Longhurst Group | What We Do |
Longhurst Group provides leadership and support services
to our member companies. We work with Board members and management
teams to provide advice, help with governance, policy and help colleagues make the most of
new opportunities. This helps us to maximise expertise
and avoid duplication and waste – so members can concentrate on
delivering front-line services.
The benefits of this approach are considerable. Some of our
recent Group-wide achievements include:
The Financial team led a review of member companies’ insurance
policies - covering everything from insuring homes to professional
indemnity cover – which resulted in a saving of more than
£250,000.
Securing an additional £35 million loan facility
for L&H Homes.
Continuing to roll-out a major learning programme, which has
helped to secure business efficiencies and contribute towards staff
retention (more than 20 per cent of our employees have worked
within the Group for 10 years or more).
Achieving 73.5 per cent employee satisfaction in our most recent
Group survey, which places Longhurst Group in the top 16 per cent
of all companies.
The development team exceeding all of its targets with outturn
figures 150% above cash targets, 136% ahead of start on site
targets and 117% ahead of completion targets.
The marketing team achieving £250k of free publicity in the social
housing sector media and local press.
Longhurst Homes winning the Chartermark for the entire range of
services provided by the company, demonstrating the organisation’s
commitment to excellent customer service.
Havelok Homes achieving ‘three star’ ratings for all of its
registered residential care homes, signifying the high standards
being maintained for vulnerable customers.
Friendship Care and Housing receiving recognition from Birmingham
City Council’s Supporting People Team for delivering ‘excellent’
support services, based on an in-depth review and stakeholder and
service user feedback.
The successful outcome of the Rutland County Council stock
transfer vote. The tenants voted overwhelmingly in favour
of transferring their homes to Spire. More than 75% of tenants
voted and of those 87.1% voted ‘yes’ which is one of the highest
‘yes’ votes ever.
The Group’s services to members include finance and treasury
management, human resources, information and communication
technology and marketing.
Group membership also offers our members access
to development opportunities. As a founder member of the
Blue Skies Consortium, Longhurst Group works alongside 17 other
registered social landlords. We even have our own consultancy
arm, called POD, which provides
specialist knowledge and technical consultancy services to local
authorities, private developers and arms-length management
organisations.