News

Fewer defects, lower whole-life costs and increased customer satisfaction are just some of the benefits of modern methods of construction (MMC). Those are the key findings in a new report on the outcomes of an innovative trial to demonstrate how MMC can help tackle the affordable housing shortage in the UK.

The main event for team SWPA over the last few months has been delivering the SWPA Social Value Conference and AGM which was held on Wednesday, 12^th June 2024, between 9.30am to 4.30pm at the Forge, in Winslade Manor, where SWPA previously held their Asset Safety and Compliance Conference.

On 16^th May, LHC Procurement Group had the pleasure of sponsoring and attending the UK National GO Awards at the Titanic Hotel, Liverpool. As well as sponsoring the Social Value award category, LHC’s Regional Procurement Manager for London and the South East, Paul Smith, also had the honour of serving as a judge on this year’s panel and was extremely impressed by the innovative and impactful projects presented.

The team at the South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) have had a busy start to the year, with the launch of three impressive frameworks, along with site visits, events and excelling new initiatives.

A new framework to support the retrofit and decarbonisation of the UK’s 6.1 million social homes and public sector buildings opens for applications from the 29th of April. LHC Procurement Group (LHC) is seeking consultants and specialists in energy efficiency, heating and ventilation, renewables, charging points and solar PV, for its new Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9) framework. 

The South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) is based in Exeter and comprises of a locally based team of six who dedicate their time to improving lives and places, through viable and efficient procurement solutions in the South West.

A new £360 million framework to deliver housing and non-residential refurbishment aims to drive local investment, with over 70% of appointed companies SMEs.  

Public sector construction suppliers are being invited to attend a major industry event that will discuss broad perspectives from across the sector on retrofitting at scale to decarbonise the UK's existing built environment and deliver a net zero future.

To support achieving the Gold Standard – introduced by Professor David Mosey following the independent review of public sector construction frameworks – LHC recommends that every local authority, housing association and public sector client has a committed, and ideally approved, programme of work for at least three years ahead.  

As part of Britain’s net-zero strategy, frameworks will deliver much of the country’s massive retrofit programme but how can SME's gain access to LHC frameworks? Jennifer Castle, Chief Operating Officer at LHC Procurement Group, explains the process in Construction Management.