First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) recently held a meet the buyer event, with more than 50 organisations and 100 people gathering at Oldham College for the sell-out day.
The housing association is looking to award in planned investment works, major repairs, voids and responsive repairs across its 11,500 properties, with some contracts as long as seven years and actively seeking local partners.
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“This was an incredibly successful, well attended event where we got to meet many new companies and some of our existing supply chain” said FCHO head of procurement and insurance Damon Pickard.
“It was also a chance to discuss how these public procurement contracts will be run and what the supply chain needs to do to be able to work with us, including offerings social value to help support our neighbourhoods. This is where the true value of these events really lies for local firms.
“These contracts will also be planned so that it is not just large companies that can bid. We want to use local small businesses too- when the rules allow- to keep the Oldham pound in Oldham.”
He added: “At the moment 25% of our contractors come from a ten-mile radius of Oldham.”
The event was opened by FCHO chief executive Mark Gilford , who spoke to the audience how important the supply chain is to the local economy and to FCHO customers. He also explained FCHO’s strategy going forward as it seeks to build at least 600 new homes in the coming years, improve its repairs services and ensure all its properties reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings by 2030.
