Innovative Digital Transformation in Social Housing: Lessons from Birmingham’s Foundry Initiative*

Introduction

As digital transformation reshapes local government, social housing providers need to consider adopting AI and automation to boost efficiency, streamline tenant services, and cut costs. However, a phased, strategic approach is essential, especially for resource-constrained housing associations.

Inspired by Birmingham City Council’s Foundry initiative, this case study examines how social housing organisations can implement similar digital strategies to enhance tenant support, drive innovation, and ensure responsible, cost-effective AI adoption.

What is Birmingham’s Foundry Initiative?

Birmingham City Council launched Foundry as a digital innovation hub to develop cost-effective, scalable solutions that could be tested, improved, and deployed across the council. The initiative focuses on minimising reliance on external consultants, upskilling internal teams, and ensuring digital projects provide long-term benefits.

Key principles of the Foundry model include:

Value-driven innovation – Prioritising solutions that deliver measurable impact.

User-focused development – Co-designing tools with frontline staff to ensure relevance and usability.

Phased experimentation – Testing and refining small-scale pilots before wider deployment.

For social housing, this structured, iterative approac...