We are:
Our Services
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We design and lead research projects through our think-and-do lens.
This could be research to find solutions to problems, or capturing learning from completed work.
Our research is always outcomes-focused with the goal of enabling future projects.
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We offer bespoke consultancy to unlock housing challenges.
We lead projects, change management programmes and process reviews. We facilitate ‘deep dives’ into particular challenges and formulate strategies for next steps. We also do a lot of other things.
Our method is designed to be flexible, to empower our clients and to embed knowledge within your organisation.
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Could a housing festival help tackle the housing crisis in your city?
Our team has years of experience coming alongside cities to enable innovation and change.
Every city is different. We combine our research, problem solving and leadership skills to help you unlock what is most needed where you live.
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BB:CoP is a learning partnership, open to professionals across the social and affordable housing delivery ecosystem, including Registered Providers, local authorities, central government agencies, MMC suppliers and others who want to take an active role in driving an uptick in social and affordable housing delivery.
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In 2024, we developed a strategic tool for local authorities to deliver social rent homes on small brownfield sites in their ownership, using a manufacturing-led supply chain and unlocking alternative sources of capital.
The Playbook drew on our own experience and insights, ideas and case studies from over sixty organisations and is now being tested in multiple cities across the country.
Let’s talk about your project. Get in touch below.
We are a Constellia approved supplier.
We are a think-and-do tank.
Our goal is to find innovative and scalable solutions, implemented and refined in the real world. We lead projects, initiate and convene conversations, and facilitate change working with experts collaborating to solve complex and wicked* problems.
By bringing different ideas together and creating a shared and practical wisdom we help people move forward in a new way, incubating progress step-by-step.
Meet the Team
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Jez Sweetland - Founding Director
Jez has initiated and managed strategic development in a variety of settings. His previous positions include CEO of Guildhall Barrister’s Chambers, and CEO of a charitable national skills training organisation. He founded the Bristol Housing Festival in 2018 ti co-curate and deliver practical and scalable solutions to tackle the housing crisis whilst engaging in the climate emergency and the construction skills supply challenges. Jez also leads a transformation project for Bristol City Council to address the pressures local government are under as a result of the increase in Temporary Accommodation.
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Jessie Wilde - Founding Director
Jessie is passionate about social justice and equality. As co-founder she is jointly responsible for the development and delivery of the Housing Festival. She is a board member of Wales and West Housing, a housing association. Her previous positions included roles working for a leading anti-slavery organisation and she has an MSt in Social Innovation at the Cambridge Judge Business School.
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Andrew Stansbury - Director
Andrew is motivated by empowering those he works with and challenging existing processes and methodologies to delivery better, and faster, outcomes. He works extensively in and alongside local authorities in the high-octane world of housing benefit, subsidy rules and rent setting, particularly within temporary accommodation, using those revenue cost pressures to develop innovative models to finance and deliver new housing at pace.
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Dr Ellen Grist - Research And Evaluation Lead
Ellen is a Chartered civil engineer with a background in systems thinking. Her doctoral research explored the adoption of innovative and sustainable materials and technologies in construction, and she has written a number of academic papers on this topic. As the Research and Evaluation lead for Housing Festival, she works with project teams and residents to surface and capture project learning, to foster reflective practice and create feedback loops to advance progress. Ellen is a community manager for the Building Better: Community of Practice, a cross-industry learning partnership.
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Jessie Hayden - Projects and Communications Lead
Jessie has an MSc Sociology and is passionate about the role of social housing in reducing inequalities. She has been involved with the Housing Festival supporting the founders since its inception. Jessie leads on key projects and communications and is a community manager for the Building Better: Community of Practice, a cross-industry learning partnership.
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Maisie Walker - Projects and Communications Manager
Maisie brings a multidisciplinary background in architecture, urban planning and design and is motivated by a strong commitment to addressing the housing crisis, using her skills to drive forward meaningful change. She supports key projects and communications for Housing Festival and the Building Better: Community of Practice.
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Rev. Nicola Harris - Chaplain For Housing, Bristol Diocese
Nicola was appointed as Chaplain For Housing in Bristol Diocese and Associate Curate to the Bristol Cathedral in July 2021. She became Associate Vicar at St Peter’s Lawrence Weston and St Andrew’s Avonmouth in June 2024 and continues her role as Chaplain for Housing,
She is passionate about serving the community of Bristol and building partnerships between local communities, businesses, charities and faith organisations and currently chairs the Bristol Temporary Accommodation Action Group (TAAG).
Her background is in Occupational Therapy and she lives in Bristol with her husband, two daughters (and two dogs!)
