Press Releases
JACKSON’S IN MAJOR DEAL TO SUPPLY HOUSING SECTOR
8th March 2006
Issued on behalf of: Jackson Building Centres
Issue date: March 2006
JACKSON Building Centres is to supply bathroom equipment to housing organisations around the country after its parent company, the Grafton Group, secured a major new contract.
Lincoln-based Jackson’s will provide the products as part of an agreement with the organisation Procurement for Housing (PfH) - the national buying consortium for the social housing sector, which is sponsored by the National Housing Federation and the Chartered Institute of Housing.
PfH is aiming to create substantial savings for its Members, which include housing associations, ALMOs (Arms Length Management Organisations) and Local Authorities - by sourcing materials on their behalf from specialist plumbing and heating suppliers. Companies such as Jackson’s trade with a host of leading manufacturers and can secure competitive prices, passing on savings to the housing sector.
The initiative means that PfH will become Jackson’s largest single customer and will further strengthen the company’s position in the competitive builders’ merchant industry.
Jackson’s will distribute a broad range of products to Member housing organisations on behalf of selected bathroom manufacturers which include leading names such as Armitage Shanks, Twyfords and Mira. Many products ranging from complete bathroom suites to showers, taps and other accessories are available `off the shelf” from its 20 branches across the East Midlands.
Sales director Derek Rossin said the company was delighted to be working in partnership with PfH in its bid to cut housing costs. “With 60 years of experience and our position as the largest builders’ merchant in the East Midlands, we are ideally placed to provide this comprehensive service which will help housing organisations to deliver a cost-effective and efficient service to thousands of residents up and down the country,” he added.
Julie Craig, Procurement for Housing Director said: “The Grafton Group, and its subsidiary Jackson Building Centres, is one of two companies to which we have awarded this three-year contract. We take many factors into account during the tendering process including price, quality, service levels and flexibility. We are confident that this new arrangement will greatly benefit our 338 Members who manage more than 1.8 million properties nationwide.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
Jackson Building Centres has 20 branches located in Boston, Chesterfield, Corby, Gainsborough, Grantham, Grimsby, Horncastle, Lincoln, Louth, Newark, Nottingham, Oakham, Scunthorpe, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding, Spilsby, Stamford, Sutton and Swinton.
Established in 1946, the family controlled builders’ merchants business has a turnover of c £145m and employs over 1,050 people throughout the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
Procurement for Housing
PfH is the only national procurement organisation dedicated to the needs of the housing sector. Following a successful two-year pilot, the National Housing Federation, Chartered Institute of Housing and HouseMark officially launched it in March 2004. The Housing Corporation and the ODPM also support PfH.
PfH has been created as an essential business tool to generate substantial savings by harnessing the collective purchasing power of housing organisations. By reducing procurement costs, organisations can reinvest resources in front-line services, decent homes and vibrant neighbourhoods.
PfH currently has 336 Members collectively managing over 1.8 million homes, making PfH's purchasing power unparalleled in the sector. The consortium provides services in the following product areas: Office Supplies; Print Management; Communications Services (Landline, Data and Mobile); Energy Management, Personal Computers; Photocopying Equipment and Services; Materials - Repairs & Maintenance; Vehicle Leasing & Insurance/Financial Services and Janitorial Supplies and will soon be launching services in a range of other areas including: Office and Scheme furniture and Work Wear & Personal Protective Equipment.
Management of Procurement for Housing
Procurement for Housing (PfH) is managed by specialist contractor Collective Enterprises Limited (CEL) – selected following an open tendering procedure through the Official Journal of the European Union. CEL has significant experience of collective purchasing in both the public and private sectors. The quality of the contractor’s work is monitored and assured by HouseMark – the performance improvement subsidiary of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Further information can be obtained by visiting the website at www.procurementforhousing.co.uk
Press contact:
Liz Dimitrijevic, Colbear Public Relations
Tel: 01302 368651, Fax: 01302 341735
Email: liz@colbear.co.uk