Gold rush - entries for Corporation's Gold Award competition up 50%
Housing Corporation News Release
12/12/06 Media Contact: Sandra White 0207 393 2094 Ref: 126/06
Gold rush - entries for Corporation's Gold Award competition up 50%
108 housing associations are expected to submit entries for the Housing Corporation's 2007 Gold Award competition as the closing date fast approaches. This figure is 50% up on last year.
The breakdown of bids received to date are as follows:
Environmental sustainability: 29
Empowering communities: 79
Housing associations who want to take part only have until this Friday (15th December 2006) to get their entries in.
The annual competition has received a further boost with the news that Professor David Strong, Managing Director of the Building Research Establishment - Environment, will join the competition's judging panel.
Professor Strong is a member of the CIBSE Carbon Task Group, an ex-officio member of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, and a Council member of the UK Emissions Trading Group. He is currently Chairman of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Implementation Advisory Group (DIAG).
Matt Leach, Housing Corporation Director of Policy and Communications said, "The competition continues to go from strength to strength. I am delighted that housing associations are showing such enthusiasm for the award and all that it seeks to achieve.
"The appointment of Professor Strong as our ninth judge shows how well the competition is regarded and this is a major coup for us."
Each winning association will receive a prize of £50,000 to help fund their involvement in a programme of knowledge dissemination to be coordinated by the Housing Corporation. Winners will also be entitled to display the Gold Award logo on their stationery and websites.
The Gold winners will be presented with their trophies and certificates at a ceremony in May 2007.
A dissemination brochure outlining the exciting range of interactive disseminations events which are taking place across the country is now available. The brochure profiles the current winners and forthcoming Gold Award events and activities . Copies of the brochure are available at the Corporation’s web site at www.housingcorp.gov.uk
Ends.
Notes to editors:
1. Launched in June 2005, the Gold Award competition is open to housing associations able to demonstrate outstanding performance in key areas of business. The award aims to identify and share excellence and raise operational standards for the benefit of residents across the sector.
2. The Gold Award comes under the Housing Corporation's Centre for Research and Market Intelligence (CRMI). CRMI brings together the Housing Corporation's research, data analysis and good practice schemes into one centre of expertise. It aims to make a wealth of housing information accessible to all, and develop thinking for the benefit of the housing community.
3. THE JUDGING PANEL
The Gold Award judges are appointed for their expertise and objectivity. They select the short list from all applications received and decide on the final selection of winners. The panel of judges is currently as follows:
Chair of judges
Sir Duncan Michael, Housing Corporation Board
Judges
Lord Richard Best, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
David Orr, National Housing Federation
Roy Irwin, Audit Commission
Professor David Strong, Building Research Establishment
Jon Rouse, Chief Executive, Housing Corporation
Shaukat Moledina, Deputy Chairman, Housing Corporation
Donald Hoodless, Housing Corporation Board
Julie Fawcett, Housing Corporation Board
4. The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating over 1,500 housing associations across England. Its biggest ever investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 will fund 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these will be for affordable rent, and 35,000 will be for affordable sale through the Government's new HomeBuy initiative, helping people to get a foot on the property
ladder.
