News: £836m social housing framework

Efficiency North (EN) is inviting contractors to deliver new build social housing projects in Yorkshire and Humber, with contracts worth a total of £836m.

The consortium leads on procurement for millions of pounds worth of construction services in the region. It is a collaboration of social housing providers who procure together in the construction markets in order to deliver sustainable savings and regeneration in the member's communities.

EN took space at Templeborough in Rotherham last year as it evolved into a new company format.

Three lots of work are now up for tender, forming part of an £836m New Build framework operated by Re:allies, a strategic collaboration of housing consortia, of which Efficiency North is a founding member.

For the first lot, valued at £62m, Efficiency North is seeking up to 30 contractors to complete multiple schemes solely in Yorkshire and Humber, up to the value of £2m each. Up to another 30 contractors are required for the second £394m lot of larger schemes and up to a further ten for £70m of projects throughout the North of England.

Lee Parkinson, chief executive officer at Efficiency North, said: "The new framework presents a huge opportunity for us to create much needed high quality homes to help alleviate the current social housing crisis and regenerate local communities across our region."

A simple single-stage procurement process is being used by the consortium, with just one questionnaire for contractors to complete, instead of a traditional Pre-Qualification Questionnaire. This method streamlines the tender stage and ensures the most appropriate contractors are chosen for the work available.

Lee added: "By opening up the bidding to as many firms as possible, we can ensure we find the best partners for the needs of each project, which will not only deliver value for money, but will also make sure we provide the highest quality homes for local communities in Yorkshire and Humber."

A Bidders' Day is taking place in Manchester on September 14.

In June, EN awarded contracts to 57 contractors for a diverse range of internal and external works to social housing properties in the region. The EN Procure Installers framework has an estimated demand pipeline of £360m over its four year lifetime.

Efficiency North website

Images: Keepmoat

Read more...

News: £360m of regional housing works awarded

Efficiency North (EN) has awarded contracts to 57 contractors for a diverse range of internal and external works to social housing properties in the region.

The consortium leads on procurement for millions of pounds worth of construction services in the region. It is a collaboration of social housing providers who procure together in the construction markets in order to deliver sustainable savings and regeneration in the member's communities.

EN took space at Templeborough in Rotherham last year as it evolves into a new company format.

The EN Procure Installers framework has an estimated demand pipeline of £360m over its four year lifetime. Initially it will run alongside the EN Procure Elemental Works framework which expires in November 2015. Around 46% of contractors on the new framework were appointed to the previous framework.

The framework's flexible structure, divided both by scheme size and geographical location, has provided opportunities for construction companies of all sizes. 60% of those appointed are SMEs and 35% are locally based SMEs who have won the chance to work on social housing projects in their own neighbourhoods.

Work includes a wide range of works and services from kitchen and bathroom installation and heating and ventilation, to solar photovoltaic installations.

Training delivery is written into the contract, with one full time training opportunity to be provided by the contractor for every £500k works value. Training and employment opportunities will be targeted to maximize their positive impact in housing providers' communities. The target in Year 1 is to deliver 80 training opportunities across the region. Over 40 opportunities have already been identified in the framework pipeline.

Lee Parkinson, CEO of Efficiency North Limited, said: "I'm very pleased that the framework has achieved such an excellent offer, with a great mix of larger national players as well as smaller businesses able to deliver a wide range of works across Yorkshire and Humber.

"All the appointed contractors demonstrated not only improved certainty in costs and quality but also a real commitment and understanding of how they can contribute to the added value outcomes the framework aims to achieve to boost development of the region's future workforce. This model of framework is the next generation of intelligent procurement solutions that Efficiency North will offer to its members based upon a full suite of competitive rates for works moving away from mini-competitions to work allocation relative to contractor performance and capacity."

Efficiency North website

Images: Efficiency North

Read more...

News: Efficiency North starts new era in Rotherham

The consortium that leads on procurement for millions of pounds worth of construction services in the region has taken space in Rotherham as it evolves into a new company format.

Social housing providers joined together in 2006 to work collaboratively to generate long term sustainable efficiency savings in the construction and maintenance supply chain. Since then, Efficiency North has delivered over £100m of efficiencies for its members whilst maintaining a strong focus on its other core themes of employment and skills, economic regeneration, environment and sustainability.

The organisation has now been incorporated as a private company in public sector ownership, limited by guarantee, with no share capital. After eight years being located in Sheffield City Council, Efficiency North Limited will be moving to its own premises at Magna 34 Business Park, Templeborough.

The move is expected to enable the business to be more efficient in its operations and respond more quickly to membership demands and opportunities for service enhancement.

Lee Parkinson will continue to lead Efficiency North Limited as its chief executive officer and statutory processes are already underway to transfer existing staff into the new company. The Board of the company will continue to be chaired by Mick Werritt of St Leger Homes of Doncaster Limited with a shadow board consisting of legacy board members, however additional new board members will be recruited from the consortia's membership towards the end of the year.

Mick Werritt, director of property services at St Leger Homes, said: "Moving from a management committee model to a limited company is a significant step for the consortium and one that all of the board believe will bring about significant operating and service improvements to our membership.

"On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Sheffield City Council for their support over the years as the host for the consortium and we very much look forward to continuing the strong development curve that the management team of the consortium have achieved in recent years."

Lee Parkinson, CEO of Efficiency North Limited, added: "Making the transition from a management committee to a company has taken a significant amount of effort and has required the trust and support of the Board and the existing staff. I personally would like to thank all of them for their commitment to the consortium and its members and I very much look forward to leading the consortium into the next chapter of its history and developing our service offer for the benefit of our members and their communities further."

Representing over two thirds of social housing located within Yorkshire and the Humber with innovative and intelligent procurement frameworks, an engaging programme of best practice and knowledge sharing events and funding for community projects continues to take place.

Briefing workshops for the new multi-million pound installers framework is taking place this week. Contractors have the opportunity to tender for work on the framework by region and by lot size, depending on business resource and capability.

A variety of housing provider needs will be serviced by the framework. These include kitchen and bathroom installation, heating and ventilation, electrical installation, brickwork and masonry, renewable heating and ventilation, roofing, general building works, painting, estates improvements, external works, adaptations, solar photovoltaic installations, fire precaution works, and whole house improvement works.

The nearest event takes place at The Source at Meadowhall on August 19.

Efficiency North website

Images: YORhub / Efficiency North

Read more...