Willmott Dixon wins £147m repair work

Willmott Dixon Group's repair and maintenance company Willmott Dixon Partnerships has won a seven year contract worth £147m with Home Group to deliver a range of services to nearly 17,000 homes.

The contract, which has an option to be extended by another two years, will see Willmott Dixon responsible for Home properties in the central and North West regions of the country and includes delivering responsive repairs and voids maintenance along with planned works and gas inspections.

The North West contract starts in spring 2012 and will see Willmott Dixon maintain 9,700 homes primarily across Cumbria and the Lake District at a value of £14m a year. The Central region also starts in spring next year and covers 7,000 properties from North Yorkshire to Milton Keynes at £7m a year.

Mick Williamson, Willmott Dixon Partnerships managing director, said: "We are delighted to be given this opportunity to work with Home and achieve the unique Willmott Dixon approach outlined in our 'Transformational Change' paper published this year. This focuses on how an outsourced company can deliver a real step change in service as well as creating major legacy benefits through skills training, apprenticeship investment and community involvement."

Jim Preston, Home Group's director of customer service property, added: "We already have a close partnership with the company who are currently working with us to deliver some of our new build projects. We look forward to working with Willmott Dixon on this new and challenging project which will bring new and improved benefits to all of our customers."

Home Group is based in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, and manages 51,000 homes, generating a £350m turnover.

Willmott Dixon will work closely with Home to ensure year-on-year improvements in service performance, tenant satisfaction and value for money.

Willmott Dixon said this will come through investment in technology systems, training and people development.

The new contract means Willmott Dixon is now responsible for over 150,000 homes in the UK.