The new non-executive directors appointed to the Board at not-for-profit construction framework provider LHC Procurement Group hail from housing associations across England, Scotland and Wales.
This move was made amid a series of significant positive developments at the organisation, which has changed its name from LHC, effective 1 April 2023.
The changes include the organisation’s move from a Joint Committee structure to a company limited by guarantee (CLG) and its own legal entity, securing its status as a procurement solutions provider exclusively to the public sector and a contracting authority governed by public law.
LHC Procurement Group director Clive Feeney said: ‘This marks the start of an important new phase in the long history of LHC. At the start of this process, we were clear that having senior representatives from public sector organisations across Great Britain on our board was essential in directing and shaping the future of LHC, ensuring its continued growth and success.
‘The new board will continue to depend on our regional committees, and we look forward to welcoming new committee partners from our CPC and LSE business units. Collectively, they are critical to our organisation’s future success, as they help us fulfil our commitments to answer the public sector’s needs, understand the issues they face and foster true collaboration.
‘These changes are fundamentally about driving excellence in public sector procurement for the construction marketplace and supply chain, and support our progress towards becoming a ‘Gold Standard’ framework provider. Our board and not-for-profit CLG structure will also enable us to work more effectively at a regional level to drive jobs creation, push for higher standards against legislation and guidance, and encourage collaboration to promote innovation and mutual growth.’
New non-executive directors on the LHC Procurement Group board are:
• Laurie Carberry, Procurement and Performance Director, Wheatley Housing Group
As chair since 2019 of Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA), Laurie also heads up housing, care and property management group Wheatley’s net zero programme.
• Nile Istephan, CEO, Eildon Housing Association
Nile has 13 years’ experience as the housing association’s CEO, having previously held senior posts at Communities Scotland, within the Scottish Government.
• Paul Read, Director of Sustainability and Investment, Magna Housing Group
As well as 25 years’ experience of construction in social housing, Paul is also a board member for the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and Constructing Excellence South West.
• Tom Cadwallader MCIPS, Head of Procurement, Pobl Group
Having led organisation-wide procurement for more than seven years, Tom is also a board trustee at the organisation.
• Andrew Thomas, Procurement Manager, Tai Tarian Ltd
Award-winning procurement leader Andrew brings 30 years’ experience in procurement and a four-year executive board post with Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA).
• Conan McKinley, Director of Asset Management, Your Housing Group
With 25 years in construction and social housing – 10 in director-level positions – Conan is a strategic leader with previous senior roles at Gentoo Group, Sunderland and NorthStar Housing, Teeside.
• Kathryn Stevens, Head of Procurement, Moat Housing Association
Bringing 35 years’ cross-sector experience, Kathryn also spent 25 years as an adult trainer in the Scout Association and is a member of the Housing Group Policy Forum.
These appointments mark the completion of a governance review at LHC from 1 April 2023, and the new non-executive directors join current board members, including acting chair Mandy Clarke, acting vice chair Nick Abbott, group director Clive Feeney, executive director Jennifer Castle and board-level employee representative Dean Fazackerley.
Mandy Clarke, acting chair and a chartered HR professional with more than 25 years’ board-level experience, added: ‘As LHC Procurement Group, we will continue to work with social housing providers, local authorities, schools, healthcare organisations and other bodies to build places where people want to live, work and grow.
‘Making our commitment to improving lives in local communities a key part of our vision means it can be woven into the core of our procurement solutions we provide to the public sector.’
LHC’s new vision places a sharp focus on directly improving local communities across the country through its frameworks and Community Benefit Fund. This fund offers grants for community-related projects through its business units South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA), Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA), London and South East (LSE), and Welsh Procurement Alliance (WPA).
Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC), which covers the Midlands and North of England, will also see the development of a fund in its area.
To support LHC’s transition, new company secretary Kalwant Grewal joins from West London NHS Trust. He brings non-executive and committee chair experience from Grand Union Housing Group, PHA Homes and Sapphire Independent Housing, as well as senior leadership experience with older people’s charity Age UK.
LHC Procurement Group’s website is now live at www.lhcprocure.org.uk
