Repairs hub undergoes major upgrade
A HUB that provides repairs and improvements to over 6000 homes in Runcorn and Widnes has been revamped to provide an improved service for customers. Halton Housing Trust has overhauled its Foundry Lane offices to accommodate more employees and make it more accessible to customers.
“We have created a new reception area so customers who want to speak in person to the Trust about any aspect of the services we provide can do so face-to-face rather than over the phone or via a Trust member of staff visiting them in their home” said Noel Sharpe, Executive Director of Customer Services for the Trust.
“We have also created a dedicated conference facility which is available for local businesses and community groups to hold meetings for up to 100 people.”
A newly formed team of 24 customer services staff will support the Housing and Construction Services Teams by dealing directly with customer enquiries.
The changes form part of the Trust’s revamped approach to improve the services it offers to customers.
Part of this new approach includes offering customers evening repair and improvement appointments two nights a week until 9pm and on Saturdays from 9am to noon. This is in addition to it existing services which include repairs by appointment and a 24/7 emergency repairs service.
Foundry Lane – which was opened in March 2008 – acts as the base for the responsive repairs, adaptations and improvement programme work to the Trust’s homes across Halton. It also acts as the central point from which all its housing services across the Widnes area of the borough are delivered from.
Building upon its success in maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and working efficiency, the Trust is now offering its services more widely to home owners and commercial business across the borough – providing important income that is reinvested into the Trust’s homes and services. This is in response to the demand that exists for high quality construction and maintenance and the Construction Services team being well placed to bid for this type of work.
The site already includes fully equipped stores, a purpose-designed training facility for both employees and customers and a modern office suite.
Over 80 multi skilled trade staff including joiners, plumbers, plasterers and roofers are based at the depot.
“The Trust is one of the largest employers of skilled trade staff in the Halton area and over 93 percent of our staff live within 15 miles of our depot,” said Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust.
“This shows we are committed to giving local people the opportunity and skills they need to succeed in employment whilst also delivering a high quality repairs and home improvement service for our customers.”