Engagement days for contractors and consultants appointed to JV North’s new £500 million framework have been hailed a success.
The consortium’s new four-year framework went live at the beginning of the month with those appointed invited to the sessions.
Wythenshawe Community Housing Group hosted the two days with representatives from all 14 JV North members attending.
The first day saw companies procured to lots for architects, employers agents, purchaser agents, engineers, clerks of works, principal designers and principal designers for Building Regulations take part.
The day after, contractors procured for three differently valued construction lots attended.
An overview of the framework was provided by Saffer Cooper Consultancy which manages JV North’s housebuilding programme and led the framework procurement.
Details were also provided of JV North’s pipeline and investment along with insight about the government’s new £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
Delegates were then given chance to meet each JV North member in ‘speed dating’ style so they could make introductions, discuss forthcoming schemes and talk about how they could work together.
Emma Cross, Business Development Director at BTP Architects, said: “I found JV North’s engagement day extremely valuable and insightful.
“It is unique in offering the chance to directly meet commissioning members while also allowing us to showcase our services.
“While we already know many of the members, it was great to put some faces to names and to reconnect with familiar contacts.”
Laurie Bradley, Contracts Director at PLP Construction, said: “It was a really worthwhile event and gave us that first interaction with the client base for the framework.
“Very well managed, we look forward to working with all JV North members over the coming years.”
Chair of JV North, John Bowker, said: “Partnerships have always been a key part of the consortium’s success and such events help foster new relationships and cement existing ones so collaboratively we can address the housing crisis.
“As the new framework starts, it was really important to meet consultants and contractors to discuss how we can best work together as we start building 3,000 homes in the next four years.
“The framework has already had three calls offs for 188 units across employers agent, principal designer and engineering lots which is a fantastic start.”
JV North members are Cobalt Housing, Cheshire Peaks & Plains Housing Trust, L&Q Housing Trust, Muir Group Housing Association, One Manchester, Plus Dane Housing, South Liverpool Homes, Southway Housing Trust, Stockport Homes Group, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, The Sovini Group, Torus, Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.