Halton Housing Trust has invested a massive £½ million in a new depot for their
responsive repairs team – Construction Services. This will be the base from which
the Trust provides thousands of repairs to its 6,100 customers’ homes and
supports its £129 million improvement programme across Widnes and Runcorn.

The site at Foundry Lane in Widnes officially opened its doors on Monday 10th
March and will feature fully equipped stores, a purpose designed training facility for
both employees and customers, a modern office suite and a fleet of 46 new trades’
vehicles.

Trades operatives working at the new premises are responsible for a body of work
which includes day-to-day responsive repairs and improvement programme work,
the redesigning and replacement of kitchens and the installation of modern new
bathrooms.

Customers’ homes across the borough are being refurbished with over 4,000 new
kitchens, 1,900 new bathrooms and 50,000 new double glazed windows. The
investment is designed to boost customers’ quality of life by bringing homes up to a
locally agreed ‘Halton Standard’ which exceeds Government guidelines.

Halton Housing Trust has also employed 20 new trades-operatives to work in the
new depot, including joiners, plumbers, plasterers and roofers. The new recruits
have helped boost the workforce at Construction Services to include 80 tradesoperatives
and eight apprentices.

The organisation’s drive to give local people the opportunity and skills they need to
succeed in the housing sector is a vital element in the company’s long term
success.

Two apprentices have also gained permanent positions after completing their
training with Construction Services to help drive up the overall standards of repairs.

Nick Atkin, Halton Housing Trust’s Chief Executive, said: “The launch of the new
base for our Construction services Team is vital to the successful delivery of our
£129 million improvement programme and is the final phase of the Trust’s office
relocation programme.

“The new facility contains custom designed facilities which have developed in full
consultation with the employees who are now based there. It will improve the
working environment for Construction Services employees and will ensure
customers are given the best possible service when it comes to carrying out
repairs and improvements to their homes.”

He continued: “We are also dedicated to creating new jobs in the borough and it’s
wonderful news that we’re in a position to employ 20 new operatives and to offer
permanent contracts to our two previous apprentices.

“Since launching the new depot, and creating new jobs, feedback from staff has
been excellent – it’s played an important role in boosting staff morale.”

Apprentice plumber Chris Watts, 26, said: “I’m delighted to be able to work with
Construction Services in a permanent capacity and the new depot will provide
excellent facilities in which to develop my skills.

“It’s great to be involved in an improvement programme that affects so many
people’s lives. But most of all it’s wonderful seeing the satisfaction on customer’s
faces when we complete a job that they’re really pleased with.”

The event also enabled Construction Services to celebrate another success after
raising a generous £320 towards services at Halton Haven Hospice. Staff were
divided into teams during the team-building training day, and every point that was
raised was turned into a cash prize by the Trust.

The video below shows the launch of the new depot.