Jobs to go as Orbit outsources maintenance contract

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

Orbit Heart of England is to make 34 staff members redundant as it moves to outsource its maintenance contract.

Its in-house provider, Property Matters, will cease to provide planned maintenance on kitchens and bathrooms from April 1 this year, with the service then solely focusing on responsive repairs and voids to April 2014.

Orbit says that a new external provider will be in place by April 1, 2014.

The housing group said that it did not know who the new provider would be and that the procurement process was at a "very early stage".

Just under 200 people currently work for Property Matters. Orbit anticipates that between 140-150 staff members will still be with the company by April next year, all of whom will have the opportunity to TUPE transfer to the new provider.

Orbit says that its decision to outsource was based on a review of the organisation’s business model and its commitment to deliver an "excellent customer experience, coupled with an effective, value for money service".

The Property Matters team was expanded by a 100 new staff only two years ago.

All those staff directly affected have already entered into consultation with Orbit.

Orbit manages around 37,000 homes across England.