A new materials store recently opened for our repairs operatives and having the store in place will mean that our team can get the right materials for each job more quickly. You’ve told us that fixing repairs at the first visit and getting out to your repair more quickly is important to you and having this materials store in place will help us improve further on this.

The material store is part of our materials supply agreement with Huws Gray following the renewal of their contract. Representatives from the NPH Repairs Working Group (which is made up of staff members from our trades but also from different NPH teams such as procurement, finance and HR) were involved throughout the early market engagement process for the contract renewal and helped design the new materials store – they visited a similar operating model in Oxford to look at best practice. Their input helped to assess how the model could work locally for NPH and informed the development of the final proposal.

Huws Gray provide all of our repairs materials as part of the contract. The material store, which is located just a few minutes away from our main office site in St James, is staffed by Huws Gray and currently stocks over 900 commonly used products from bathtubs, to screws, to sealant. More products will be added to the store over time depending on what each of our repairs teams need. Our repairs team is made up of many different trades including: carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, bricklayers, fencers and paviours. All of the different trades need different materials for their repairs jobs so it’s important that they can access those materials quickly when responding to a residents’ repair request.

Before the materials store our repairs operatives had to order any specialist parts and wait for them to be delivered which caused a delay. Now when a repairs job comes in from a resident each of our repairs operatives can efficiently order the materials needed from a handy new app on their phone and collect them from the materials store on the same day if needed. Huws Gray and our staff members have worked hard to deliver the materials store and it’s already getting some great feedback. Its first official user on opening day was Multi-Task Plumber Lenny who had dropped into the store to collect a tap for a basin. Lenny said:

“It’s my first time using the materials store and so far, so good. We used to have to go to Duston to collect materials and they weren’t always in stock, this is more efficient and we can get to residents more quickly as a result.”

Our Repairs Working Group will continue to be actively involved in reviewing what stock is held by the materials store to ensure it stocks the right materials for each of our trade teams. The materials held in the store will be continually evaluated so it always has the right stock for our repairs jobs in line with the changing needs of our residents.

In addition to the materials store in St James, Huws Gray also keep stocked a pop-up store on the Eastern side of Northampton. It’s an unmanned store and is regularly refilled with commonly used materials so our repairs operatives can quickly get what they need if they are working on the other side of the town.

Huws Gray is committed to continue its contribution, as part of the contract, to NPH’s “Happy to Help” Community Interest Company, maintaining its positive impact within the local community. Happy to Help provides assistance to vulnerable residents by contributing furniture, white goods and helping clear hoarded properties. It also provides volunteering and training opportunities through our Paint Shop in Kings Heath.

Winston Williams, Executive Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive of NPH oversees the repairs team and said of the new store:

“This dedicated facility has been created to support our repairs service by ensuring essential materials are readily available, well-managed, and stored to the highest standard. By improving stock control, traceability, and access to critical components, the store will help us further reduce waste, improve efficiency, and continue to deliver high-quality repairs for our residents.

This is an important step forward in strengthening our operational service and our shared commitment to excellence across Northamptonshire Partnership Homes and West Northamptonshire Council.”

NPH manage social housing services on behalf of West Northamptonshire Council (WNC). We were pleased to be joined at the opening of the materials store by Councillor Charlie Hastie, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at WNC. Councillor Hastie said:

“It was great to see firsthand how this new materials store will support faster, more efficient repairs for our residents. Making sure repairs are completed right first time and without unnecessary delays is a key priority, and this facility will make a real difference in helping achieve that.

This is a strong example of partnership working in action between West Northamptonshire Council, Northamptonshire Partnership Homes and Huws Gray, delivering practical improvements that benefit both staff and residents. I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have across our communities.”

Jade Woodward, Commercial Director at Huws Gray said of the project:

“Opening this dedicated store for Northampton Partnership Homes is a really positive step in strengthening our partnership, and it’s also a clear example of local investment in a service that supports frontline teams.

Having a tailored facility in place will help streamline supply of materials, improve job efficiency, and ensure the NPH team has the right materials, when and where they’re needed. Ultimately, this supports the delivery of high quality, first time fixes for residents, and helps to make a positive difference within the communities which NPH serves.

Just as importantly, this store is about more than just day to day service – It reflects our shared commitment to community improvements. Investing locally, supporting community initiatives, and working collaboratively on local projects that make a real difference for NPH residents and neighbourhoods.

We’re proud to be working so closely with the NPH team, and we’re really looking forward to building on this partnership from this new location.”