Improving lives with our new sub-contract framework

We’ve introduced a new sub-contract framework within our organisation. This means when we have specialist or extra work, we can call on a team of external people to help support us so customers don’t have to wait.

The framework consists of 13 different sub-contractors providing different services, supporting us to deliver repairs and maintenance across our homes. It’s a valuable part of our business continuity planning and helps us to deliver a high level of service when demand fluctuates. We can use any business on the framework to help with anything from fitting windows and doors, decorating and general building, to kitchens, bathrooms, roofing and external works.

As this year has shown already, you never know what’s around the corner and there are many situations that can impact an organisation’s ability to carry out work in a timely way.

From March to June this year, we were unable to go into our customers’ homes to carry out routine repairs due to strict lockdown measures, which meant we had a large four-month backlog of work to get through. Prior to this, back in February we also experienced some of the worst storms and rainfall we’d seen which put further pressure on our services. To put it into context, the number of requests for roofing repairs in February 2019 was 139, compared with 406 which we received in February 2020 – that’s a whopping increase of 192%!

Ady Brierley, Voids and Cleansing Manager, said: “We can have extreme variations on workloads as we provide a reactive repairs service. It’s hard to predict when someone may have a leak or need a door fixing!

“We do look at trends though and can deal with small changes in what is forecast. Having a reliable and effective sub-contract framework is vital for us when dealing with such fluctuating requests for work and will provide some much-needed flexibility to help us deliver on our promise to customers.”

Ady added: “Our new framework will help us deliver a great service to our customers as we will have a network of sub-contractors available whenever we may need them. It will also provide better value for money for us, meaning we’re able to spend more on our customers’ homes.”

“A lot of our sub-contractors also do work for other housing associations so they’re able to share great ideas, ways of working and valuable lessons with us to consider implementing at FCHO. As well as this, all companies on the framework can procure materials through our contracted stores, Wolseley, which gives us economies of scale and increases expenditure into the local economy.”

The framework will be in place until July 2021 with the option to extend for a further 12 months. The sub-contractors on the framework are:

• UPS
• Structec
• JJH
• JCC Construction
• Wrightbuild
• DASCO
• Anthony Booth Ltd
• Kingston
• Emmanuel Whittaker Ltd
• WRPS Building and Scaffolding Contractors
• HEATH
• AB-ELEC
• Joe Porters