Managed Services has been contracted to improve the cost efficiency for housing association Magenta Living after it signed a five-year partnership deal with the Travis Perkins company.

Under the agreement, worth an estimated sum of between £2.5m and £4m per annum, Managed Services is fully responsible for Magenta Living’s repair and maintenance supply chain, and will create cost savings and improve efficiency for the housing association in Wirral.

Managed Services, part of the Travis Perkins group, says it will achieve savings by providing a targeted range of products at better value, while also providing easy access to materials – freeing up Magenta Living’s repair and maintenance employees and contractors to work on the 30,000 jobs undertaken by the housing association every year.

A dedicated store facility opened at St Mary’s Gate on 4 June, 2015, in Birkenhead, to allow the housing association’s repair and maintenance staff instant access to the materials they require. Stocking all required heavy and light side materials, the new store replaces a previous smaller one.

Managed Services has experience in adhering to the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) when transferring staff, and so was able to fully support members of the Magenta Living repair and maintenance team transferring from the old store, ensuring they were all welcomed into the Travis Perkins group.

Geoff Muise, operational director at Magenta Living, said: “We wanted to modernise our procurement and material supply operations, and so are delighted to partner with an organisation experienced in delivering value for money. The new Managed Services store shares the same location as the Magenta Living head office Partnership Building and it will greatly improve our materials delivery supply management across Wirral.

“As well as enhancing our repairs and maintenance service, the cost savings and other efficiencies created as a result of this new contract will allow Magenta Living to offer our services to a wider geographical area and build more homes.”

Stuart Hough, managing director of Managed Services, said: “We are very proud of this partnership with Magenta Living and we are now hard at work together, striving to achieve higher first time fix rates and improve customer service and tenant satisfaction.

“It’s brilliant to see members of staff who used to work for Magenta Living settling into the new store and becoming part of the Managed Services and Travis Perkins team – we always aim to support the local community with employment opportunities, as well as through investment and supporting community projects.”

Matt Heggarty, branch manager at the Magenta Living Managed Service store, said: "It was great to see my family there at the opening, it reinforced my belief that we are entering into a great partnership with Magenta. I am proud to be in a position to lead Travis Perkins Managed Services in combining our knowledge and expertise with Magenta Living and its customers in this new and exciting venture."