Kier makes call to local supply chains

The firm, which employs more than 1,300 people in Yorkshire, is hosting a ‘meet the buyer’ event in conjunction with Richmondshire District Council on Wednesday, March 21, between 1pm and 6pm at Richmondshire Cricket Club, Hurgill Road, in Richmond.

This event follows the announcement of a four-year contract between Kier and Richmondshire District Council, which will see Kier carry out refurbishments including external doors and windows, kitchens and bathrooms, roofing, central heating and rewires.

The company plans to recruit a new workforce from the area to work on the project over the coming years and will also be working with local partners and suppliers, as well as the council, to produce a corporate responsibility (CR) programme to support the community in Richmondshire.

Kier, which provides housing maintenance and facilities management services across the country, including work with local authorities and social housing landlords, is looking to further develop its presence and economic impact in Richmondshire by working alongside local suppliers and subcontractors.

Kier’s efforts are in line with the Yorkshire Post’s Buy Yorkshire campaign, which it launched earlier this year, encouraging businesses to source goods and services locally to boost the region’s economy.

The ‘meet the buyer’ event will enable local suppliers and subcontractors to discuss available opportunities with the following expertise: electrical works; plastering; bricklaying; multi-skilled trades; painting; roofing; tiling; gas maintenance; plumbing and heating; plumbing; joinery; waste providers; aid and adaptation; asbestos removal; scaffolding; fire and security; water hygiene; and lift maintenance.

Kier’s regional managing director for maintenance, Mike Furze, who supports the Buy Yorkshire campaign, explained that Kier holds ‘meet the buyer’ events when it is bidding for major contracts as well as once it has been awarded such contracts.

He said: “It is to engage with local supply chains because that is very much part of our ethos and how we operate in terms of engaging with the local community to try to keep the Richmond pound in Richmond or wherever we are working.

“It’s important for the local economy to make sure that local organisations within the boroughs we are working as part of regeneration and sustainability are involved in providing services.”

He added: “The local suppliers in the main employ local people and that’s very much about creating and maintaining employment opportunities in the local areas where we work.”

Mr Furze said that if businesses make contact with Kier they have the opportunity to become listed as a preferred supplier, opening up wider opportunities on future contracts. Working with a larger organisation such as Kier opens up opportunities for training too, he said. “We can engage with the supply chain to provide training they would not get access to otherwise.” Kier Group, a construction, services and development group, employs over 11,000 people worldwide and has an annual revenue of £2.1bn. Its maintenance arm employs more than 3,000 people across England and has an annual revenue of £351m.

This year, Kier will maintain over 240,000 homes and carry out more than half a million repairs.

Kier began its contract with Richmondshire District Council in August 2011 to carry out a homes improvements programme to council managed properties across the district. This latest contract joins Kier’s portfolio of local authority outsourcing contracts and brings the total number of public sector homes maintained by Kier to over 240,000.

As well as repairs and maintenance for social housing and public buildings, Kier provides PVCu windows and kitchens manufacturing, capital works schemes and environmental services.

All business owners are welcome to the ‘meet the buyer’ event and no prior appointment is necessary. Information can be emailed to [email protected]