Our evolution
Efficiency North was one of three original trailblazing social housing consortia in the UK who first accessed the ODPM Efficiency Challenge Fund in June 2005.
The ODPM funds supported the set up in 2006 of a Pathfinder Scheme involving 4 South Yorkshire Councils – Sheffield City Council, Doncaster MBC, Rotherham MBC, Barnsley MBC and 4 South Yorkshire ALMOs – Sheffield Homes, Rotherham 2010, Berneslai Homes and St Leger Homes.
In 2007 the consortium grew into the Yorkshire & Humber Housing Construction Best Practice Forum after joining together with West Yorkshire and Humber Landlords. 4 South Yorkshire grew further in 2008 with Landlords from outside the South Yorkshire area joining to become Efficiency 4 North. In 2009 Y&H HCBPF and Efficiency 4 North combined to become Efficiency North.
Throughout its lifetime the consortium has always aimed to make efficiency gains through long term partnering contracts and collective purchasing power. We pursue a region-wide strategy to achieve sustainable long term savings, not only for our member organisations but for other public sector bodies, in line with government efficiency targets.
In July 2014 Efficiency North was incorporated as a private company in public sector ownership, limited by guarantee, with no share capital. As Efficiency North Limited the company continues to serve its membership of registered providers representing over two thirds of social housing located within Yorkshire and the Humber with innovative and intelligent procurement frameworks, an engaging programme of best practice and knowledge sharing events and funding for community projects. The new company format of Efficiency North enabled the business to be more efficient in its operations and respond more quickly to membership demands and opportunities for service enhancement. The company re-located its operational office base to Rotherham in September 2014.
Efficiency North Limited established a Charitable Incorporated Organisation called EN:Able Communities registered in England and Wales in August 2015 to support implementation of the consortium’s social value strategy.
Due to the organisation’s success and growth, Efficiency North moved to larger premises at Sovereign Court, Meadowhall, Sheffield in January 2017.
In July 2017 Efficiency North Limited was made an operating subsidiary company of Efficiency North Holdings Limited and a new Board was appointed with an Independent Chair.
Futureworks Holdings Limited (incorporating Futureworks Yorkshire CIC and Futureworks Flintshire CIC) was also made an operating subsidiary company of Efficiency North Holdings Limited becoming EN:Able Futures CIC; formally joining together after building a strong working relationship over 4 years, with the aim of improving on our strong track record of positive outcomes supporting apprenticeships and employers across Yorkshire and Humber.
In October 2017 Efficiency North Limited changed its name to EN:Procure Limited.
In May 2018 Efficiency North established EN:Able Build, an innovative not-for-profit company which aims to accelerate the delivery of affordable new-build housing schemes in the region by facilitating the building of projects that might have otherwise been delayed or not developed at all, and bring forward sites with developed infrastructure and serviced plots for self-build customers and SMEs.
With Department for Education funding delivered by CITB, EN:Able Futures established the Humber Construction Hub to provide skills training for people in North Hull to be construction industry ready. The on site training facility in Bransholme was officially opened on 3 October 2019.
With Department for Education funding delivered by CITB, EN:Able Futures established the Construction Skills 4 Life programme to provide employment training and support across West Yorkshire (Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Kirklees) to prepare young people not in Education or Training to become construction industry ready.
In 2022 we moved into our current office, Collaboration Works, which we've designed to suit our post-pandemic agile working model. The same year EN:Able Futures was appointed to the government register of Flexi-job apprenticeship agencies and expanded its services into the North East.
These are challenging times. You could be part of Efficiency North’s exciting journey as we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our member organisations and tenants, as well as the wider local community, whatever the challenges posed by the economic climate.