From improved efficiencies and financial cost savings through to increased tenant satisfaction, a managed service from a building materials supplier can deliver significant value for social housing providers. But as no two registered social landlords are the same, a one-size-fits-all approach to building procurement will never work. This three-step guide can help you through the process of designing a managed service partnership that meets your needs.
1. Establishing what you want
Procurement management services spread far and wide with what they can deliver. Before any procurement process starts, landlords must ask themselves what they want to achieve from a managed service partnership. Not only to understand how their existing services are being delivered, but also where there is potential to improve and make savings. It’s important to have a clear outline of what solutions you require to ensure there are no gaps missing in your strategy. This will also enable you to pick the right managed building procurement partner in the next steps.
2. Begin consulting for your managed service
Once you have answers to the questions set out in step one you will be ready to engage with a range of procurement management providers.
Most often, consultation with managed building procurement providers should be free of charge. These consultations add another layer of due diligence to your procurement process. This helps you to assess if they can meet your requirements, but also ensures you are able to benefit from the full capabilities available in the market.
To get the most out of this process we have put together nine questions to ask potential managed service partners. These include how they deliver community or social value or whether they offer a domestic supply chain solution.
After this, good procurement management service providers should follow up with considered, detailed proposals. These will outline potential strategies and recommendations to help inform your procurement process.
3. Best practice procurement
For social housing providers, despite the procurement process offering limited flexibility, undertaking the groundwork in steps one and two will give you a much clearer idea of which procurement management provider represents not only the best value for money, but also the best cultural fit for your organisation. You will be in a much stronger position to go through the full procurement process, of which there are several.
Selecting the right process is crucial. Whether it is via a tender procedure, the OJEU, or a direct award, it is important to assess the merits of each and choose the right one for you.
Our guide explores each of the three procurement management options in more detail. This is so that you can find the right type of fit for your organisation. If you want to know more about Travis Perkins Managed Services and how we can support you with a complete solution, please get in touch. We design bespoke managed services for repairs and maintenance which include supply chain solutions and building procurement. Email managedservices@travisperkins.co.uk today or fill out our online contact form and a member of our team will discuss this with you further.
For more guidance on managed services from a building materials supplier, read our guide below. This outlines seven key questions you should be asking yourself to ensure you end up with a service that suits your needs.
Read our Guide for Registered Social Landlords here:
