Efficiency North Housing Consortium has been shortlisted as a finalist for the GO Collaborative Procurement Initiative of the Year Award, 'Public Sector Consortia' category.

Collaborative procurement is continuing to rise in prominence as pressure on public sector spending intensifies, and demands for smarter, joined-up procurement increase. The GO Collaborative Procurement Initiative of the Year Award recognises the vital role that collaboration will play in the future, and showcases the very best examples of this practice from across the entire public sector.

In recognising the critical role that procurement plays within the delivery of effective and efficient housing services, Efficiency North has for the last 4 years, been the benchmark by which innovation, quality and achievement in the housing sector  in the Yorkshire & Humber region has been measured.

The team entered the GO awards highlighting the collaborative approach to best practice and procurement efficiencies taken when developing the Re:allies materials framework. This framework was procured in conjunction with Procure Plus and North East Procurement for the benefit of the wider membership.

Although the Decent Homes programme is now coming towards the latter stages of its programme, the need for collaboration is as strong as ever. Efficiency North have harnessed the power of collaboration for the benefit of it’s members and their supply chains, and how this can result in improved value and better outcomes.

This has primarily resulted in:

• Less fragmented, and more engaged supply chains
• A stronger, more capable and better informed client working in a united way to shift the industry forward and push back traditional boundaries
• Reduced silo working, duplication & re-invention
• Peer challenge and sharing of knowledge to drive change
• Creation and use of effective management tools and information
• Delivery of cashable savings for programme re-investment

Added value is the recent creation of  Re:allies, which is the new strategic collaboration of housing consortia representing Efficiency North, Procure Plus, and North East Procurement, all meeting the needs of their various clients – primarily social housing landlords.

Mick Werritt, Chairman of Efficiency North commented; “This is a groundbreaking achievement and brings together, in one group, unmatched experience of building, regenerating and managing sustainable homes and environments, complemented by specialist organisations which are wholly focused on providing quality services that make a difference.”

The establishment of Re:allies offers a significant opportunity for social housing consortia to share best practice, undertake joint sourcing, promote schemes designed to improve local employment and reduce negative environmental impact. Jointly, the members of Re:allies are responsible for the repair and upkeep of over 800,000 properties across the North of England and have a remit to reinvest volume cost savings directly into local businesses, jobs and skills.

Efficiency North's Project Manager Carl Bairstow commented; “To be shortlisted for this award follows closely with Efficiency North's success at the Constructing Excellence Yorkshire and Humber Awards in September and the high commendation at the Constructing Excellence National Awards.”