British social housing a model for the Russians

Asset Skills is hosting a delegation of Russian housing experts who are in Britain to look at its system of social housing as a model for reform.

The group, from Moscow, are in the UK for a week to look at how it works and to explore options to introduce vocational training in housing to Russia.

The tour is being organised by the Centre for Vocational Education and Training (VET) Studies – a research group which works with the Russian Government and employers to modernise skills training.

They looked closely at the way social housing operates across Europe and singled out the UK's system as the best way forward for Russia.

This week senior managers of a Moscow housing company called Mirax will spend two days in Northampton with Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the housing industry.

They want to identify the training and qualification needs that flow from the British model of public housing.

"We are honoured to be hosting our guests from Russia," says Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset Skills.

"We hope we can impart useful knowledge that will help them drive forward reforms and improvements to the Russian system of social housing."

On Thursday and Friday, the delegation will visit two housing associations – Thames Valley Housing in West London and Wakefield & District Housing in Yorkshire – where they will look at job functions, roles and responsibilities, training and qualifications.

In the past Russia had a very large stock of public housing managed by the state. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union reform programmes have been implemented and management is being transferred to private companies.