Business Plan 2004-09: Looking to the Future

Executive Summary Background & History The World We Work In Our Customers Looking to the Future Going Forward Financial Projections

As part of the business planning process Innisfree has analysed its position within the social housing market place. This exercise has identified the following issues.

What is special and distinctive about Innisfree?

Innisfree's Irishness.
Innisfree is the only Irish led, general needs social housing provider in London concentrating exclusively on the Greater London area.
Innisfree's style of working is based on co-operation, openness and trust.
Staff and tenant expectations of high standards in conduct, behaviour and performance.
Innisfree's non-political, non-religious focus.

Key Strengths:

Good relationship with tenants and customers.
Good relationship with funders and regulators.
Well regarded by partners and stakeholders.
Consistently high ratings from Housing Corporation
High demand for its services.
Strong Board with a range of skills and expertise.
Committed and competent staff team.
Small, flexible and responsive organisation.
Responds positively to change in innovative ways.
Strong balance sheet.

Key Challenges:

The environment in which Innisfree operates is constantly changing. Innisfree recognises that it will need to anticipate and respond to such changes to build on its position and past success.

Some of these challenges include:

Pressure to keep costs and rents down.
Meeting the ever increasing expectations of tenants.
Addressing the problems of anti-social behaviour
Scarcity of suitable land and sites for development at affordable prices.
A reduction in the number of associations approved by the Housing Corporation for development funding
Increasingly complex legislation.
Frequent changes in legislation

Key Opportunities for Innisfree:

There continues to be a demand from mainstream housing associations and other partners to work with Innisfree on new developments and projects. Innisfree believes that this will continue notwithstanding the Housing Corporation's focus on fewer, developing associations. These opportunities have arisen as a result of Innisfree's:

Good reputation and high profile within the social housing sector and the Irish movement.
Strong connections and relationships with the boroughs in which it works.
Positive approach to working in partnership.
Well respected position within the Irish community.
Continually improving performance.