A recruitment event to get more local companies and individuals to work on upgrading Croydon’s 14,000 council homes attracted around 60 people this week.
Croydon Council’s new five-year £12m general building works contract includes a requirement to employ at least 84 sub-contractors based in the borough – either as individuals or as a firm’s employees.
On Monday staff from the borough’s main scheduled housing repairs contractor Mulalley met individuals and company representatives – from electricians and roofers to plumbers – to join the list of those bidding to deliver council services.
The Meet the Buyer event at the council’s Bernard Weatherill House offices included a networking session, a presentation on the work available and the chance to fill in a short application form.
The initiative is aimed at not only individuals and companies already qualified to do sub-contract work but also at those looking to get extra accreditation. All Croydon-based businesses who need support to become accredited sub-contractors will receive free training and advice to help bring them up to the required standards.
The event was open to:
• Roofers
• Lead workers
• Window fitters
• Concrete repairers
• Bricklayers
• Carpenters
• Plasterers
• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Decorators
• Floor layers
• Ceramic tilers
• Demolition operatives
• Ground workers
Hassan Rashid, who attended the event with colleagues from Coulsdon-based 1st Fix Maintenance Services, said it was an opportunity to not only go for new work but also get support and training. He said: “It’s fantastic, it really is. I don’t think any of us are qualified to go through procurement, so we thought about coming here to look for work.”
“It’s great that we had a strong turnout, and our new policy of guaranteeing work for local sub-contractors will benefit the borough’s economy for years to come.”
Councillor Simon Hall, cabinet member for finance and treasury
Mulalley Operations Director Bruce Benson said: “Mulalley is committed to ensuring that we use as many local Croydon businesses as possible in our supply chain to help deliver the works. It is really encouraging that so many attended our first Meet the Buyer event in Croydon for this long-term contract.”
Set up under the council’s Value Croydon initiative and the first of its kind in the borough, the focus on local sub-contractors could also hand extra work to another 100 local tradespeople if the council extends Mulalley’s contract.
Mulalley wants to go even further and give Croydon businesses 95% of its supply chain within five years, covering repairs and upgrades to council properties’ kitchens, bathrooms, roofs and extensions.
The council plans to further guarantee local jobs in future contracts when they come up for renewal, as it already has in its facilities management contracts that look after maintaining council offices.
Anyone who could not make the event and is still interested in signing up should email natalie.camilleri@mulalley.co.uk
