Following the success of our 6th conference last summer, the ARCO conference is back, and will be taking place on the 5th and 6th of July in London.

We are thrilled once again to be holding the Main Day event at The IET London: Savoy Place and the Knowledge Exchange Day at the offices of Trowers & Hamlins LLP.

Tickets are now on sale. ARCO Members, Partners and Affiliates can purchase Network Exclusive tickets. Non ARCO Members and Partners can purchase Public tickets.

This year's programme, under the title of 'Rising to the challenge: Meeting the Housing & Care needs of an ageing population' will focus on the key topics shaping the agenda in the Integrated Retirement Community sector which include the following:

Professor Bobby Duffy has worked across most public policy areas in his career of 30 years in policy research and evaluation, including being seconded to the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. Professor Duffy will talk about his latest book Generations – Does when you’re born shape who you are? Which challenges myths and stereotypes around generational trends, seeking a greater understanding around generational challenges, trends and opportunities

With the task force for older people now starting its work, we will hear from policy experts on what the IRC sector needs to facilitate growth and ensure the sector continues to flourish

The IRC sector continues to attract new entrants keen to develop their own offers to address the housing and social care crisis. However, the barriers to entry are significant. In this session, delegates will hear from operators new to the sector who will share their top tips on planning, building and operating a new Integrated Retirement Community. In addition, we will also hear from colleagues who are currently planning their entry, and the barriers they need to overcome

Providing care and support services is key to the integrated retirement community offer. While not all residents will need care services on an ongoing basis, it is nevertheless a key part driver for customers looking for a safety net that will enable them to live independently for as long as possible. However, providing regulated care is arguably the most complex component of an IRC, and in this session, we will highlight some of the main considerations when it comes to setting up and running a CQC regulated domiciliary care service

IRCs are a key part of the future health and social care landscape. Hear from staff and residents on how non-regulated support services make a crucial impact on people’s health, wellbeing and sense of belonging

The IRC sector has been on a journey to move away from the traditional leasehold system, with new lease structures transferring risks from residents to operators as a response to customer preferences. The sector’s Leasehold Plus proposals will expand consumer protection for residents and allow for contracts to be updated. This session will provide an insight into the need to update consumer contracts to ensure operational sustainability

This session will look at the case for acceleration growth of the IRC sector, including:

• Impact of absorption on returns  
• How affordable is the product?
• Ideas to accelerate growth

This session brings together industry experts to share innovative thinking of some of the key components needed to fill retirement communities rapidly. Panellists will discuss the marketing techniques, customer engagement approaches, and barriers to moving, including a lack of awareness and other disincentives, including proposals to overcome these obstacles

The Knowledge Exchange Day offers delegates the chance to explore in-depth specific topics through various workshops delivered by leading sector experts and is highly recommended for those wanting greater insight into the Housing-with-Care sector after the main conference day on 5 July.

This session will focus on the importance of maintaining effective communication and responsive complaints handling within the IRC sector and share reflections from lessons learned. John Hesford, ARCO’s Compliance Engagement Manager, and Operator guest speakers will discuss best practice approaches, pitfalls to avoid, and insights from their experience in dealing with feedback and complaints

Following on from the Tenure transformation session on Day 1, this workshop will consider how best to meet consumer preferences while ensuring long-term sustainability in new leases, and options for updating older leases so that they continue to reflect best practice. Join ARCO's Director of Legal & Compliance, Sally Ireland, Kyle Holling, Partner at Trowers & Hamlins, and Operator guest speakers to discuss these issues from the legal and operational perspective

This session will explore the changing planning landscape for Integrated Retirement Communities, including current changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the newly proposed infrastructure levy, emerging case law and the need for a better definition of what it is we do. Join leading planning experts, Tetlow King and ARCO to discuss the current state of play and look to future changes to help unlock our sector’s current challenges

Despite the steady growth of the IRC sector in the UK, the different housing and care choices available for older people remain still relatively unknown and often misunderstood by the wider public. This workshop will explore the current public awareness challenge around the IRC sector, look at how other countries have addressed this challenge, and discuss what could be done in the UK

With the demands on the industry to increase the volume of new homes for older people and the simultaneous challenges around materials and skills, we are at a critical stage in the development of modern methods of construction (MMC). NHBC is using their scale, expertise and knowledge of working with manufacturers to provide operators, investors and lenders with the confidence that innovative systems can meet the same high standards of quality and durability as traditionally-built schemes. Join NHBC to discuss how new methods of MMC can help to give operators confidence when developing future IRCs and reduce the long-term risk of operation

How are operators ensuring compliance with the regulations so far, what are the key upcoming challenges and what is next on the horizon? Join legal experts from Trowers & Hamlins to hear about what operators should have in place already and discuss how you should be preparing for the October 2023 milestone

For bookings of 5 or more, please contact the events team by emailing [email protected]

Over 270 representatives from more than 100 leading organisations
from our sector have already confirmed their attendance to this year's conference.
See who will be in the room!