Posted on May 19th, 2023 by Elaine Davies
We’ve signed a new partnership with Travis Perkins to improve our supply chain process for ordering materials and replenishing van stock.
The new contract came into effect on 1 April 2023 and will be in place for five years.
We already use Travis Perkins in Birmingham and Worcester so the change will affect Maintenance colleagues working in Coventry.
Our Head of Voids and Programme Works Matthew Lloyd said: “We’re changing our building supplier to streamline our services and help improve the supply of our building materials.
“Travis Perkins (TP) is the UK’s largest supplier of materials to the building and construction industry and has over 500 branches across the country, so they have a constant supply of products and materials available.
“The new location for operatives will be the Coventry North branch at Lockhurst Lane in Coventry and the products will be as good, if not better, than the type used previously. TP should also be able to provide our non-core products the next day.”
TP has partnered with all our exiting third-party suppliers so it is easy to call through orders and arrange for them to be collected from the relevant supplier.
In the summer a new app, called TP Go, will also be available so van operatives can order their van stock at the touch of a button.
The new contract means our customers will have a better experience.
Matthew added: “Through the use of Travis Perkins, customers should see an improvement in their experience. This includes fewer follow-on appointments due to improved stock availability.”
Travis Perkins Midlands Regional Director, Ian Blunt said: “The Travis Perkins Managed Services Team and I, are delighted to be working with Citizen.
“This is an exciting expansion of our existing, well established relationship in Birmingham and Worcester and by working with the Coventry team we’re looking forward to providing a market leading service to operatives and making a real difference to the local community.
“Citizen tradespeople will benefit from the dedicated extension to the Travis Perkins Coventry branch, providing access to an extended range of products, access to our full supply chain and dedicated service from staff who will already be familiar faces.
“On that note, I’d also like to welcome Suzy, Paul, Oakley and Dean to the Travis Perkins family as an integral part of the initial and future success of this exciting partnership!”
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Posted on May 18th, 2023 by Elaine Davies
More than 1,000 homes have been completed at our Spirit Quarters regeneration project in northeast Coventry.
We’re working with national housebuilder, Keepmoat, on the regeneration scheme which is currently in its fifth phase.
Our customer Margaret Dodge moved into the 1,000th home with her son, Samuel, and loves her new home.
She said: “When I moved into my new home at Spirit Quarters, it felt like I’d been given a new life and a new start.
“I love everything about my new home, from the parking to the atmosphere and the homeliness of it. It’s warm, clean and beautiful – it’s everything I could wish for in a home.”
Margaret added that her new home has also benefitted her son.
She said: “My son loves that we have a garden, and he is able to go out there whenever he wants.
“The Spirit Quarters estate is going to be really beautiful when it is done, and it is looking great so far.”
Margaret’s son, Samuel, added: “I love having a garden it will be great to have a BBQ in the summer. It’s such an awesome house.”
Phases one to four of the development delivered 979 new homes in the area and 275 of these were allocated as affordable homes for us.
The fifth phase will see a further 94 homes built.
Director of Regeneration Kevin Roach said: “We are so pleased to hear how much Margaret loves her new home and we hope she enjoys her time living at Spirit Quarters.
“It’s also fantastic news that we have reached our 1,000-home milestone at the development and we’re looking forward to seeing more homes completed as part of phase five of the scheme.
“At Citizen we believe successful regeneration is about creating communities which give people a foundation for life. The change that has taken place in the area and continues to take place would not have been possible without the continued drive, support and commitment of the community and our partner Moat House Community Trust.”
Amanda Bishop, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, West Midlands, said: “We’re thrilled to announce completion of the 1,000th home at the Spirit Quarters development. Thanks to our ongoing partnership with Citizen, we’ve developed a thriving community that has directly benefited the local community, both through additional, high-quality housing and job creation.
“Our housing is designed to benefit everyone in the community and encourage them to spend time outside with features such as parks and green open spaces. We’re also extremely proud to work in collaboration with housing associations such as Citizen to make a real impact for those who, without support, might not be able to own their own homes”.
Phase five of the development started in summer 2021 and is due to be completed by the end of 2023.
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Posted on May 16th, 2023 by Elaine Davies
Our partnership with Coventry City Council which supports teenagers leaving the care system has been featured in a new Channel 4 documentary series.
Kids, which had its first episode broadcast on 10 May and is also available on All 4, follows the experiences of six young people who have been in care.
Some of those featured are part of the House Project Coventry, which is our partnership with Coventry City Council and registered charity National House Project.
We provide suitable properties so that when the young people are ready to move into their own homes, they’re given an equitable tenancy (for people under 18) or starter tenancy, with a view to convert to a longer-term tenancy at the appropriate time.
Each young person receives support and takes part in workshops and projects provided by Coventry City Council for several months before being put forward for a tenancy.
Episodes two and three of Kids follows some of the young people who are part of the House Project Coventry.
Head of Housing Support Elizabeth Carroll said: “The programme Kids has given a great insight into the lives of people who are part of House Project Coventry and the impact that it has on them.
“Our involvement in the House Project is so important and also shows the significance of working with Coventry City Council on the project. It highlights another example of where we are working in partnership with others to tackle homelessness and support young people.
“Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the House Project Coventry and for all your hard work to help young people.”
Cllr Patricia Seaman, Cabinet member for Children’s Services at Coventry City Council, said: “We are pleased the wider public have the opportunity to see the work we have been doing and the difference it is making for children and young people in Coventry. We are really proud of ‘Kids’ and all of our young people and staff who have taken part.”
Kids is next on Channel 4 on Wednesday 17 May at 9pm.
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Posted on May 3rd, 2023 by Elaine Davies
Colleagues from our Asset Management team showed Government officials round our completed Social Housing Decarbonisation properties in Coventry.
The team from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) were shown around homes which benefitted from funding as part of Wave 1 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.
Works included external wall insulation, energy efficient doors and windows, and improving ventilation. We worked with Coventry City Council as part of the bid for this.
The group were shown an overview of the project including what lessons we have learned and what successes we had, before seeing completed properties at Lawrence Saunders Road, Tomson Avenue and Randle Street.
It was also an opportunity for DESNZ to see that we are delivering on our commitments as part of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave 1.
Our Asset Manager Adam Denny said: “This was the final visit of three we had planned with DESNZ to view properties in Coventry which were part of the first wave of Social Housing Decarbonisation Funding.
“The aim of the visit was to take a look at completed projects and learn from them to see where we could improve next time. It was also the first opportunity representatives from the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Delivery Board had to join us.
“We received very positive feedback from DESNZ about the visit who said they found it really informative and wished us all the best for our next round of Social Housing Decarbonisation works.”
As part of the visit we also had the opportunity for our contractor Westdale Midlands to demonstrate to DESNZ the process insulating homes at their new training centre in Coventry.
We have recently been awarded £23.8m from DESNZ as part of the second round of Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund. We have been awarded the grant alongside Coventry City Council and we will work together to improve the EPC rating of more than 2,000 homes across Coventry.
We have also been awarded a share of £12m to improve our homes in Birmingham and Sandwell. This is part of a successful bid with the Matrix Housing Partnership – a consortium of seven social landlords.
You can find out more about our success in the second round of the social housing decarbonisation fund here.
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