Episodes

For the final episode of this season's Raising the Roof, we got an insight into the inner workings of customer experience (CX) at Octopus Energy from Pete Miller, Co-founder and Head of Customer Experience. Pete shares how Octopus Energy has gone from a start-up challenger in the energy sector to one of the UK's most talked-about brands by putting customers at the heart of everything it does, focusing on what customers really need and making the small moments matter.

In this episode of Raising the Roof, we’re joined by Helen Bevan, a leading expert in culture change who spent years helping transform the NHS. Helen walks us through her lessons on leadership, culture and psychological safety, and explains how organisations can make change happen and make it stick. She explores why some transformation programmes succeed while others fall short, and offers insights into how we can all help create the conditions for lasting change. Credit: The three percent rule...

In this episode of Raising the Roof, we welcome back AI expert Guy Marshall PhD for a follow-up conversation on how artificial intelligence has evolved since we last spoke in 2024 and what it means for the future of work. What was once a future-looking topic has now become part of everyday life and work across sectors, including social housing. But how can organisations behind the curve catch up, and where do the responsibilities and ethics lie? Credit: Cloudflare Radar – In 2026, the number of...

Karina O’Gorman, Marks and Spencer’s Head of ESG talks us through their famous Plan A approach to sustainability, and how it helps protect their magic. We hear how it’s embedded across the business to get everyone on board (including customers), and how they cut through the noise surrounding greenwashing to do the right thing, because there is no plan B. Credits: National Audit Office: Heating the UK’s 28 million homes accounted for 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, the most rece...

Unlocking the power of data. Leanne Hurrell, Head of UK Regional Public Sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS), talks to us about breaking silos to drive outcomes for customers. The value of data is in the action, not the collection, yet how many of us are guilty of gathering information and not using it to it’s full potential?

And with guests from places like Amazon Web Services and Marks & Spencer, it's been worth the wait. Come back next week to tune in, new episodes landing each month shaping not just the housing world, but the wider world too.

In this episode of Raising the Roof, Nick speaks to leading performance psychologist Dr Rob Archer at Cognacity, who’s worked with everyone from Olympic athletes to Formula 1 teams and high-pressure boardrooms. Together they talk about how building better daily habits help people do their best work, and avoid burning out.

In this episode of Raising the Roof, Nick taps into the expertise of David Smalley, Director at Material Source. He shines a light on how workplace design has changed the way we work and collaborate. So, what do you think, is the traditional desk and office dead?

In this episode of Raising the Roof, Nick taps into the expertise of Jonathan Wilson - managing director at Citu. He shines the spotlight on how we create sustainable communities of the future that our towns and cities need if we’re serious about tackling the climate crisis! Credits: Brownfield land in the UK has the ability to deliver over a million of the homes that we've set out with our ambition as a country - CPRE report

In this episode of Raising the Roof, Nick taps into the expertise of psychotherapist and ex NHS strategist, Catherine Asta. She shares her late autism discovery and helps you master neuroinclusivity in the workplace and beyond. Credits: Only 22% of autistic people are employed - Office for National Statistics (ONS) Around one in seven people in the UK are neurodivergent - NHS Employers

To kick start season four of Raising the Roof, we're joined by Chris Pitt, chief exec of first direct! Nick and Chris get into the nitty gritty of customer service, how to empower colleagues, building emotional trust and doing the right thing for the customer.

In this episode of Raising the Roof, Nick looks into the future of housing in the North with chief exec of the Northern Housing Consortium, Tracy Harrison. They discuss government master plans, challenges, solutions and benefits of topics like new towns,

In this episode of Raising the Roof, Nick taps into the expertise of director of Agile Change Management and 10-time author, Melanie Franklin. Melanie shares tips, tricks, and potential hazards to watch out for, to help you master successful change manage

In this episode of Raising the Roof, we're joined by Guy Marshall, Chief Technology Officer and Director at PorthouseDean. Nick and Guy get into the nitty gritty of AI in business, including the role it can play in the housing sector, the risks, and its i

In this episode of Raising the Roof we’re joined by Jan Rosenow, ranked among the world's top 25 influencers in renewables in the future of energy! Nick and Jan talk about how likely it is the government's target of net-zero by 2050 will be met, whether car batteries could run our homes, and the potential for a hybrid approach to heating tech in the future.

In this episode of Raising the Roof, we're joined by Amazon best-selling author, and internal comms and workplace culture strategist - Advita Patel. Advita tells us what workplace green flags you should be looking out for, how to incorporate diversity int

In this episode of Raising the Roof Nick Atkin’s joined by Henry Stewart, founder and chief happiness officer at Happy Ltd. And with a job title like that it’s easy to know what topic’s on the table. Henry chats to us about what it takes to create a truly positive workplace, and how that impacts productivity. Find us: Website: www.yorkshirehousing.co.uk X: @yhousing LinkedIn: Yorkshire Housing

In this episode of Raising the Roof we’re joined by one of our own customers! Steve Mackenzie, our homes and environment champion, talks us through what he thinks needs to happen to see more people enjoy safe, healthy and energy efficient homes. Find us: Website: www.yorkshirehousing.co.uk X: @yhousing LinkedIn: Yorkshire Housing

In this episode of Raising the Roof we’re joined by Kwajo Tweneboa, ‘Britain’s brightest social housing champion’ for an honest chat about where the housing sector’s at, what needs to change (and how we go about it) and consumer standards. Find us: Website: www.yorkshirehousing.co.uk X: @yhousing LinkedIn: Yorkshire Housing

In this episode of Raising the Roof, the topic on the table is customer service. Listen toNick Atkin's conversation with expertsJo Causon, CEOInstitute of Customer ServiceandRichard Beevers, DirectorCustomer Plus as the trio talk about customer expe

In this episode of Raising the Roof, our host Nick Atkin is joined by Kate Henderson Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation and Steve EllardYorkshire Housing's Director of Assets and Sustainability, to talk about our role in tackling the cli

In this episode of Raising the Roof, we take on regulation in social housing. Nick Atkin is joined by Gavin Smart, CEO at Chartered Institute of Housing and Laura Magezi, Policy Leader at National Hou

In this episode of Raising the Roof, Nick Atkin is joined by Professor Cary Cooper a world leading expert on wellbeing and 50th Anniversary Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health, and Marie

In this episode of Raising the Roof, we’re joined by Suresh Lal from Odgers Interim, James Leighton from Andersen James Group and Yorkshire Housing's Sarah Hutchinson to discuss how to attract new talent and retain the best people. Find us: Website: www.yorkshirehousing.co.uk Twitter: @yhousing LinkedIn: Yorkshire Housing