Meet the buyer event attended by more than 50 companies

This week, we held a meet the buyer event as we looks to award £100 million of contracts - many to local firms – over the coming years.

More than 50 companies and around 100 people were at Oldham College for the sell-out day - officially called a Pre Market Engagement Event.

We want to award contracts - some for up to seven years - in planned investment works, major repairs, responsive repairs and voids across our 11,500 homes.

“This was an incredibly successful, well attended event where we got to meet many new companies and some of our existing supply chain,” said Head of Procurement and Insurance Damon Pickard.

“It was also a chance to discuss how these public procurement contracts will be run and what the supply chain needs to do to be able to work with us, including offering social value to help support our neighbourhoods. This is where the true value in these events really lies for local firms.

“These contracts will also be planned so that it is not just large companies that can bid. We want to use local small businesses too - when the rules allow - to keep the Oldham pound in Oldham.”

He added: “At the moment 25% of our contractors come from a ten-mile radius of Oldham.”

The event on Tuesday – in partnership with Oldham College and Oldham Business Network - was opened by Chief Executive Mark Gifford. He told the audience how important the supply chain was to the local economy and to FCHO customers.

He also explained FCHO’s strategy going forward as it seeks to build at least 600 new homes in the coming years, improve its repairs service and ensure all its properties reach at least an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating by 2030.