Chelmer Housing Partnership – Heating installs, replacement, and refurbishment project

Graham Thompson, CHPs Compliance Manager said:

“We want to support the growth of strong communities and help people to feel safe and secure in their homes. With the pandemic accelerating fuel poverty and causing lengthy procurement processes and supply delays, quality assurance, resources, and the speed of delivery have been critical to the project."

CHP quickly appointed Aaron Services Ltd as the contractor for a successful three-month project at the start of last year replacing oil boilers in properties across Essex. This was then extended in April 2020 for two years, to include heating installations, servicing, maintenance, repair, and electrical safety inspections with around-the-clock support for emergency callouts.

As a partnership that prioritises communities, the project has also provided local charity support and jobs in the area. This includes recruiting two heating operative apprentices, donating to CHP’s local foodbank, and joining the Emergency Fuel Vouchers initiative from the Energy Redress Scheme’s COVID-19 Crisis Fund.

To ensure they deliver each part of the programme effectively, on time, and within budget, Aaron Services utilise their extensive local presence and resources, careful programme and risk management (leaving in space for reactive works), and real-time performance monitoring. They also guarantee materials are delivered directly to site on the first morning of installation using real-time tracking, with all parts delivered in less than 24 hours to supplier depots.

The Emergency Fuel Vouchers initiative provided vouchers to some of CHP’s most vulnerable residents to help with fuel poverty, which had been particularly exacerbated by Covid-19 last year.

This combined with the ongoing heating installations and servicing programme, means that many who would not have been able to heat their homes due to inadequate facilities, loss of income, and increased fuel use over the last year have been able to do so.

David Lummis, Aaron Services Managing Director, said:

“Our contract with CHP embodies everything that is good about collaboration and what it can achieve. I am proud of the work that we have produced for this contract and the real difference it has made to the local communities served.

Both the project itself and the charity initiatives that we have taken part in, supported by CHP, have helped households to fight fuel poverty and the impact of the pandemic. I look forward to continuing our relationship with them into the future.”

For more information about N8 and LHC’s other frameworks, visit www.lhc.gov.uk/frameworks