Seven senior figures from public sector organisations across Great Britain have been appointed to LHC Procurement Group’s board
The new non-executive directors hail from housing associations across England, Scotland and Wales. Their appointment comes at the same time as a series of significant positive developments at LHC Procurement Group, 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.
New non-executive directors on the LHC Procurement Group board are:
- Laurie Carberry, Procurement and Performance Director, Wheatley Housing Group
- Nile Istephan, CEO, Eildon Housing Association
- Paul Read, Director of Sustainability and Investment, Magna Housing Group
- Tom Cadwallader MCIPS, Head of Procurement, Pobl Group
- Andrew Thomas, Procurement Manager, Tai Tarian Ltd
- Conan McKinley, Director of Asset Management, Your Housing Group
- Kathryn Stevens, Head of Procurement, Moat Housing Association
The new senior figures from public sector organisations will help to shape the future of LHC
LHC Procurement Group director Clive Feeney, commented: “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.”
LHC will continue to work with social housing providers, local authorities, schools, healthcare organisations and other bodies
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, 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 will improve local communities through its frameworks and Community Benefit Fund
LHC’s new vision focuses 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.
Kalwant Grewal joins LHC to support the organisation’s transition
To support LHC’s transition, new company secretary Kalwant Grewal joins from West London NHS Trust, where he shaped, designed and influenced health and care outcomes for children, young people and adults.
He brings non-executive and committee chair experience from Grand Union Housing Group, PHA Homes and Sapphire Independent Housing, and senior leadership experience with older people’s charity Age UK.
LHC Procurement Group is also currently recruiting a permanent chair to move the organisation into its next phase following the completion of its governance review. An announcement on the new chair will be made in May.
LHC Procurement Group’s website is now live at www.lhcprocure.org.uk
