Local businesses and suppliers are being given the opportunity to expand and develop thanks to GM Procure, a consortium of social housing providers responsible for the repair and upkeep of 195,000 homes across Greater Manchester.
GM Procure has a £350m investment programme on its properties and invited local companies, large and small, to tender for a portion of the business.
Tahir Yousuf from Rochdale with his business RMI, which specialises in window and door fitting, is just one of many local people benefiting from the 4-year plan.
Thanks to the contract, which will be in place until 2011, RMI is going from strength to strength and has grown at a faster rate in the past six months than in the seven years that the business has been in existence.
Yousuf said:
“As a small business with no money to take on trainees, I didn’t think I’d be in with a chance at all, but this contract with GM Procure has
given me the capacity to structure the business, take on more staff and make long-term plans. I’ve even been able to buy a new van!”
Yousuf has now been able to take on two trainees through the Government backed Train to Gain scheme and has just been given the go a-head to take on two more trainees after Christmas. As well as learning on the job, the apprentices are also working towards an NVQqualification.
Ian Perry, Chairman of GM Procure said:
“A major priority for the GM Procure Partnership has been to invest locally, and through the training schemes we are helping people into work, developing local businesses and ultimately supporting the future of Greater Manchester’s economy.”
Yousuf himself is passionate about helping people into work and focuses on hard-to-reach groups where prospects may be low and qualifications limited.
He regularly visits local colleges, community centres to engage local people, particularly from black and ethnic minority backgrounds where he feels greater opportunities are needed.
He said:
“It’s all about giving people the chance to help themselves and contribute to society, and this is central to the work GM Procure is doing. I really didn’t think there were any companies like this out there any more – it’s really getting to the heart of the community and having a massive positive impact.”
As well as training programmes, GM Procure also ensures that smaller companies such as RMI are initially supported by larger, well-established organisations. Emmanuel Whittaker, a Manufacturing Joiners and Contractors based in Oldham have been mentoring RMI through the initial days of activity.
Clive Newton, Managing Director at Emanuel Whittaker said:
“The ethos behind GM Procure supporting local businesses is fantastic and it is important that small businesses such as RMI are encouraged to grow. We are proud to be part of their progress and will continue to work in partnership with them supporting them and encouraging them along the way.”
GM Procure have developed strong links with Manchester Solutions, and Chamberlink as part of their remit in supporting local businesses and will continue to nurture new and existing talent in the region
RMI are currently completing the window and door refitting in Wythenshawe on a Parkway Green Housing Trust scheme, and Stretford on a Trafford Housing Trust scheme. It is with thanks to both Trusts that RMI is supported with work.