Housing Cymru Conference – Andrew Hutchins Managing Director

July 9th, 2026

It was a pleasure to speak at this year’s Housing Cymru Conference in Cardiff.

One of the key messages I shared was that the biggest risk to delivering our housing ambitions wasn’t 12 or 18 months away—it was already here.

The skills crisis was no longer a future challenge; it had become a current reality. Across housing, construction, retrofit and maintenance, organisations were struggling to find the people needed to deliver the homes, services and sustainability commitments our communities depend on.

The conversation needed to move beyond simply recognising the problem and focus on building practical solutions—attracting new talent, developing existing teams and creating a workforce fit for the future.

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to the discussions and shared their perspectives. It was a fantastic opportunity to challenge the status quo, exchange ideas and explore what meaningful action looks like with leaders from across the sector.