Gentoo, the Sunderland-based housing association, has launched a long-term strategic partnership to modernise customers’ homes.
Esh Construction, Re:Gen Group North East and PHS Home Solutions (trading as 0800 Repair) have formed the Gentogether partnership with Gentoo to deliver improvement work to thousands of homes across Sunderland.
The internal modernisation contract awards are expected to be worth £170m over 10 years.
In its first three years, Gentogether will see £36.5m-worth of internal improvement works to around 3,000 properties, including electrical rewires and kitchen and bathroom replacements.
The Gentogether approach is customer and community focused, allowing organisations to work together for the benefit of the customer experience. The internal modernisation contracts are estimated to generate more than £32 million in social value over the next 10 years. The partnership will focus strongly on supporting employment and social value in the region through apprenticeship and training opportunities.
Gentoo has also engaged 4i Solutions as contract consultant to help get best value from the contractors.
Gentoo asset director Peter Akers said: “To improve our service to customers, we’re launching Gentogether, a unique approach to partnerships allowing us to collaborate with our trusted contractors, sharing the same goals in an open and transparent way to remove competition, working together to deliver an even better service to our customers.
“Not only will our customers’ homes be improved, the local economy and local people will benefit from employment opportunities in a thriving community. I’m excited to see our unique partnership develop and the results we will achieve together.”