LHC's End of Year Committee Meeting: Collaboration, Insights, and Strategic Planning
Each quarter, LHC brings together some of our public sector clients who have been selected to be part of our Committee Meeting. It is a dedicated forum for sharing knowledge with our clients, strategic feedback, and partnership. In return for their attendance, committee members receive funding to support local charity initiatives within their boroughs. This collaborative dialogue directly shapes and improves our framework offerings, benefits communities and ensures both parties meet the evolving needs of the public sector.
This quarter’s meeting marked our final gathering of the year, and it was both productive and insightful. Here are the key highlights.
Welcoming our new Chair, Dame Maria Miller DBE
We were honoured to welcome Dame Maria Miller, recently appointed as Chair of the LHC Procurement Group Board, to LHC’s committee meeting. Dame Maria observed the session, gaining first-hand insight into how these meetings foster essential collaboration between LHC and our public sector partners.
Insightful presentations and key takeaways
1. Introducing the New Roofing Systems Framework (RS5)
Boby Singh provided a comprehensive overview of our newly launched Roofing Systems and Associated Works (RS5) framework, detailing its scope and benefits.
2. Embedding social value: strategy and measurement
Julian Sanz, Head of Social Value at McConnell, shared the company’s social value journey and best practices. He explained how McConnell aligns its social value strategy with its core CARE impact commitments:
C – Constructive, Characterful, Conscientious
A – Accountable, Adaptable, Accepting
R – Resolute, Reliable, Respectful
E – Ethical, Empowered, Exceptional
Key takeaways for procurement professionals included:
- Setting clear social value targets and delivery plans
- Embedding social value into contract management
- Implementing a traffic-light system for tracking progress
- Conducting annual reviews to evaluate impact
3. Navigating Section 20: early engagement and resident involvement
Gareth Jeffries and Michelle Humphreys from Epwin Group outlined how they support councils and housing associations with Section 20 compliance. They emphasised:
- The importance of appointing a specialist partner early in the process
- Strategies for effective resident engagement, even consulting a small, representative group, can enhance communication and project acceptance.
- The value of collaboration in managing compliance efficiently
All presentations sparked considerable discussion.
Shaping future frameworks: Pre-market engagement
Sam Whiting, LHC’s Technical Support Manager, led a forward-looking discussion on our upcoming New Build Housing and Construction (H3) Framework. This pre-market engagement session provided critical client feedback, ensuring the new framework is designed around the real-world needs of public sector organisations.
Networking and relationship building
The meeting included a relaxed lunch, during which committee members and the LHC team connected over a selection of sandwiches, sushi, and light refreshments. These informal moments are vital for strengthening partnerships and fostering open dialogue.
Closing the year on a high note
The day concluded with closing remarks from Rory Evans, LHC’s Regional Director, who invited suggestions for topics to explore at the next meeting in March.
We extend our thanks to all our committee members for contributing to a successful close of the year. Their input ensures LHC frameworks remain relevant, robust, and responsive to the challenges you face.