Buildbase provides an outsourced stores facility for the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust at Aylesbury Buildbase. The stores provides the day-to-day requirements for their 40 direct labour reactive maintenance operatives and handles approximately £500,000 of product per year.
The Vale of Aylesbury Trust is a ‘not for profit’ housing association formed following the transfer of 7350 homes from Aylesbury Vale District Council in July 2006. They have an annual turnover of £25 million and employ around 200 staff.
The housing trust is a member of the Procurement for Housing purchasing consortium, to which Buildbase is an OJEU approved supplier.
Buildbase maintains the van stocks using an innovative electronic system provided by another of business partner 1st Touch. Details of van stock replenishments are sent from the operative’s handheld PDA (personal data assistant) to the Buildbase store via a dedicated web portal.
The stores is by Joe Nitsche, who previously performed a similar role for the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust and is now employed by Buildbase.
During February 2008, in an effort to bring about further efficiencies and savings, Buildbase and the specified kitchen manufacturer came together to provide a ready source of units for the ‘void maintenance programme’. By holding stock the trust will be able to achieve a faster turn around of empty properties, having them available for new tenants within two weeks.