Trowers & Hamlins

• £590 million of efficiencies already identified by 2010
• Work praised by Department of Communities and Local Government

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the agency responsible for housing and regeneration, has appointed Trowers & Hamlins, the leading public sector law firm, for a further two years as its National Change Agent (NCA) to spearhead efficiency savings in housing procurement by social landlords.

The appointment follows £590 million of efficiency savings in housing procurement already successfully earmarked by the firm as NCA and 600 apprentices already trained to NVQ Level 2 to support this initiative.
Working in partnership with consultancy Davis Langdon, Trowers & Hamlins as NCA has already established 14 consortia with a total stock of 1.2 million homes and a targeted spend of £4.8 billion by 2010/2011.
According to Trowers & Hamlins, its appointment as NCA for a further two years will enable it to extend the efficiency savings initiative beyond the Decent Homes programme to repairs and maintenance, and potentially new build programmes.

Trowers & Hamlins says that as NCA it will increasingly focus on not just financial savings but other efficiencies, such as improved sustainability and community benefits, including local training and employment initiatives.
David Mosey, Partner, Trowers & Hamlins, comments: "It is hugely satisfying to have our work as NCA rewarded by being able to fulfil this important function for a further two years. We are looking forward to building on the efficiency gains we have already targeted while expanding the remit to cover other areas of housing procurement."

Writing in praise of Trowers & Hamlins’ work as NCA, the Department of Communities and Local Government said that the firm had "made a significant contribution to our efficiency targets" and that they "greatly appreciate the personal commitment, flexibility, expertise and enthusiasm which David Mosey, Katie Saunders and the team at Trowers & Hamlins have shown over the last nearly four years."  They went on to say that "the success of the programme is a testament to the collective efforts of those working under the NCA umbrella."

The Audit Commission also recognised the achievements of Trowers & Hamlins as NCA: "The Audit Commission acknowledges the significant contribution made by the NCA in developing and implementing new innovative procurement approaches to deliver efficiency in the social housing sector across England.  What they and the consortia have achieved sets a sound platform for further development of value for money initiatives."