Liverpool firms join forces for housing contracts

01.11.2007
North West Housing News web page

Local contractors in Liverpool have formed a consortium to bid for bigger projects after losing out on prime schemes on Merseyside.  Five firms with a combined turnover of £60million have formed the Construction for Merseyside Regeneration Alliance, initially to target large housing association contracts.

Members of the alliance have a 700-strong directly employed labour force between them and are promising only to use local subcontractors on future work.

Alan Anderson, chief executive of Clan Contracting and CfMRA director said the idea for the alliance followed years of frustration over losing work to larger firms.  He said:  " We have been losing out in our own area and the biggest job won to date by a local contractor on Merseyside is less than £5m.  We had a chat with the other firms and decided that by joining forces we could target much larger contracts.  There are opportunities out there and by working together we have the necessary size to have a proper go at them. "

The alliance is keen to get more local trade contractors working on Liverpool sites.  Anderson added:  " When major firms from outside the area come in and win work they all have their own favourite suppliers and more often than not the subcontract work goes to firms outside the region.  We will use our own direct labour wherever possible and only use local subcontractors.  We are committed to training local people to work in construction. "

The consortium is currently looking at opportunities in the social housing sector, but realises it faces a challenge as a new organisation.  Anderson said:  " We now have to pre-qualify for jobs as an alliance and that is harder because we are a new organisation and have no track record.  But all the individual firms have a good reputation and that should stand us in good stead.  We are not having a go at the major contractors, we are just making sure that we as local firms get a fair crack when it comes to winning this type of work. "

Back to Listings