Blogs

As the third greatest creator of CO₂ emissions in the UK, behind energy and transport, the construction industry’s challenge to meet net zero isn’t going away. The demand for action is increasing, and institutions like housing associations are being asked what they are doing to meet the 2050 net zero goal.

At LHC, our new social value strategy places it as a key element of our vision to improve lives and places through quality procurement solutions. Being the not-for-profit providers of high-quality procurement solutions, the strategy will complement our solution delivery to all public sector organisations by enhancing added value and supporting them to maximise public benefit from their procurement activity. To put this social awareness into practice, address societal challenges, and deliver sustainable, impactful change, we are collaborating with HACT – a leading charity in the social housing sector.

At LHC we over 30 years of experience delivering energy efficient and retrofit solutions to the public sector and as we enter the final stages of development of our latest net zero framework (N9) Retrofit and Decarbonisation, we are ready to support the government’s ambitious plan to turn the UK into a zero-carbon nation by 2050.

The push for net zero remains essential as we look to improve building stock, reduce operating costs, and deliver positive outcomes for occupants. Supply chain collaboration remains essential – in this time of innovation and change, sharing data, best practice and ideas will be important as we look to transform the sector.  

2023 has been an exciting time to get involved with the LHC Procurement Group’s frameworks, as the group continues its transformation, drawing on its rich 57 years of experience to lead the way in delivering solutions to aid the public sector in their mission zero targets. 

LHC Procurement Group’s Head of Marketing and Communications, Justin Costello in conversation with Dean Fazackerley, Head of Technical Procurement on the public sector frameworks that topped the agenda in 2023 and what's in store for 2024...

With 104 schools identified as having the problem at an expected cost of £150m, the RAAC crisis needs to be addressed with urgency.  But how can we resolve this challenge at scale and with speed, to avoid putting pupil safety at any further risk? Jennifer Castle, Chief Operating Officer at LHC Procurement Group (LHC), discusses how LHC is ready to support the public sector.

While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has scrapped the Government’s energy efficiency policies, including delaying plans to ban the installation of new gas boilers until 2035, he has nonetheless reaffirmed the commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

For LHC, these revised plans change very little: we have been dedicated to driving innovation through our energy efficiency focused frameworks for over 30 years now and we will continue to prioritise efforts in this area.

Faced with a predicted 38% drop in new housing starts over the next two years. Public sector frameworks offer shelter from recession. They traditionally operate on four-year cycles, and present better industry access and cost consistency for the public sector. Furthermore for contractors and suppliers, they bring more predictable pipelines of work.

Dean Fazackerley, gives an overview of why public sector organisations must approach homes construction procurement and project management together to comply with updated Building Regulations Part L. 

Almost a year since the release of ‘Constructing the Gold Standard’ – the independent review of public sector construction frameworks – has the sector got better at collaborative procurement? Framework provider LHC’s head of technical procurement Dean Fazackerley assesses progress.