Repairs and maintenance specialist Morgan Sindall Property Services has been selected by South Essex Homes, the arm’s length management organisation of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, to deliver property maintenance services for the council’s portfolio of more than 6,000 homes and 1,200 garages.
The five-year contract starts in April with the potential to be extended for a further five years. Over the full ten years, it is valued at £28m. Under the contract, Morgan Sindall Property Services will deliver repairs and maintenance services including day-to-day repairs; emergency repairs and refurbishment of void properties.
Residents will benefit from the introduction of Morgan Sindall’s advanced works and asset management IT system enabling them to choose appointment at a time convenient to them. The system has smart scheduling capabilities so can work out the most efficient appointment based on the time, location and travel of the most appropriate tradesperson. These are known as ‘go-green’ appointments and for every ‘go-green’ appointment chosen and kept, the company will put £1 into a community fund.
The extensive information accessible through the new IT platform will also make it easier for South Essex Homes to organise and book repairs as well as monitor the overall operation of the contract to ensure that residents are receiving a high-quality service. Residents will also be able to book and change repairs online through a new resident portal scheduled to be introduced later this year.
A highly customer-focused approach will include special arrangements to support the needs of vulnerable residents living in sheltered or supported housing. Morgan Sindall Property Services will also introduce a customer service manager, providing a single point of contact for resolving any resident care issues.
Sarah Lander, Assistant Director (Operations) at South Essex Homes, said: “Southend Borough Council and South Essex Homes are pleased to announce that Morgan Sindall will be delivering repairs to the Council’s housing portfolio from 1st April 2019. We are confident that residents will be pleased with the level of service they receive and that repairs will be carried out quickly and efficiently. This partnership will also see new opportunities for our residents and communities, and we look forward to seeing how these develop for the benefit of residents across the Borough.”
In addition, the new arrangement will open up a wide range of job and training opportunities for local people, supporting ten apprenticeships and delivering 45 work placements for adults and school students over the contract term. Morgan Sindall Property Services will also create SEProspects, an initiative enabling South Essex Homes residents to undertake pre-apprenticeships providing practical skills, training, work experience and the chance to be mentored by experienced team members.
Residents will also benefit from help with CV writing and job-hunting as well as digital skills training, including sessions on using Microsoft Office, email and social media.
Alan Hayward, Morgan Sindall Property Services Managing Director, commented: “We are delighted to be bringing our expertise in delivering integrated property maintenance services to this new contract with South Essex Homes. Supported by state-of-the-art technology, our skilled teams are committed to a ‘right first time’ approach, with our focus always on providing the highest standards of customer care. Our new partnership with South Essex Homes will also see us making a substantial investment in the community through the creation of training and employment opportunities for residents.”
