Norwich seals agreement with contractors on offering ex-Connaught staff work

Norwich City Council has formally offered a series of short-term housing maintenance and repairs contracts in the aftermath of the collapse of Connaught, under which the new contractors have all agreed that – if they take on new employees – a minimum of 70% of ex-Connaught staff will be offered work.

The contracts were approved by the city’s cabinet at a meeting earlier this month. Lovell Partnerships, Norse Commercial Services, Mitie Property Solutions (UK) and Anglian Windows are among the contractors to have signed up to provide services. The council received more than 30 expressions of interest.

The contracts will last for either nine months or a set programme of works, and are due to come into force by the end of November.

Alan Waters, cabinet member for resources, performance and shared services at Norwich, said: “It’s great to see that local companies are among those sharing the work within the council’s housing contract - at a difficult time this is good for the local economy.

“We have an agreement with all the contractors, if they take on new employees, that a minimum of 70% of ex-Connaught staff will be offered work. We’re also on track with the next stage of the council’s housing repairs and maintenance programme which involves exploring the options for longer term provision.

“Work has already begun on this and will run in parallel with the short term contracts to allow a smooth transition from one to the other when the time comes.”