THE region's largest housing group has held its first staff conference.

About 300 employees of Malvern-based Festival Housing Group attended the event, held at the Malvern Theatres.

"It was a very successful and useful day, enabling staff from all our offices to get together and review our work and plan for the future," said Richard Grounds, commercial director for the housing group.

Festival Housing Group was launched earlier this year and manages about 8,000 homes in Malvern, Worcester, Droitwich and surrounding areas.

As part of the day, the housing group's chief executive, Chris Almgill, presented certificates to those employees who had completed training courses and obtained professional qualifications.