Gwynedd Housing Scheme Secures National Procurement Award

A Gwynedd Council scheme to improve the energy efficiency of properties and to reduce fuel poverty has secured the top award in the Community Benefits section of this year’s Welsh National Procurement Awards. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The award recognised the excellent work carried out as part of the Cartrefi Clyd scheme in the Peblig and Cadnant areas of Caernarfon over the past year. The award celebrates how the scheme has delivered significant community benefits including providing employment opportunities for local people and emphasising the use of local contractors and sub-contractors to carry out the work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Ioan Thomas, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Housing said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Over the past year, the £2 million Cartrefi Clyd scheme has helped to reduce fuel poverty in what is one of the county’s most deprived areas. I was delighted that the scheme which has seen a number of partners working together to deliver local benefits has provided significant work experience for residents with a number of people going on to secure employment in similar fields. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many congratulations to everyone who has been involved in this successful project – our partners in the housing sector, contractors and sub-contractors as well as all the Council’s Housing officers who have helped to ensure that the procurement aspect of this scheme has delivered real community benefits.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

North Wales firm Willmott Dixon Energy Services were appointed as the main contractors with the contract stating the need to deliver clear community benefits. The firm worked closely with local three community energy wardens who played an important role to encourage residents in the Peblig and Cadnant areas to sign-up for the Cartrefi Clyd scheme. As part of the scheme, the community energy wardens received specific training in energy advice with one going on to secure full-term employment in the sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member, Councillor Mandy Williams-Davies, who leads on procurement matters added: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted that the excellent work carried out as part of the Cartrefi Clyd scheme has been recognised on a Wales-wide level and that independent judges have recognised the community benefits that have been delivered through the Council’s innovative procurement processes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As a Council, we work very hard to incorporate community benefit clauses into contracts of this kind whenever possible with the aim of providing work experience or training that will stand Gwynedd residents in good stead to seek future employment. As well as improving the energy efficiency of homes in the Peblig and Cadnant areas of Caernarfon, this project has helped four local people to secure jobs and provided training opportunities for others.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cartrefi Clyd is a Welsh Government funded scheme. In 2015/16, Gwynedd Council worked with a number of partners including Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd, Grwp Cynefin, North Wales Housing Association, Job Centre Plus, Scottish Power, Careers Wales, Gisda and the Welsh Government to install energy measures in over 150 households in the Peblig and Cadnant areas of Caernarfon as well as promoting work experience opportunities for local people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​