Ian Williams, one of the UK’s largest independently-owned property services companies, has been awarded a five-year contract with a further five-year extension option, by leading housing association The Hyde Group.
Hyde, which manages 50,000 properties across the South East, East of England and the East Midlands, has awarded Ian Williams the external decorations works for London and the South East, in what is the largest painting and decoration contract for the company to date.
Following a root and branch procurement review and in-depth selection process, this new appointment is part of Hyde’s strategy to save an estimated £2m a year over the next five years as well as driving more social value for its customers. Measured by customer satisfaction and excellent performance, Hyde is looking to build the partnership with Ian Williams beyond the initial five-year period.
A great home for everyone
Hyde Director of Property Services, Mark Batchelor, said: “This is a significant appointment that will deliver better value for money for customers, with savings able to be re-invested in improving customer services and building more affordable homes. Ian Williams has an excellent reputation for providing a first-class service and we’re delighted to be working with them.
“But it’s not just about them delivering the external decorations safely, to a high standard and keeping to the schedule. It’s about the additional commitments they’ve made to help Hyde meet our other objectives, such as joining our digital inclusion programme; training and development for all staff working on the contract, including mental health and safeguarding coaching to help them support vulnerable customers; a formal apprenticeship programme to drive recruitment; and investing time and money in supporting our community projects.
“Hyde’s vision is ‘a great home for everyone’ and we are excited to be working with such a top calibre company as Ian Williams to make this happen.”
Hyde’s Social Value Advisor Chichi Onyenemelu added: “Social value was a key factor in our selection of new contractors who were all asked for proposals to support our social value plan. Each year, the appointed contractors will donate a minimum of £61,000 between them and combined, they will offer job opportunities, apprenticeships, work placements and training for our customers. Other activities include refurbishing community centres and spaces, community events and schools’ projects.”
Innovative and creative added value
Ian Williams’ Painting Operations Director Phil Jones, commented: “We are proud and delighted to have been awarded this contract with Hyde and look forward to working closely with their customers and communities in London and the South East to prove our commitment to second-to-none customer service, satisfaction and community engagement. When partnering on long-term contracts like this one with Hyde, the actual works involved in the stock investment programme and property improvements are a given. It’s the innovative and creative added value that really makes a difference — something that Ian Williams embraces. From the start of the programme, we’ll be outlining our service delivery from start-to-finish in bespoke, multi-lingual Customer Journey videos; during mobilisation we’ll hold a Partnering facilitation workshop to help instil Hyde’s values and ethos across our teams; and we’ll be recruiting five Painting and Decorating apprentices every year of the contract. We look forward to getting started!”
Ian Williams’ Managing Director Andy Havard concluded: “We welcome this new partnership with Hyde. Ian Williams has long recognised the benefits of strategic, long-term partnerships and fully endorses the business philosophy and solid relationships that this approach engenders. Certainty and familiarity will enable both organisations to focus on the effective delivery of works and progress towards shared goals and values. In any commercial arrangement, the strength of success lies in creating a good team who are happy to work well together, and we look forward to working closely with Hyde to help create excellent customer service and provide quality workmanship. 2021 is the 75th anniversary of Ian Williams and what better way to celebrate than by commencing on one of our largest painting and decorating contracts to date.”
