Mercian Innovative Approach to Involve Residents in Appointing New Contractors
As part of the customer involvement initiatives, Mercian Housing Association invited resident representatives to appoint new cleaning and gardening contractors. Altogether seven residents were fully involved in the selection process of 60 bidding companies and had the final say of who they preferred to be delivering the gardening and cleaning services for Mercian schemes and directly for all Mercian residents.
The five year contract worth in total £1.4m was awarded to Greenscapes Services for all internal communal cleaning and window cleaning services and to Beth Johnson Site Services (formally known as Sanctuary Site Services) for gardening and landscape maintenance services to all schemes covering 3,500 properties across the West Midlands.
Karl Linder, Mercian’s Maintenance Manager who oversaw the tendering process said: “In the past the services were provided by different contractors depending on the area. Having appointed just one contractor for each service will result in better efficiency and much better service for our residents”.
June Stevenson, a tenant who was involved in the selection process commented: “I thought the process was very interesting. I am really pleased that Beth Johnson were chosen because they are existing gardeners for my scheme and they do a wonderful job. Both myself and my neighbour, Claire Hamilton, who was also involved in the process are looking forward to meeting the cleaners and, we are very pleased that the cleaning has been contracted this way to one company which should help bring all issues together and improve the service provided by Mercian to its residents”.