What Next? 2026 
ARCO Annual Conference  

Thank you for joining the UK's pivotal Integrated Retirement Community conference

Thank you for joining ARCO’s 10th Annual Conference.

We were thrilled to welcome over 330 delegates from over 160 organisations for 2 days of data-driven deep dive into the questions that truly matter to the sector, and together reflect on the big trends for the next 10 years.

On Wednesday 1 July, we were delighted to welcome to the stage Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Minister for Housing and Local Government in the House of Lords, and Matt Turmaine MP for Watford and Chair of the ARCO Parliamentary Champions Group, our international guest speaker, Andrew Carle, who shared insights into the rapid growth of University Retirement Communities (URCs) in the US - and how they are giving both alumni and universities a powerful new lease of life as well as over 40 speakers and IRC residents that participated and shared their expertise in this year's sessions.

Delegates attending day 1 were treated to a delightful performance from the fabulous Mayfield Belles, a cheerleader group from Mayfield Villages Watford who enchanted all attending the annual drinks reception and received a well deserved and very loud cheer!

The Knowledge Exchange Day on 2 July, offered delegates the opportunity to attend and participate in a variety of workshops that addressed relevant and current issues as operational budgets in later living, legal and operational considerations to update the customer offer in IRCs, building customer confidence in the IRC decision, marketing IRCs in the new age of consumer regulation, using IoT to improve safety and independence, inclusive design shaping future IRCs, enabling independence for living longer, and a deeper dive into university retirement communities in the U.S. and how this concept could translate to the UK IRC sector.

We want to thank everyone who supported and took part on this event and we look forward to seeing you next July!
A look at the 2026 Conference programme:
Day 1 (1 July) features a full conference programme, including keynote speakers, panel sessions and audience Q&As with a capacity for approximately 450 delegates. The day concludes with the ARCO Annual Drinks Reception (exclusively for Day 1 delegates), the largest social gathering in the sector, offering further opportunities to connect with peers and industry leaders.

Please find below the programme for Day 1 2026
What really matters - and the  questions we need to ask
Day 1 programme (1 July)
Evidence over Intuition: A Conference Built on Data
There was no session on data at What Next 2026 – because every session was underpinned with data to shape debate, challenge assumptions and guide decisions. Drawing on newly collated sector data and customer research commissioned exclusively for this event, it provided the foundation for clearer thinking, better questions and more confident action. Jonty Roots from Boomer & Beyond,  speaking joined several sessions during the programme.

Insight Partner - Speaker:
Jonty Roots, Managing Director, Boomer & Beyond
Ten Years On: Progress, Challenges and the Future of the IRC Sector
What Next 2026 marks ARCO’s 10th conference - this session offered a timely opportunity to reflect on a decade of change in the IRC sector. What has driven progress, what has proved more challenging and where does the sector go next? Setting the scene for the discussions ahead, it explored shifts in market segments, business models, public perception and the alignment of interests between operators, customers and policymakers

Speaker: 
Michael Voges, Chief Executive, ARCO
WiRL: The XX Factor Inclusive Design update
Following the launch of WiRL’s inclusive design report The XX Factor earlier this year, WiRL provided an update on their work for developing this further and what it could mean for everyone living and working in the UK later living sector.

Speakers: 
Jenny Buterchi, Partner, PRP & Board Member, WiRL 
Sonia Parol, Design Director, Inspired Villages
Tenure at a Turning Point: What Reform could mean for IRC Growth
The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill promises the biggest shake-up to the English tenure system in centuries. It creates a pivotal opportunity for IRC operators to align tenure structures with the realities of running complex, long-term operational models. This session explored the implications for providers and showcased practical approaches advanced by ARCO and its members, highlighting the benefits of a highly specialised tenure model which – while still using a number of basic leasehold principles – offers a significant departure from the traditional long leasehold system.

During the session, we also heard a Ministerial Address from Baroness Taylor, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the government’s plans for older people's housing, and from Matt Turmaine, MP for Watford and Chair of ARCO’s Parliamentary Champions Group.

Speakers:
James Lloyd, Director of Policy and Communications, ARCO, (Chair)
Sarina Kiayani, Policy and External Affairs Manager, ARCO
Daniel Cook, Managing Director, LifeCare Residences
Gus Wiseman, Director – UK Products, PATRIZIA
Rhys Moore, Executive Director of Public Impact, National Housing Federation
Kate Butler, Assistant Director of Policy, Real Estate:UK (RE:UK)
Jonty Roots, Managing Director, Boomer & Beyond

Guest speakers:
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government
Matt Turmaine, Member of Parliament for Watford

Lessons from Across the Atlantic: The Rise of University Retirement Communities
Learning from international experience is critical as the IRC sector continues to evolve, with innovation often driven by ideas that cross borders. This session bought a global perspective, exploring the growing role of University Retirement Communities (URCs) in the US.

With a strong intergenerational focus, URCs combine independent living with access to lifelong learning, cultural engagement and vibrant campus life. They are rapidly gaining traction as a model that meets both social and intellectual needs in later life.
The session led by Andrew Carle, a leading authority on URCs, offered first-hand insight into how these communities are designed, delivered and why they are proving so successful.

Speaker: 
Andrew Carle, Founder, University Retirement Communities
The Three Cs of Choice: Certainty, Care and Confidence
What drives customers to choose IRC living — and what still holds some back? Across three connected sessions, we explored the conditions that enable informed, confident decision‑making. From greater financial certainty and transparency, to the reality and perception of care, and ultimately to the confidence people need to make the move, each session draws on data, lived experience and operational insight. Together, they offer a clear view of how certainty, care and confidence intersect — and what this means for operators shaping propositions that genuinely meet customer needs.
Session 1: C is for Certainty
In response to customer feedback, operators are reshaping offers and charging structures to provide greater certainty, transparency and trust. In short, operators are taking on higher levels of risk, matched by new lease structures aimed at providing higher levels of predictability over monthly outgoings.

This session examined how these changes are being delivered in practice. It provided deep insight into three areas:

Customer data and evidence: what is driving the move to providing more certainty for consumers?

Speakers:
Sally Ireland, Director of Legal and Compliance, ARCO (Chair)
Jonty Roots, Founder, Boomer & Beyond

Operator showcase: Retirement Villages Group is undertaking lease variation programmes across their portfolio, and providing more predictable fee levels and risk mitigation for customers. What are the key drivers of this approach, and what is the customer response?

Speaker: 
Nick Jones, Property Director, Retirement Villages Group

Working in partnership with the customer - lease variation in practice: Say Property Consulting have worked with hundreds of customers on lease variation projects for a number of providers and talked us through the key considerations on communication, customer engagement and transparency.

Speakers:
Caspar Courage,Managing Director, SAY Property
Coral Harvey, Senior Consultant, SAY Property

Session 2: C is for Care
Care is a key component of the Integrated Retirement Community model—but how it is delivered, experienced and communicated remains one of the sector’s most important and complex questions. This session took a comprehensive look at care provision in IRCs, exploring both the data and the lived reality, and what this means for operators shaping future propositions.

The session covered three key areas:

  • Data on care delivery and customer expectations, including the scale and nature of care provided, and what customers say they want—or worry about—when it comes to support to keep them living independently. 

Speaker: 
Michael Voges, Chief Executive, ARCO

  • The operational reality of delivering care on the ground, including how domiciliary care works within independent living apartments, the role of assisted living packages, and implications for unit design and service models

Speaker:
 Keir Pedley, Registered Location Manager, ExtraCare Charitable Trust

  • The implications for customer proposition and marketing, examining whether schemes risk losing customers by a) over-emphasising care b) under-communicating it c) or not offering sufficient clarity and choice.

Speakers: 
Amanda Nesbitt, Sales & Marketing Director, Richmond Villages  
Annabel O’ Gorman, Senior Sales Manager, Untold Living

Bringing these strands together, the session offered a clear, evidence-based view of how care can be delivered in a way that meets customer expectations while supporting sustainable, high-quality operations.

Integrating rental into the IRC offer
Rental has moved rapidly from the margins to a core part of the conversation in Integrated Retirement Communities. For some customers, it offers flexibility, speed, and a lower barrier to entry. For operators, it opens new routes to market and different income profiles.

This session explored the opportunity through the lens of customer insight – looking at how preferences vary across income cohorts and life stages, and what that means for demand. Where does rental resonate most strongly, and where do ownership models (in various guises) still hold appeal?

We also examined the commercial reality: which models are proving viable, how operators are structuring their offers, and how rental can sit alongside ownership as part of a broader, balanced proposition. In addition, we looked at the impact of the Renters Right Act on rental options in the IRC sector, and what this means for operators shaping their offers.

Speakers: 
Michael Voges, Chief Executive, ARCO
Rita Rousso, Director of Care and Housing, Jewish Care
Kevin Beirne, Head of Retirement Living, Octopus Capital

The Three Cs of Choice: Session 3 - C is for Confidence
What gives customers the confidence to make the move? This session explored how purpose, meaning and lifestyle expectations shape decision-making, alongside the concerns that can hold people back. This session heard directly from customers, offering a clear view of what they expect to find and what they need to feel reassured about when choosing IRC living.

Speakers:
Nick Sanderson, Founder & CEO, Audley Group - part of AEM Living
Resident guest panel 'Mayfield Belles'

The ARCO Annual Drinks Reception
Exclusive to delegates attending day 1 of the conference
The Knowledge Exchange Day 
Day 2 (2 July), known as The Knowledge Exchange Day, is delivered as a series of interactive workshops focused on deeper discussion and practical insight.

Delegates can choose to attend up to four of approximately eight workshops. With capacity limited to around 120 attendees, the day is ideal for those seeking more in-depth exploration following Day 1. The day concludes with networking drinks.

Please find below the list of Day 2 workshops
Day 2 programme (2 July)
Operational Budgets in Later Living: Building the Data Foundation for Affordability, Performance and Value
As operators increasingly focus on affordability, transparency and fixed service charge models, developing robust operational budgets is becoming a critical challenge, and one that cannot be addressed without better, more consistent data.
This workshop explored how operators can build and manage operational budgets that deliver high-quality resident services while maintaining cost efficiency and long-term sustainability. A central theme was be the sector's need to improve the quality, consistency and comparability of operational data: without this foundation, meaningful benchmarking is difficult, cost management lacks rigour, and service charge transparency remains hard to evidence convincingly.
Drawing on benchmarking insights and learnings from other residential sectors, where data infrastructure is more mature - we examined how a disciplined approach to data collection and cost management can improve performance, support service charge transparency, and provide greater confidence for residents, operators and investors alike.

Speakers:
Caspar Courage, Managing Director, SAY Property
Coral Harvey, Senior Consultant, SAY Property
Modernising the customer offer: legal and operational considerations
This workshop considered how operators can work with residents and other stakeholders to update the customer offer in existing IRCs and the legal and operational considerations that arise in this process.

Speakers:
Kyle Holling, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Lizzie Pillinger, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins LLP
Giles Stevens, Director of Transactions & Investments, Elysian Residences (part of AEM Living)
When Support Isn’t “Care”: Building Customer Confidence in the IRC Decision
Many people considering an Integrated Retirement Community may already have some support needs - or sense that their current home, routine, or family situation is becoming harder to manage'. However, they may not identify with “needing care.” This creates a communication challenge for operators: how do you present the value of support, reassurance, lifestyle, and independence without making the proposition feel too care-led or crisis-led?

This interactive workshop explored the confidence gap between interest and action. We looked at how operators can communicate the value of IRCs to people who want to remain independent, reduce future uncertainty, and make a proactive move on their own terms. Attendees considered where their current messaging, digital journey, and sales process may build confidence or unintentionally create hesitation.

Speakers:
Anneline Breetzke, Founder & CEO, Digital Seniority
Dewan Chapman, Marketing Strategist, Digital Seniority

Marketing IRCs in the new age of consumer regulation

New consumer legislation and regulation has increased the importance of upfront transparency in marketing Integrated Retirement Communities. How can operators best get this right while still communicating their brand identity and the benefits of the IRC offer?
ARCO’s Head of Compliance, John Hesford and Head of Marketing Tom Newitt from Freedom Living delved into the detail of how to create marketing and advertising that is both compliant and clear for customers.

Speakers:
John Hesford, Head of Compliance, ARCO
Tom Newitt, Head of Marketing, Freedom Livin
Smart Communities: Using IoT to Improve Safety and Independence

This workshop explored how Integrated Retirement Communities can balance safety, compliance and cost while supporting residents’ wellbeing and independence, using connected IoT technology.

Vital damp and mould checks, CO₂ levels, fire safety, occupancy and energy/water use are still often manually carried out by frontline teams. This is time-consuming, inconsistent and costly, exposing operators to risk. Moreover, resident risks like falls, environmental triggers for respiratory issues or behaviours associated with dementia are difficult to track without the right tools.

Our speakers showed how IoT, delivered through a single managed network, can automate monitoring, provide real-time alerts and generate actionable insights. By reducing manual checks and identifying issues sooner, operators can improve compliance, increase efficiency and deliver better outcomes for residents.

This workshop offered a practical look at how connected technology can reduce risk, streamline operations and support a higher quality of life.

Speakers:
Jennie Francis, Chief Transformation Officer, Wifinity
Stephanie Smith, Business Development Director, Wifinity
University Retirement Communities: U.S. Insights for UK Intergenerational Living
University Retirement Communities (URCs) are a well-established model in the U.S. but remain largely unexplored in the UK. This session with Andrew Carle introduces the URC concept and examines how its principles could translate to the UK Integrated Retirement Community (IRC) sector.

We explored how partnerships with universities can drive differentiation through lifelong learning, cultural engagement, and meaningful intergenerational connections. The workshop outlined a practical framework for assessing opportunity, including a 5-criteria model for long-term success, and shared insights from the first certified URCs in the U.S.

A must-attend for operators and institutions interested in innovation, social impact, and the future of intergenerational living.

Speaker:
Andrew Carle, Founder, University Retirement Communities
Inclusive Design in Action: Shaping Future Integrated Retirement Communities
In this workshop we explored how thoughtful, inclusive design goes beyond compliance to positively influence emotional security, day-to-day usability, social connection and long-term value. The session highlighted the importance of empathy-led decision-making and demonstrated how engaging diverse perspectives throughout the design process leads to better, more resilient places for people to live, work and visit.

Key themes included:
• How inclusive design principles enhance safety, comfort and accessibility
• The role of inclusive thinking in reducing costly redesigns and strengthening market appeal
• What truly fosters community, belonging and wellbeing in later life settings

Speakers:
Jenny Buterchi, Partner, PRP
Simon Atkins, Director (Architecture), PRP
From Lifespan to Healthspan: Enabling Independent Living for Longer
Longevity is only half the battle, the real goal is thriving. Join industry pioneers EGYM and Johnson Health Tech, alongside leading senior living operators, for a session dedicated to the ultimate goal of senior wellness: preserving independence.

Speakers:
Jordan Douthwaite, Senior Key Account Customer Success Manager, EGYM
Dr Zoe Wyrko, Wellbeing & Quality Director, Riverstone Living
Madeline Lawrence, Wellbeing Ambassador, Riverstone Living
Helen Hogg, Head of Mobilisation, Retirement Villages Group
“An incredibly important and insightful date in the IRC calendar. 
One of the MUST attends”
What Next? 2025 Delegate
What Next? 2026
Conference Speakers
Thank you to our Special Guest Speaker, Baroness Taylor
We were delighted to welcome Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, 
Minister for Housing and Local Government in the House of Lords, who addressed the
What Next? 2026 ARCO Annual Conference.

At a time of huge changes in housing and tenure policy, this was a critical opportunity to hear directly from the relevant government Minister about older people's housing.

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and as a Baroness in Waiting (Government Whip) on 9 July 2024.

She was previously Leader of Stevenage Borough Council from 2006 to 2022 before being appointed to the House of Lords. Baroness Taylor has a deep understanding and passion for specialist housing developed during her 16 years as Leader of Stevenage Borough Council, directly prior to her appointment to the House of Lords.
Thank you to our International Guest Speaker
We were also delighted to welcome Andrew Carle to What Next? 2026.
An internationally recognised expert in senior housing innovation.
In addition to his work in academia, Mr. Carle has earned recognition for defining a new category of senior housing - University Retirement Communities (URCs). He is considered the pre-eminent expert on such communities, defining a 5-criteria model for their development in 2006 and has served as a consultant to numerous academic institutions, alumni associations, and senior housing organisations within the rapidly growing sector. In 2023 he founded www.UniversityRetirementCommunities.com, the first directory and information resource for university retirement communities, listing more than 85 communities, including those hosted by major academic institutions. In Fall 2024 the website launched the first certification program for URCs, recognising communities offering the highest level of programmatic, operational, and cultural integration with a host academic institution, as well establishing standards for enhancement of existing, or the development of new, URCs moving forward.
Thank you to the What Next? 2026 conference speakers
Thank you to our 2026 speakers for bringing their unique expertise and experience, contributing valuable perspectives to this year's programme.
"Great platform to meet sector leaders"
What Next? 2025 Delegate
Celebrating 10 years of the
What Next? ARCO Conference
This year marked a special milestone for the ARCO Conference as we celebrated a decade of bringing together thought leaders, innovators, and professionals from across the sector. Over the past ten years, we’ve seen incredible growth, from engaging hundreds of delegates to hosting inspiring speakers and creating invaluable connections.

We’re proud of how far we've come, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication, collaboration, and support of our community.

Thank you to everyone that joined us to celebrate this milestone!
“As always, some excellent speakers, an opportunity to network, meet old colleagues and be brought up to date on industry wide issues and developments”
What Next? 2025 Delegate
Thank you to our 2026 
Conference Sponsors
We are immensely grateful to this year's sponsors and exhibitors, and in particular to EGYM and Johnson Health Tech, our Headline sponsors at this year's annual conference.

Our sponsors support helps make the conference possible, and we thank them for their ongoing contribution and commitment to the Integrated Retirement Community sector.

Over the two days they shared their insights, showcasing their expertise and products that help support IRC operators run their communities and older adults to live longer, healthier lives.
 
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities 
Interested in joining the sector's leading conference in 2027 as a sponsor or exhibitor? Register your interest now by contacting our events team.
“A very meanigful, informative and thought-provoking event set in a fantastic venue. State-of the Art A/V and excellent catering service made this a most pleasant and useful event”
What Next? 2025 Delegate
 Join the mailing list
If you want to receive information about the next ARCO What Next? Conference, please contact [email protected] and request to be added to the mailing list
“For the 3rd year in a row we have supported the conference through being a partner. It highlights not only our commitment in the sector but also our continued support for the great work that ARCO does to promote the benefits of the sector.  It remains one of the key conferences of the year in the specialist housing sector”

What Next? 2025 Conference Sponsor
See who attended 
What Next? 2026
“As an ARCO affiliate partner, my aim of attending this conference was to learn more about the sector. I definitely achieved this goal as the speakers and variety were excellent. It was clear to me that this is a collaborative sector with some great positivity which was infectious. I look forward to attending future events”

What Next? 2025 Conference Sponsor
A look back at the 2026 
ARCO Conference
"A Must for everyone working in the IRC sector! ”
What Next? 2025 Delegate
Contact us
If you have any questions regarding the conference please contact the ARCO Events Team:

Telephone: 020 3697 1204
Email: [email protected]
Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO)
167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF
T: 020 3697 1204 Email: [email protected]
© 2023. All Rights Reserved. See Ticket terms and conditions.  View our Privacy Policy                 
                                                            

Processing Registration...