ARCO What Next? Annual Conference - July 2024

The ARCO Annual conference is only a few days away!

Day 1 - Limited availability

Day 2 - SOLD-OUT

We are thrilled to announce that the ARCO What Next? 2024 Annual conference will be returning in July for its 8th Edition.

Widely recognised as the main agenda-setting event for the Integrated Retirement Community sector, the ARCO Annual conference is the must-attend event that brings together the most influential and experienced operators and organizations in the sector.

Known for its excellent and fresh content, where new innovative ideas are shared first, and for the unmatched networking opportunities, including the attendance of Ministers and senior policy makers, this event is one not to missed! 

The conference will be held in London and run over two days. And as it's now tradition, the main conference day will end with ARCO's Annual Drinks Reception, which is an opportunity for all delegates to enjoy the largest sector social gathering as well as networking opportunities with sector peers.

Keynote Speaker

ARCO is delighted to announce our Keynote Speaker for the What Next? 2024 ARCO Annual Conference, Freelance Journalist, Peter Ward.

Peter is a British journalist and author who writes about technology, science, and occasionally true crime. He reported on the energy sector in the Middle East before earning a degree in business journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. His first book The Consequential Frontier explored the privatisation of space and his most recent, The Price of Immortality, investigated the pursuit of eternal life, the science of ageing, and the consequences of an extended lifespan. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Atlantic, GQ, The Economist, Wired, BBC Science Focus, and Inverse.

Peter Ward will be speaking on the main conference day on 3 July and will be reflecting on what he has learned about ageing through his research into the quest for immortality. 

Agenda

ARCO’s 8th conference lands at a pivotal moment for both the sector and the UK.

A year on from the launch of the Task Force on Older People’s Housing, and with the country heading for a general election in the Autumn, there are opportunities abound for sector growth so that Housing-with-Care and Integrated Retirement Communities play a key role in transforming the future of the UK’s social care and housing crisis.

This year’s programme under the title of Building Tomorrow: Creating Housing and Care Options for All will focus on the key factors underpinning both sector growth and operational excellence. Topics will include:

Mature market mastery: lessons from NZ

The New Zealand Retirement Village sector is 20 years ahead of the UK’s and benefits from a thriving mid-market and a better customer awareness of what IRCs offer. Following the return of an ARCO Member delegation to visit and learn more about the market and operators in New Zealand, the group will share key observations, lessons and insight on what we might want to consider for the UK.

• Sally Ireland, Director of Legal & Compliance,  ARCO
• Philippa Kellar. Managing Director, Richmond Villages
• Gary Burton, COO & CFO, Audley Group
• Lex Cumber, Business Development Director,  Untold Living

Operator update: The new rental assisted living offer at St George’s Park

Hear from St George’s Park chief executive on how its new offering of rental ‘assisting living’ units has been accepted by customers, and the reason behind offering an alternative sitting between its leasehold retirement village (with 240 units) and its on-site care homes.

• Philip Smith, CEO, Augustinian Care

Operator update: The Thrive Collective’s new customers proposition in Chester

Retirement Villages Group’s new IRC in Chester is testing new ground, with a lease structure which will see customers receiving a guaranteed sum on resale, a cap on ongoing fees after a unit has been vacated and a subsidised monthly fee. Hear from Retirement Village Group’s chief executive on how the offer was developed and early feedback from customers.

• Will Bax, CEO, Retirement Villages Group

Setting the parameters for growth: getting on top of the data

The IRC sector’s expansion will depend on operators being able to offer attractive products that customers can afford (and investors will fund). This session will explore some of the affordability and operational parameters that will be key in attracting the customers of the future, and how a data driven approach will underpin sustainable growth.

• Tom Scaife, Head of Senior Living, Knight Frank

How the new filial piety in Asia is the driving force behind a US$4.56 Trillion silver economy

Ageing requires a mindset shift, enablement is the new black in the business of ageing. The traditional notions of filial piety to “look after and do things for them” is gradually changing in Asia. The new philosophy of filial piety - Age with Laughter brings smiles to seniors - is about enabling older people to age as independently as possible, supporting them with the right products and services for ageing-in-place and creating opportunities to age with purpose.

• Janice Chia, Founder & Managing Director, Ageing Asia

How to grow the sector: Hearing from experts by experience

In this session, we’ll hear from people living in integrated retirement communities and their views on what is needed to help the sector fulfil its potential: how can awareness be increased among the public, policymakers and stakeholders alike, and what needs to happen to bring retirement communities into the mainstream? Inspired Villages' chief executive, Jamie Bunce will discuss with a resident panel from ARCO Members.

• Jamie Bunce, CEO, Inspired Villages

Ageing without Children - How are people without 'traditional' support networks navigating later life?

The number of people in the UK over 65 without adult children is set to rise from over 1.2 million at the present time to 2 million by 2030. Many more are also living far away from their children, relatives and other family support networks, meaning that over time there will be a greater reliance on formal support and care services. This session will explore how older people without ‘traditional’ support networks are tackling the challenges and opportunities of older age to enable them to access the support in later life if and when they need it.

• Paul Goulden, Head of Partnerships, ILC UK
• Anna Kear, CEO, Tonic Housing
• Janice Chia, Founder & Managing Director, Ageing Asia

Age Irrelevance - a year on

Following the launch of Age Irrelevance in 2023 - a legacy of the late Baroness Sally Greengross - we hear about the development of the movement to reimagine life’s horizons in the era of longevity.

• Kay Allen OBE, Leadership Fellow, AGE Irrelevance

The Price of Immortality - the unintended consequences of living longer

As longevity medicine revolutionises the lives of many older people, the quest to take the next step—to live as long as we choose—has spurred a scientific arms race, funded by Big Tech and Silicon Valley, in search of the elixir of life. Once the stuff of Mesopotamian mythology and episodes of Star Trek, as the pace of technological progress quickens, proposals to make humans immortal are becoming increasingly credible. In his most recent book, The Price of Immortality, journalist Peter Ward investigated this pursuit of eternal life and in this session, Peter will reflect on what his research has taught him about the science of ageing, how humans deal with death and the (potentially unintended!) consequences of an extended lifespan.

• Peter Ward, Freelance Journalist, Keynote speaker

Legal updates on the IRC sector: what you need to know, and what it means for you

This session will provide an overview of what recent changes in legislation and regulation mean for operators in the IRC sector, and how the regulatory landscape might evolve in the future.

• Sally Ireland, Director of Legal & Compliance, ARCO

Is intergenerational living the key to wellbeing for all?
We are now seeing more operators of IRCs building intergenerational aspects into their offer from the get-go. Whether that is integrating with a local nursery group, dedicated IRC units within a larger general residential offer or living alongside medical students as they train. This session will explore the key benefits of intergenerational activities and hear first-hand from operators on why this is key in building happy and vibrant communities.

• Michael Voges, Chief Executive, ARCO
• Honor Barratt, CEO, Birchgrove
• Martin Rix, Chief Executive, Belong Villages
• Kate Jarvis, Wellbeing Lead, ExtraCare Charitable Trust

The Political outlook - what tomorrow's result could mean for the future?
Major policy and political changes are expected with the imminent arrival of a new government. This session will explore how these changes will affect IRCs, what the next government will need from the sector and how ARCO is influencing the agenda.

• Michael Voges, Chief Executive, ARCO
• James Lloyd, Director of Policy & Communications, ARCO
• Andrew Harrop, General Secretary, Fabian Society
• Sarina Kiayani, Policy & External Affairs Manager, ARCO

Tickets 

• ARCO Members, Accelerators, Strategic Partners, Partners and our Affiliate Network can purchase discounted Network tickets.
• Organisations that are not part of the ARCO network can purchase Public tickets.

Due to an overwhelming ticket demand for the July 2023 conference, many individuals were unable to secure their spot. To ensure you stay informed about any conference updates and be among the first to know when tickets go on sale, we invite you to join our mailing list.

Sponsorship opportunities

There are no sponsorship opportunities available. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the What Next? 2025 conference, please contact our events team

For more information visit arcoconference.co.uk

Thank you to our Conference Sponsors