HBF Future Talent Conference 2019

HBF Future Talent Conference 2019

RECORD SELL OUT!

The HBF Future Talent Conference brought together trainees, graduates and apprentices with ambition and aspiration to progress their careers within the housebuilding industry.

The interactive conference programme also included workshops, aimed at providing insight into the main issues and changes for the industry from a national perspective, to enhance the delegates’ knowledge and understanding as they develop their careers. Workshop topics included modern methods of construction and reputation and communication.

Delegates were also assigned separate group projects with the goal of finding solutions across a number of issues facing the sector. These included how to provide effective career advice to FE college construction students, and what messages to use to attract more diversity.

Quality is one of the biggest challenges the industry currently faces, according to Jennie Daly, Taylor Wimpey’s group operations director.

Speaking at the conference in Bedfordshire, Daly said that housebuilders’ customer relationships had suffered, partly as a result of the industry “chasing land during the difficult years”.

Political and public perceptions of the industry were a significant hurdle for the sector to overcome, Daly indicated. “As a sector we’ve managed to accumulate a list of negatives. When the prime minister says that builders don’t meet their promises and that’s replicated across the broadsheets, that’s not good for the industry.” She highlighted the dangers of “the industry having a certain level of governance”, with the presence of various initiatives.

Daly spoke about ethical corporate behaviour – not “a term you would have heard in housebuilding 15 years ago. Back then it would have been about the pressure to acquire land.” She stressed the need for the industry to differentiate in what it offers customers.

And – offering graduate delegates some advice in their future careers – Daly, who also detailed her career trajectory, said that a career should be flexible and “keep pace with your life. There are times when you should consolidate and other times when you need to quicken the pace.” She gave an example in her own life of wishing to marry and not wanting to “move on” during this particular life stage.

She said: “I always felt when I was young and listening to people talking about their careers that it all sounded so organised and planned. I don’t think I’ve made my career sound organised or planned. Life gets in the way.” Daly’s CV includes roles at Redrow and Harrow Estates.

The winning team from the group tasks were team nine, who were tasked with finding a solution to delivering effective career advice on home building roles for FE college construction students.