Trevor Smith, National Housing Development Manager at VELUX, one of the R&B Housebuilders Forum's Founding Sponsors, recently visited Horseshoe Crescent, the newest scheme by the Surrey-based award-winning housebuilder, Aspen Homes. Aspen's Managing Director, Joe Jelley, is a longstanding and active member of the Forum.
Horseshoe Crescent is a development of three beautiful homes in Guildford, which are designed with VELUX roof windows built into the upper floors to bring in natural light and fresh air. Joe explained the thinking behind the approach in a feature in Show House: "Natural daylight and effective ventilation are fundamental to creating homes that enhance everyday living. Working alongside VELUX allows us to incorporate industry-leading daylight and ventilation solutions that not only flood our homes with natural light but also contribute to healthier indoor environments and improved air quality. Modern homes should feel bright, comfortable and connected to the outside world, and these principles have been central to the design of Horseshoe Crescent."
The visit gave Trevor and Joe a chance to talk about what membership of the Forum looks like in practice. Joe spoke about the value of having a place to share ideas and best practice with other housebuilders, across design, sales and product, rather than working through challenges alone, noting that being an SME housebuilder can be an isolating experience.
This led on to a conversation about the role that suppliers – including the Forum's Founding Sponsors – play in supporting SME housebuilders. Product is just one aspect of this. Being part of multinational brands with decades of experience means Founding Sponsors can also offer design input, technical resource and plans, the kind of support many SME businesses would struggle to access on their own.
Each of our Founding Sponsors, VELUX, Hansgrohe, Imperial Bricks, Knauf and Knauf Insulation, was handpicked for the same reasons: their understanding of what SME housebuilders need and their commitment to supporting them. Visits like this, taking the time to see a project first hand, are a good example of what that commitment looks like in practice.
