Rescue Me

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy
or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

Perhaps no one (except for maybe Albert Camus, seventy three years ago), could have confidently predicted COVID-19’s impact on the Social Housing sector in 2020 – particularly its repairs function.

Last week’s news of more lockdown-focused tightening prolongs existing challenges even further.

Most of the organisations I work with, especially where internal direct labour is involved (the trusty DLO or Building Services Team), have stripped back their repairs function. It’s just Emergency and Voids works now.

For the latter, a couple of my clients have focussed on preparing temporary accommodation for homelessness provision or early prisoner releases. Many DLO staff, including one on my street, oddly enough, have been furloughed.

More than one current client of mine has highlighted that tenants are ‘cottoning on’ to the new normal and logging minor issues as far larger ones, to squeeze repairs into the Emergency priority zone.

The dilemma for all appears to be a building backlog of ordinary, urgent, routine repairs (and some Right-To-Repair priorities in Scotland). Regulators seem to have dragged their feet in offering direction. However all those logged issues will have to be chewed through and everyone expects their current workforce to struggle when work orders can finally be scheduled.

Back in January, I blogged about Plentific, which could be described quite rightly as the socially-minded ‘Uber of Repairs’. The company and the concept is interesting to me as it has gained exceptional traction with providers such as Notting Hill Genesis, Peabody and uses a unique platform attractive to the sector. It also features a mature marketplace to match skilled staff, rated on each job, to sector demand. Verification of staff certifications and capabilities are coupled with a fast-paying financial platform, a key benefit for the framework of contractors.

The Plentific Platform

I was interested in how Plentific is expanding across the wider UK and more so, how COVID-19 may have impacted its business model. What’s the best rating achievable for works undertaken in this new normal?

Like others, Plentific initially saw a drive to more Emergency priority work, including the new innovation of COVID-19 deep cleans, particularly in London, where the Coronavirus spike hit first. With a number of trade staff within social housing clients self-isolating or furloughed, Plentific throughput was similar to the same quarter 2019.

From recent webinars and my own contacts in the sector, I know that Plentific is rapidly expanding into major conurbations across the UK. I understand that expansion of the platform’s ecosystem has led to more partner contractors under their wing already in the West Midlands, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.

This important development I believe unlocks a potential new resource in the main urban areas, becoming available to be used as a ‘pressure release valve’, for the social housing COVID-19 backlog.

More importantly, if as the scientists seem to be suggesting, a second peak arrives, Plentific might well be the backup for a DLO or your key partnering contractor.  

Plentific Battling the backlog discussion

Availability of solutions, as we all know, is one thing. Passing muster with procurement in order to exploit a new digital-world contractor, such as Plentific, can be something else. Framework-only is quite common these days, particularly in local authorities and fortunately a framework does exist.
 
Personally, I am liking the ‘Uber of Repairs’ concept, particularly as it's cost effective for landlords and potentially can drive up resident satisfaction. Contractors seem to like Plentific too, as it’s a personal and on-going relationship (way beyond the taxi Uber). Go check out more at https://www.plentific.com/

Related Post: How well does your organisation handle repair recharges? 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

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I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

Cabaret Voltaire - Rescue Me.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.

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. . . . . . . . . . . .

Red Framework, White Light

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy
or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy


Last week I had an enjoyable day down with Devonshires, at a session at their London Finsbury offices, near Moorgate. It was great to meet some existing contacts and a lot of new twitter followers in person. Some looked a little older than their profile pics I have to say 8-)

I have worked well with Gareth and his team, when working for recent clients I have been helping procure, and on the supplier side of the fence. The session was to look at some of the rules around OJEU, getting the most from procurement and particularly the wording of contracts.

The session at Devonshire's Moorgate office

A majority of IT and Telecoms procurements, these days can use Open or Restricted procedures. Few are blue sky enough, in order to really warrant the flexibility of Competitive Procedure with Negotiation (CPN), or Competitive Dialogue Procedure. Key takeaway was the watchword is transparency at all times, in order to maintain a level playing field.

Questions from the thirty or so attendees, from across the socialhousing sector, were very interesting. Frameworks came up, which was interesting as just about all HMS providers are now on RM1059 and other related ones. The question was could a contracting authority buy directly from a solution on a framework? Would this be guaranteed to represent best value?

The easy answers are yes and possibly.

While buying directly from a framework is possible, particularly for a HMS, could an organisation really confirm that the 'value for money' box is ticked, without really testing the market to a sufficient degree?  In some cases, for certain solutions, I have seen a cost differential of up to a factor or over ten times. That is a possibility of paying 9 times over the odds for similar functionality. RSL's can build a lot of new homes, refurb' many kitchens & bathrooms, and provide varied neighbourhood improvements for that. 

That is one of the reasons that a procurement penalty shootout might still be the best, even if a framework is available. Think carefully and be sure you are really ticking the VfM box.

... Also keep an eye out for the CCS 'Mystery Shopper'.
  

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://archive.org/details/@housingitguy

Related Post: Is getting to Go-Live, your chase to the finish? 

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I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.


Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Red Frame/White Light.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.
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