Esh Construction is one of three key delivery partners appointed to Gentoo Group’s new £170 million ‘Gentogether’ partnership.
The long-term strategic initiative aims to significantly modernise customers’ homes by implementing a new approach to procuring and partnering with contractors to develop long-term collaborative relationships, which ultimately leads to better outcomes for customers.
The internal modernisation contract awards – worth £170 million across 10 years – are the first contracts to be awarded under the Gentogether partnership approach and will deliver improvement work to thousands of homes across Sunderland.
Esh is joined in the partnership delivery by fellow North East organisations PHS solutions and RE:GEN Group North East. It is anticipated around 3,000 properties will undergo £36.5 million worth of internal improvements in the first three years, including electrical rewires and kitchen and bathroom replacements.
Andrew Harrow, Framework Manager at Esh Construction said: “We’re delighted to be appointed by Gentoo to deliver this significant programme of housing modernisation works. This 10-year investment into homes across Sunderland and the wider Wearside area reflects a shared commitment to improving living standards for residents.
“Through our established expertise in planned maintenance and refurbishment, we look forward to delivering high-quality upgrades that make a real difference in communities. Importantly, this contract will also support local employment and training opportunities through our Constructing Local strategy, helping to drive social and economic value over the next decade.”
The Gentogether approach is customer and community focused, allowing organisations to work together for the benefit of the customer experience. The internal modernisation contracts are estimated to generate more than £32 million in social value over the next 10 years. The partnership will focus strongly on supporting employment and social value in the region through apprenticeship and training opportunities.
Peter Akers, Director of Asset and Sustainability at Gentoo said: “At Gentoo, we’re committed to providing the best possible service to our customers to ensure they are happy and living in warm, safe, and decent homes.
“To improve our service to customers, we’re launching Gentogether, a unique approach to partnerships allowing us to collaborate with our trusted contractors, sharing the same goals in an open and transparent way to remove competition, working together to deliver an even better service to our customers.
“Not only will our customers’ homes be improved, the local economy and local people will benefit from employment opportunities in a thriving community. I’m excited to see our unique partnership develop and the results we will achieve together.”
Due to the unique set up of the partnership, Gentoo is working with experts from 4i Solutions, who will act as a critical friend to the partnership, ensuring partners deliver innovation and work collaboratively to benefit the overall partnership.
Through our established expertise in planned maintenance and refurbishment, we look forward to delivering high-quality upgrades that make a real difference in communities. Importantly, this contract will also support local employment and training opportunities through our Constructing Local strategy, helping to drive social and economic value over the next decade.”