Supply chain and procurement specialist Integrated Services has formed a firm partnership with the Together Housing Group, supplying the social landlord with all its building materials under a unique framework agreement.
To deliver the planned maintenance and responsive repairs programme, the Together Housing Group selected Integrated Services to supply parts for kitchens, bathrooms, electrical, joinery and central heating to the wide range of properties it manages. The Together Housing Group manages 37,000 properties across the Pennine Lancashire, Yorkshire and Humber regions.
By creating a single source of supply through its four branches throughout Lancashire, Yorkshire and Humber, Integrated Services has created the platform for a solid partnership that the Together Housing Group was seeking. The relationship was secured under a framework agreement with housing provider Procure Plus.
Ian Rumsam, Together Housing Group Head of Repairs and Maintenance, explains: “Not having to worry about supply chain management means we can save a considerable amount of time, which in turn leads to cost efficiencies. Integrated Services identifies the needs of our in-house maintenance team on a day-to-day basis and ensures that the right products and services are always available.
“Because we are working as a partnership, we ensure Integrated Services knows and understands our work programme and supply materials as and when needed. This arrangement provides us with security of supply at competitive prices with the added benefit of Procure Plus, which monitors the actual cost compared with those charged.
“This helps to ensure that our programme of works can flow as planned at the right price, without interruption. In fact, Wolseley UK’s Blackburn branch has gone an extra step and together we are providing materials to Places for People, one of the largest property management, development and regeneration companies in the UK. This collaborative working arrangement provides tangible operating benefits to all, which underscores how well the partnership is working.”
Grant Richardson, Trading Director – Integrated Services, says: “Together Housing Group had told their tenants they would improve the repairs and maintenance carried out on their homes, ensuring value for money.
“In choosing to secure the supply of goods and services for repairs and maintenance under a procurement framework agreement, they were looking for a partner who could deliver more than the simple cost and efficiency savings that such arrangements are designed for. The Together Housing Group’s main priority was to find an organisation they could build a solid partnership with, so that the customer/supplier relationship would be virtually seamless, which we have fulfilled.”
Integrated Services is a specialist division within Wolseley UK, offering bespoke integrated supply chain solutions, including stores management and procurement models, to clients responsible for large residential social housing estates, major construction projects and off-site construction.