Hobson & Porter, Innovation based on tradition

Hobson & Porter has played a major role in the regeneration of the Gipsyville area of Hull. We have refurbished over 300 dwellings and constructed 165 new build dwellings comprising houses, bungalows and communal blocks.

The schemes were secured using various methods of procurement including traditional tendering, negotiated / preferred contractor status and partnering. Where schemes were tendered competitively we enjoyed a 100% success rate.

Our clients included Hull City Council and housing associations including North British Housing, Sanctuary, Habinteg, Hull Churches Housing and Pickering & Ferens Homes. In total we carried out over £17m of work. Working for a diverse range of clients, end users and stakeholder groups, often at the same time, demonstrated our ability to work as part of the team.

Hobson & Porter worked with Frank Haslam Milan to deliver a substantial part of the refurbishment element. The two contractors were required to work together to provide a seamless service to tenants, to work together in the management team and cooperate on the ground. This included the adoption and monthly measurement of headline Key Performance Indicators. Both contractors embraced the fundamental idea of shared ownership of problems. They set out to work as a team with the same goals - fewer defects, reduced costs and better quality (value for money). Their tools included value engineering and risk assessment and they developed joint project procedures. The partners worked at engaging the supply chain with practical initiatives. They produced quality inspection procedures with input from suppliers and involved supply chain members in relevant project meetings. The partners also sponsored a supply chain forum in each trade to gain consensus on customer care, health & safety, defects resolution and maintenance issues. The two main contractors participated in each other's project meetings and solved problems of site security and traffic management together. The agreed KPI's were measured across both contracts with mutual evaluation. A major benefit of their collaboration was in selecting competent and reliable trade contractors. Supply market intelligence and operations information were shared. Where a trade contractor worked on both phases, his schedule was managed by the main contractors to achieve the optimum result.

The project was viewed by the client as an unqualified success. A number of key lessons were learnt and there was measurable improvement over the course of the contract. The project was selected by The Housing Forum as a Best Value Case Study, focusing on the application of KPI's.

More project information (pdf)