Grafton is committed to best practice in all trading areas. As a supply chain partner we work closely with our customers from the outset to understand their objectives and devise a solution tailored to their needs.
We will help our public sector clients meet the government’s improved efficiency targets and ensure that they enjoy the benefits of partnering through our Supply Chain Solutions.
With Grafton, the supply chain process involves individuals who specialise in this area. We establish key performance indicators (KPIs) that are simple, clearly defined and easily measured. Constant review helps identify strengths and weakness and provide a platform for continuous improvement.
We have chosen those suppliers whose level of customer service matches our own. Our combined strengths ensure quality products, services and a high level of expertise from all members of the procurement team.
Grafton advocates that, central to a successful partnership, are a thorough understanding of each other’s business, structured account management, good communication and an open and honest approach to the working relationship.
Partnering with GMGB will reduce expenditure and timescales while increasing customer satisfaction and service quality.
GGrafton, through its brands such as Buildbase, Plumbase and Jacksons, has extensive partnering experience in the social housing field. It has won numerous contracts with housing associations, trusts and local authorities. Providing a diverse range of supply solutions from dedicated in-house stores facilities to supply-only agreements.
With a range of over 60,000 products Grafton is able to deliver value-added products and solutions to meet the needs of day-to-day reactive maintenance, as well as the demands of quick turnaround of void properties and the specification of decent homes materials.
Grafton has thorough experience of the OJEU process and is also a framework supplier to both Procurement for Housing and OGC Buying Solutions.
“Buildbase takes the burden out of the daily ordering of materials with multiple suppliers, particularly as we have moved many of our third party suppliers to Buildbase as they manage the order requests on our behalf to a core list arrangement.”
Buildbase provides an outsourced stores facility for the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust at Aylesbury Buildbase. The stores provides the day-to-day requirements for their 40 direct labour reactive maintenance operatives and handles approximately £500,000 of product per year.
The Vale of Aylesbury Trust is a ‘not for profit’ housing association formed following the transfer of 7350 homes from Aylesbury Vale District Council in July 2006. They have an annual turnover of £25 million and employ around 200 staff.
The housing trust is a member of the Procurement for Housing purchasing consortium, to which Buildbase is an OJEU approved supplier.
Buildbase maintains the van stocks using an innovative electronic system provided by another of business partner 1st Touch. Details of van stock replenishments are sent from the operative’s handheld PDA (personal data assistant) to the Buildbase store via a dedicated web portal.
The stores is by Joe Nitsche, who previously performed a similar role for the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust and is now employed by Buildbase.
During February 2008, in an effort to bring about further efficiencies and savings, Buildbase and the specified kitchen manufacturer came together to provide a ready source of units for the ‘void maintenance programme’. By holding stock the trust will be able to achieve a faster turn around of empty properties, having them available for new tenants within two weeks.
Weaver Vale Housing Trust chose Grafton as its new partner using the Buildbase brand to provide a more effective repairs service for customers in West Cheshire.
The partnership has seen the opening of a new dedicated stores facility at Northwich Buildbase in Wincham, which manages the supply of all materials to the trust’s property services teams.
By obtaining all materials directly from Buildbase, the trust’s 115 repairs and maintenance trade staff will save time and money sourcing materials, enabling them to provide an improved service to residents. The new facility also employs three dedicated Buildbase stores personnel whose role is solely to assist trust staff.
Graham Roberts, director of Property Services at Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: “The trust is delighted to open its new on-site stores at Buildbase. The new facility will enable us to provide our customers with a fast, high quality, and more cost efficient repairs and maintenance service.
“The new service will also benefit the commercial, public sector and private individual customers of our subsidiary building company, Weaver Horizons."
“Over a four year period £464k will be generated overall in savings through using Buildbase. This justifies the changes that have been made and does not take into account any further savings that will be demonstrated through the future value for money review process that has been introduced."
“We chose Buildbase as our preferred stores partner and they have delivered savings and improved the efficiency both in the field and in the back office. We have been delighted with the ‘can-do’ attitude of the Buildbase team which allows our managers to manage our workforce whilst Buildbase manage our materials supply chain, resulting in enhanced, top class service for our customers.”
Graham Roberts, Director of Property Services at Weaver Vale Housing Trust
To assist the social housing sector and produce efficiencies Grafton is an approved framework supplier to Procurement For Housing. This enables social housing providers to access materials via a fully compliant OJEU framework.
Who are PfH
Procurement For Housing is the only national procurement organisation dedicated to the needs of the social housing sector. PfH is an essential business tool for social landlords. The consortium generates substantial savings by harnessing the collective purchasing power of housing organisations. By reducing procurement costs, organisations can reinvest resources in front-line services, decent homes and vibrant neighbourhoods. Grafton and PfH are currently delivering significant savings for housing organisations right across the UK.
As the largest and fastest growing procurement consortium in the sector, PfH members now represent over 60% of the UK’s total social housing stock.
Grafton accepts PfH’s groundbreaking Account Card launched in May 2007. This electronic card system is now widely used by members, their DLOs and their materials contractors.
Over £15 million was saved for the social housing sector by PfH in its first four years of operation.
More than 500,000 invoices have been processed through PfH’s Central Billing system since 2004.
Criteria including social and environmental sustainability, equality and diversity have been integrated into PfH’s tender evaluation under EU procurement regulations.
“ I needed a supplier who would be competitive on price, provide quality products and give an open, honest and professional service delivery. PfH assisted us with this by offering us their OJEU compliant materials framework."
Stella Williams, CDHT Purchasing & Performance Manager