Sovereign Network Group (SNG) and Riskhub Assets Service Case Study - November 2022

Sovereign Network Group (SNG), a G15 member, emerged from the merger of Sovereign and Network Homes in October 2023. Managing over 82,000 homes and investments across London and the South of England, SNG faces the challenge of complying with updated Fire Safety Regulations effective from January 2023. 

Our partnership with SNG, a collaboratively-minded organisation, has provided invaluable insights into the development of the Riskhub Assets Service, positioning them well for upcoming legislation enforcement.

Early Recognition and Collaboration:

SNG understood the significance of this challenge early on and has diligently worked to get ahead. Riskhub plays a pivotal role as their system for processing, storing, and managing fire risk assessment data. Laura Jones, Fire Safety Contracts Manager at SNG, expressed her approach: “We wanted to start early, recognizing the enormity of the task. We began by reconciling data related to the Act and worked with Riskhub to formulate a plan for door inspection.”

Simplicity in Action:

SNG's approach was straightforward: collect data, plan its future use, and analyse it. Laura Jones further explained, "Gathering our data early enabled us to understand the sheer scale of the task at hand, as well as giving us time to gain an understanding as to the likely challenges we were going to be faced with on an ongoing basis. Getting out and tagging our doors enabled us to budget plan."

Comprehensive Data for the Future:

A key focus for the industry is to provide a detailed audit trail, achievable only through proper data collection and storage. Laura Jones stated, "The system enables us to fully audit the action taken from the beginning, which we see as essential. The photos create an essential visual aid which is used for different purposes; and the action taken thereafter enables us to build, track, and manage programmes of works, with different teams and contractors, all from the same source of truth."

Community Communication:

Effective communication with residents is essential for success. Laura Jones emphasized, “To enable the programme to be successful, it’s important that communication with our residents is at the heart of the task. We have kept them informed throughout the journey of the implementation of Riskhub using on-site communications, email, and online newsletters. Residents understand why we are doing this task; and most importantly, what to expect from the visit.”

Challenges Ahead:

While the full scope of challenges remains uncertain until data collection is complete, Jones acknowledges, "This is still an area open for debate, but it is a real challenge Sovereign Network Group and all other landlords face. Riskhub will enable us to track all the attempts made for access; which can later be used should we need to take legal action enabling us to force entry."

Conclusion:

Sovereign Network Group values its partnership with Riskhub, emphasizing collaborative working and client-focused development. Laura Jones concludes, "The Riskhub team are committed to listening to their clients, understanding their needs and desires, and continuously working with us to enhance the system and data captured. We believe the system is dynamic and enables us to evidence the work we are doing to fulfil our obligations to the Acts." This collaborative approach ensures SNG's readiness for the evolving regulatory landscape.