A new chapter for NHC Procurement

And so, we had three ambitions: to future-proof the brand in a competitive marketplace, to reflect the nature of the service we provide and to align with our membership’s values and voice.

You recently were appointed as deputy chief executive of Northern Housing Consortium (NHC): tell us about the organisation’s mission, and the relationship with NHC Procurement?

The Northern Housing Consortium represents the views of housing organisations in the North of England. We are a membership organisation made up of local authorities, ALMOs and associations that provide social housing for tenants.

Having a clear link with the organisation we’re part of is an incredibly important next step, and a hugely positive touchpoint for our membership. We reinvest every penny of NHC Procurement’s surplus back into the policy, engagement, and public affairs work that our colleagues deliver at NHC – totalling £2.5m over the last five years.

And so, there is a real opportunity now, to showcase this unique differentiator in the procurement marketplace and what that surplus contributes to – representing our members at a national level, driving change-making conversation and influencing policy on behalf of the membership. It’s now our job to build on this as we look to the future.

How does the team support the membership?

The team provides a dedicated hand-holding service across all aspects of compliance, regulatory, independent living, financial solutions and achieving net zero.

Our members welcome a chat if they are frustrated that existing procurement processes aren’t delivering value, concerned that their buying processes are not aligned with current regulations or worried that their supply chain doesn’t have the scale to fulfil their pipeline. 

The organisations we support have a lot of plates to spin, and with changing legislation and expectations, they welcome our support to navigate, at times, a complex landscape.

What is your ambition for NHC Procurement over the next five years?

Thinking big, over the next five years – we would like to be thought of as the provider of choice for our local authority and housing provider members. Our ambition is to create relationships that result in NHC Procurement being front of mind when our members are thinking about their procurement pipeline, and call us so we can signpost the best route to market.

Describe working at NHC in three words?

Empowering, meaningful, and fun! And really great people, to add a few more.

James Ealey, deputy CEO, Northern Housing Consortium and NHC Procurement

To find out more about NHC Procurement, and how we can support you with a trusted, expert and compliant route to market, please visit www.nhcprocurement.org.uk