The UK’s largest roofing contractor has fallen into administration.

Avonside was forced into administration last week after it saw its profits pinched by the Covid-19 pandemic. The company provided specialist roofing, energy and plumbing services to the UK’s housebuilding industry, operating 39 branches across its three divisions, Avonside Roofing, Avonside Energy and Avonside Plumbing.

We understand that some of CHIC’s members may have contracted work with Avonside, albeit not through a CHIC framework or DPS. CHIC has recently launched its new Roofing Framework, comprising five suppliers across the lots for flat roofing and pitched roofing systems and thirteen roofing contractors in the two workstreams for flat and pitched roofing works.

If your planned roofing works have been halted or effected, or if you have any questions or concerns about CHIC’s Roofing Framework, please contact CHIC’s Member Services Director Steve at ssharman@chicltd.co.uk

More about the framework

This new CHIC framework has been developed to provide an efficient, value for money procurement route for social landlords and other public sector bodies for the design, supply and installation of roofing systems and associated works in all types of refurbishment and new build projects.

The framework scope includes the design, supply, installation and associated works for:

Lot 1 - Flat Roofing Systems
Includes the design, supply of traditional flat roofing products to include (but not be limited to), asphalt, systems, torch on systems such as bituminous built up roofing systems, flame-free systems such as single ply, bituminous systems and GRP. This may include associated products and works such as flashings, fascia, soft, weathering and rainwater items.

Lot 2 -Pitched Roofing Systems
Includes the design, supply of traditional pitched roof coverings to include (but not be limited to), plain concrete tiles, interlocking concrete tiles, interlocking resin or slate, plain clay tiles, interlocking clay tiles, natural blue, black and grey slate, fibre cement slate, all to include flashings, facia, soft, weathering and rainwater items.

Lot 3 -Roofing Contractors
Includes the design, supply and installation of traditional flat/pitched roof coverings to include (but not be limited to), plain concrete tiles, interlocking concrete tiles, interlocking resin or slate, plain clay tiles, interlocking clay tiles, natural blue, black and grey slate, fibre cement slate, all to include flashings, facia, soft, weathering and rainwater items.

CHIC’s new adapted bathrooms material framework

Last September CHIC’s board adopted a new social value strategy, which included the intention to establish a dedicated, aligned charity. This new charity, Communities and Housing Investment in People (CHIP) was formally registered in May and became operational and active for our new financial year, on 1st July 2022.

 

CHIC Contractual Apprenticeships
All CHIC procured contracts, where the annual value is more than £1m, will be expected to deliver apprenticeships.

 

CHIC Employment Sponsorship
CHIC will work with and financially support LEGs’ in the main regions of CHIC’s active members, to secure permanent employment for people who are disadvantaged or distant from the workplace.

 

CHIC Community Chest
CHIC will provide small grants to support local projects being promoted in the communities our members support.

 

CHIC Annual Awards
CHIC promotes annual awards for apprentices and trainees, to recognise high achievers within our members, contractors and suppliers businesses.

 

CHIC Graduate Apprentice
To work with the CHIC team.

 

In order for CHIP to develop its activities and responsibilities in delivering these objectives, the new trustees were keen to meet with stakeholders, to seek input and ideas. CHIP hosted a roundtable discussion on Tuesday 13th September, which was attended by over 60 CHIC colleagues, members and supply chain partners.

 

The agent has appointed a new social value manager, Emma Macaulay, who will now develop the feedback from these informative roundtable discussions, to support her and CHIP’s trustees in delivering social value outcomes for CHIC’s community.

 

The new faces to CHIP are shown below, social value manager Emma Macaulay, independent chair and other trustees.

 

Any further info please contact Emma at enquiries@chipcharity.org.uk

MEET THE TRUSTEES

 

CHIC hosted a Round Table Discussion in Wolverhampton with Marcus Jones MP, the Minister for Housing and Planning at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities appointed in July.

Alertacall is an award-winning technology provider, supplying to over 50 social housing providers. The company provides the most advanced alternative to hard wired alarm solutions, enabling landlords to completely reimagine how services are delivered in properties with older people and other needs individuals. They provide 2-way engagement between residents and their housing provider to create safe, secure and digitally connected homes.

At the core of their solution is the portable touchscreen provided to every home with a multi-network 4G SIM card. Their housing applications include: repairs reporting, messaging, video calling and the OKEachDay service. As the original inventors of the OKEachDay service, they provide a perfect combination of modern technology and proactive daily contact 365 days a year. The company’s technologies have since helped tens of thousands of older people to retain their independence, saved many lives and are also modernising sheltered housing schemes nationwide. Residents benefit from Alertacall's video calling and an innovative video door entry that can be used from an armchair. WiFi, smoke detectors and telecare peripherals can all be added to provide a lower cost, easy to install Digital Switchover solution.

Alertacall’s excellent work has been formally recognised as one of the very few organisations in the sector nationally to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise. This award is the highest accolade for UK businesses recognising and celebrating business excellence, with Alertacall demonstrating outstanding success in innovation. Dame Esther Rantzen has long been a supporter of Alertacall and said “It is wonderful to see Alertacall win the top business award, the prestigious Queen’s Award”

Alertacall Launches New Advisory Board

Alertacall has now launched a campaign to improve contact between housing providers and older people. Supporters of the campaign include Dame Esther Rantzen and Sir Norman Lamb, who support the campaign for better services which will also help reduce isolation and loneliness.

Dame Esther is well known as a campaigning journalist and broadcaster, as well as for founding ChildLine and The Silver Line Helpline for older people. Sir Norman served as Minister for Care and Support in the coalition government and was also chair of the Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee.

They will both sit on the Alertacall advisory board alongside other industry experts to help guide the work of the company. This includes creating systems that improve areas such as resident communications, digital self-service and occupancy tracking – whilst at the same time increasing regular human contact with daily calls and video technology.

 

As a result of this contact the technology Alertacall is also able to reduce social isolation and improve people’s mental and physical wellbeing.

 

Dame Esther Rantzen and James Batchelor from Alertacall

Dame Esther said: “It’s no secret that social isolation is a serious and growing issue for older people”.

 

“So many older people choose to live on their own because they want to retain their independence, but some find the loneliness that can accompany that has a major impact on their mental and physical health.

 

“Combine this with the pressures of the increased cost of living and concerns about their health and you’ve got a perfect storm causing stress for our older community. What Alertacall does is not only provide the means to create an outstanding management system through increased contact, but tackles these issues head on with smart technology which crucially also fulfils that essential need for human contact.

 

“I’m looking forward to furthering my relationship with Alertacall to create more positive change to these individuals’ lives.”

Long term campaigner for better mental health provision, Sir Norman Lamb said: “As a society we are becoming increasingly digitised but, for all the benefits technology can bring, it is essential we ensure people are not left behind and marginalised as a result.

 

“The work Alertacall does promotes independence for people with higher needs through innovation combined with recognising the timeless need for human contact. I think that’s a very powerful and important concept that will only become more valuable in the context of a population with a growing reliance on technology.

 

“I am very happy and enthusiastic to be part of the advisory board, guiding Alertacall in its ambition to help more and more people across the UK.”

 

Sir Norman Lamb and James Batchelor of Alertacall

James Batchelor, CEO and founder of Alertacall, said: “Alertacall’s focus has always been guided by creating positive change.

 

“It’s fantastic to have input from people like Esther and Norman who have dedicated their lives to making a real difference for some of the most vulnerable in our society, and who will help to guide Alertacall’s ongoing campaign to improve how housing providers digitally engage, but always in such a way that human contact is protected and encouraged too.”

 

For more information on Alertacall, its products and solutions please contact Alertacall’s Founder and CEO James Batchelor on james@alertacall.com or call 07814 756613.