We have launched our long-term strategic partnership to significantly modernise thousands of our customers’ homes across Sunderland.
Gentogether is a new approach to procuring and partnering with contractors to develop long-term collaborative relationships which lead to better outcomes for our customers.
The internal modernisation contract awards, worth £170 million across ten years, are the first contracts to be awarded under the Gentogether partnership approach and will deliver improvement work to thousands of homes across Sunderland, in partnership with local businesses.
Led by Gentoo, the ten year internal modernisation work partnership will see three North East organisations, PHS solutions, Esh Construction and RE:GEN Group North East, joining together to deliver planned investment to thousands of customers’ homes each year.
In its first three years, Gentogether will see £36.5million worth of internal improvement work delivered to improve around 3,000 properties, including electrical rewires and kitchen and bathroom replacements.
The Gentogether approach is customer and community focused, allowing organisations to work together for the benefit of the customer experience. The contracts are estimated to generate more than £32 million in social value over the next ten years, with the partnership focusing strongly on supporting employment and social value in the region through apprenticeship and training opportunities.
Due to the unique set up of the partnership, we are working with experts from 4i Solutions. They are acting as a critical friend to the partnership, ensuring partners deliver innovation and work collaboratively to benefit the overall partnership.
The partnership has been customer focused from the very start, with our customers being involved in the decision-making and tendering process of appointing contractors, with five Gentoo customers sitting on the interview panel and providing feedback to us and partners.
All partners involved in Gentogether share customer focused goals, values and follow an agreed Customer Charter, created and designed with our customers to highlight their expectations from partners working in their home. Customer satisfaction will be monitored throughout the partnership to ensure customers are receiving the highest quality service.
Peter Akers, Director of Asset and Sustainability at Gentoo said: “At Gentoo, we’re committed to providing the best possible service to our customers to ensure they are happy and living in warm, safe, and decent homes.
To improve our service to customers, we’re launching Gentogether, a unique approach to partnerships allowing us to collaborate with our trusted contractors, sharing the same goals in an open and transparent way to remove competition, working together to deliver an even better service to our customers.
Not only will our customers homes be improved, the local economy and local people will benefit from employment opportunities in a thriving community. I’m excited to see our unique partnership develop and the results we will achieve together.”
Simon Watson, Operations Director at RE:GEN North East, said: “We are incredibly proud to have secured this contract to deliver improvements to homes across Sunderland. This new project builds on the outstanding results we achieved with the £19m regeneration of Pennywell, which not only transformed the area but also delivered £1.5m in social value – a true testament to the power of partnership working- and we’re excited to continue this momentum.
“By collaborating closely with our partners, we remain focused on putting the customer at the heart of everything we do. Together, we will be working smarter to create a lasting, positive impact on the community. As a Sunderland-based company, it’s really rewarding to be making a difference right here at home."
Andrew Harrow, Framework Manager at Esh Construction said: “We’re delighted to be appointed by Gentoo to deliver this significant programme of housing modernisation works. This 10-year investment into homes across Sunderland and the wider Wearside area reflects a shared commitment to improving living standards for residents.
“Through our established expertise in planned maintenance and refurbishment, we look forward to delivering high-quality upgrades that make a real difference in communities. Importantly, this contract will also support local employment and training opportunities through our Constructing Local strategy, helping to drive social and economic value over the next decade.”
Jason Oakes, Sales Director at 0800 Repair said: “We’re proud to be part of the Gentogether partnership, working collaboratively to deliver real improvements to homes across Sunderland. This partnership allows us to make a meaningful impact alongside like-minded organisations.
By working together, we’re not only enhancing homes but also creating local jobs and apprenticeships, ensuring long-term benefits for the community. We look forward to delivering high-quality work that improves the lives of Gentoo customers."
