issues can be embedded and overcome culturally within associations.
Panel 4 – The skills gap- building the workforce of tomorrow
A conversation focused on the growing pressure of the construction skills gap, and a realistic analysis of the obstacle it poses to turning the tide on our housing crisis. Housing development will not increase by the scale we need without a healthy flow of professionals, and encouraging and retaining new talent is a priority in order to turn the tide on the housing crisis.
