CHIC’s Members all have to comply with PCR 2015, so CHIC as an organisation must obviously also comply with those regulations. As CHIC’s first ten years drew to a close the Board embarked on a new procurement exercise in 2019, to select a new managing agent.

Due to a range of operational issues, the procurement period was extended into 2021, with tenders being sought following placement of an OJEU notice in late 2020. CHIC’s Board, supported by Trowers and Hamlins and Kennedy Cater, managed the procurement process through its normal stages.

ARK Consultancy was CHIC’s original agent, itself investing in the original feasibility study and business plan, now over a decade ago. ARK has provided agency services to CHIC during its first eleven years of operation but understandably could have no involvement in the reprocurement of the service, if it were to bid for a further term.

The procurement process has now completed and ARK Consultancy was the highest scoring bidder and has therefore been appointed to act as CHIC’s managing agent for a further term of 5 years, with effect from the 1^st July 2021. The procurement allows for the term to be extended for up to a further 5 years.

CHIC’s Board is very clear that this is the start of a new chapter in the growth and development of CHIC.

As part of the formal procurement process, CHIC’s Board, on behalf of Members, set out clear objectives and expectations of the managing agent which in turn were reflected in the tender proposals and costs. There is now a new agency contract executed by both CHIC and ARK and this sets clear business and service objectives on behalf of the Members, which the agent will be focused on delivering.

John Fisher, long term director of ARK Consultancy but also founding Managing Director and now Chief Executive of CHIC states “Having been a fundamental part of initiating CHIC with a small group of Members and working with them and a progressively increasing membership over the last 10 years, we are delighted to have been successful in CHIC’s recent tender process. This provided the opportunity for the focused and dedicated CHIC team to make a seamless transition to a new and exciting business plan period.”

“We look forward to working closely with CHIC’s Board, Members and extensive supply chain to continue to add value for our Members through the range of service offers now available.”

CHIC will now be focussed on developing its business strategy, that reflects Member needs, for the 5 years 2021-26.

CHIC’s Chair, Maggie Punyer said “ CHIC is entering a new and very exciting period.  The requirements and procurement needs of our Members and the sector will remain our priority, but we hope to be able to meet those needs even more efficiently whilst continuing to offer value for money and quality.  This has been a long process but the outcome begins a new chapter and the Board is looking forward to working with ARK and our established staff team.”

CHIC Order Management System Update

Great progress has been made with the CHIC Order Management System (COMS) since we reported on its launch.

The development team is working on expanding the capability for new members. Currently the system is used by a single CHIC member, but the new features will allow contractors and suppliers to manage orders across multiple members, as well as allowing CHIC to manage member catalogues.

We have also implemented a new dashboard feature that allows the member to configure a live reporting display which can be accessed through their COMS login at any time.

Future developments include a live system integration with our supply chain to automate the order process. We are expecting to welcome more members to start using COMS and to be involved in the next level of testing in the near future.

CHIC’s Governance -  Recruiting Non-Operational Directors

CHIC is a consortium that is owned in equal part by all of its members. CHIC’s governance is overseen by a Board of Directors; the Boards role it is to set the consortium’s strategic direction, ensure that it provides the contracts, frameworks and services that the members want and to monitor operational delivery of the agreed strategy.

CHIC’s Board is made up of an Independent Chair and up to 10 further Directors, at least 8 of whom must be member representatives. CHIC’s Board reviews it’s mix of skills and experience regularly, to ensure that it has the requisite knowledge and experience to represent members effectively.

The current Directors on CHIC’s Board and their roles in CHIC are as follows:

• Maggie Punyer, Independent Chair
• Ian Hancock, Vice Chair & Group Director, The Community Housing Group
• Leon Storer, Assistant Director of Assets, Stonewater
• David Wells, Head of Operational Services, Wrekin Housing Trust
• Sarah Payling, Strategic Partnerships Director, Ocean Media Group (Independent Director)
• Mark Pinnell, Executive Director of Assets & Development, Solihull Community Housing
• Jayne Bissell, Group Procurement Manager, Connexus
• Luke Beard, Assistant Director of Development & Asset Management, Two Rivers Housing
• Mak Akinyemi, Formerly Director of Property Services, Gateway Housing Association
• Naeem Nawaz, Head of Finance, Accent Group

In June 2021 the Board said farewell to Andy Howarth.  He was CHIC’s founding Chair and, having stepped down from that role, remained as a co-opted Board member to support the agency procurement process.  CHIC is indebted to Andy for his huge support and stewardship over the last 11 years.

The current long term Vice Chair of CHIC, Ian Hancock, has also advised he will be stepping down from the Board in September.  Again, Ian has been an importance influence over many years and a strong supporter of CHIC’s services and we thank him for his valuable input.

CHIC’s Board is now recruiting for two new Directors.  We are keen to see that the Board is able to represent the interests of our full range of members whilst having an effective blend of skills and expertise.

CHIC’s Board meets four times each year, holds an annual business planning awayday and meetings at our annual conference.

If you are interested in joining the Board, please contact our Chief Executive, John Fisher (M 07702 230489 or E jfisher@chicltd.co.uk) in the first instance to find out more about these roles.

Launch of new Member Services and Products      

CHIC has been progressing a number of frameworks and DPS solutions over the recent months. All of the new procurements set out below are in the final stages of the procurement process and we expect them to be available to CHIC members from July 2021.

Consultancy Services Framework

Open: 17^th April 2021

Closed: 12^th May 2021

This is a multi-disciplinary consultancy framework comprising Building Surveying services, Contract Administration, Employers Agents, Quantity Surveying services, and Principal Designer and any other roles that may be required to support the delivery of high quality, on time, on budget works. Support can be delivered at any project stage from Inception to Completion, or to monitor completed projects, and may be in relation to

Planned Works Programmes, individual works contracts, or any other projects that may arise during the framework term.

The Framework includes the following Lots:

• Lot 1 Integrated Consultancy Team
• Lot 2 Structural Engineer
• Lot 3 Façade Engineer
• Lot 4 Fire engineer
• Lot 6 Housing and Asset Management Services

Open: 7^th May 2021

Closed: 18^th June 2021

This is an 8-year Framework to commission Service Providers for advising, capturing, creating, hosting, and maintaining Digital Assets in respect of the built environment. 

CHIC is seeking to establish a multi-provider framework with partners that can deliver to our members support to enable them to transform their physical asset base into a true Digital Asset. We have sought solutions that will allow members to manage an asset through its lifecycle more effectively (digitally)and to integrate it with existing systems, ensuring capture of the ‘Golden Thread of information’.  In particular, members have expressed interest for Higher Risk Residential Buildings (HRRB), public buildings and larger structures. Our members key deliverables from Digital Asset Delivery focus on Building and People  Safety, Intelligent Asset Management and future emissions reduction.

We expect this Framework to establish access to several providers that will have the in-house capability to complete any or all the following categories that we believe will deliver a comprehensive solution to our Members.

• Element 1 Digital Advocate
• Element 2 Digital Capture
• Element 3 Digital Asset Creation
• Element 4 Digital Asset Collation
• Element 5 Digital Twin Platform
• Element 6 Member Specific System Development

Compliance Audit Services Framework

Open: 17^th May 2021

Closed: 29^th June 2021

A new four-year Framework to commission companies for the provision of asbestos management, commercial gas, domestic gas, electrical safety, fire safety, lifting equipment, mechanical and electrical and water hygiene auditing. These are services required by our members to provide them with third party expert assurance around their Building Safety and Compliance responsibilities. 

The Framework will enable Members to access a range of internal Policy Compliance and Site Portfolio Audits along with Site Contractor Assurance Audits. The audit process is an integral part of regulatory management to ensure that routine servicing and maintenance is completed to a defined scope/specification, in line with the member’s requirements, whilst complying with legislative and company policy requirements.

The lots available will be as follows:

• Lot 1 Asbestos Management Auditing           
• Lot 2 Commercial Gas Auditing       
• Lot 3 Domestic Gas Auditing            
• Lot 4 Electrical Safety Auditing
• Lot 5 Fire Safety Auditing 
• Lot 6 Lifting Equipment Auditing    
• Lot 7 Mechanical and Electrical Auditing      

In case you missed them, we also released our Risk Assessment Framework, Lifts Framework and Asbestos Abatement Framework earlier in the year.

If you would like to utilise any of these solutions, please get in touch with your Head of Member Services. 

Stephen Sharman

 
Victoria Speakman

Head of Member Services (South West & Wales)
07793 071784
vspeakman@chicltd.co.uk
 
Lesley Dixon

Head of Member Services (Cumbria & North West)
07840 537979
ldixon@chicltd.co.uk

Membership

CHIC has welcomed several new members over the past few months.  CHIC’s members now comprises 148 organisations in total. The latest organisations joining CHIC to access our services include:

• Bassetlaw District Council
• Castle Point Borough Council
• Forest Future Homes Limited
• Gentoo
• Hartlepool Borough Council
• Hendre Housing Association
• Qualis Group
• Radian
• Together Housing
• Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust Limited

The CHIC Team

We are pleased to welcome Manjit Sanghera, who has recently joined  the CHIC team as Supply Chain Manager, responsible for providing management support to CHIC’s materials and labour supply chain.

Manjit has experience of working for builders’ merchants such as Jewson, Selco and most recently Travis Perkins specialising in Category Management. Manjit’s role includes strategic supplier management and engagement, negotiating annual contracts and cost inflations, reviewing sales and margin figures to build category plans and aiding in generating new opportunities via tender processes.

Prior to joining CHIC, Manjit worked at Travis Perkins as Category Manager for Insulation and Roofing products, where she managed tenders, range reviews and category plans, to secure product volume commitment and key merchant-supplier partnerships.