Accord launches its own in-house repair and maintenance service

Accord, based in West Bromwich and with 14,000 homes across the West Midlands, launched Accord Works at a special staff induction event which saw repairs teams, existing and new, coming together for the first time.

They will now carry out repairs and maintenance across the Accord estate, which includes homes operated by associations such as Heantun in Wolverhampton.

A big recruitment campaign undertaken recently was successful in allowing Accord Works to appoint new people, joining a workforce nearly 5,000-strong that operates affordable housing and provides social care to 80,000 people.

David Livesey, head of delivery for Accord Works, said: “By having our own in-house, directly-employed colleagues delivering repairs and maintenance, we know we can provide a more focussed service.

It is our aim to provide a better, more efficient service with higher satisfaction for customers. Accord Works will deliver a local, personalised service, across a range of works including routine and emergency repairs, as well as external and communal repairs.”

He added: “Accord Works will also provide customers and local communities with real job opportunities. We have recently successfully recruited a number of local people as skilled operatives with Accord Works and there will also be on-going job opportunities with us.

"We will also be looking for apprentices in the New Year, offering an excellent career path with opportunities to develop a qualified trade.”

There is a new branding for Accord Works, a new uniform and a fleet of new vans with the distinctive Accord Works livery. New technologies are also being pioneered by Accord Works to ensure the best possible response.

Elisabeth Buggins, chair of Accord, said: “Accord is an exciting organisation to work for and has many innovative ideas – Accord Works is one that has grown from an idea into what we see here today – a full workforce who will deliver Accord’s maintenance service to our customers.

"Accord has 13,000 homes, approaching 5,000 staff and provides services to over 80,000 people. And the board and exec colleagues want to ensure that everything we do is done to the best of our ability – that includes our repairs services and our customer service.”

She added: “We want our customers to receive the best we can deliver – and of course this means for all Accord Works colleagues to see how they can make a difference – by helping them with their skills in a cheerful, professional and responsive way.

The core vision for Accord works is to create an energetic and dedicated team that creates homes and environments for communities to grow and flourish.”

Accord Works will be based out of offices at Rubery Owen in Darlaston where a fully-interactive scheduling hub will be in operation.