Bradford University School of Management. Organisational Overview. Proposed MBA Project Project title Environmental Management and ISO 14000

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1 MBA Project Proposal Bradford University School of Management Name of organisation Address Type of business Organisational Overview Incommunities, propertysolutions The Old School, Wrose Brow Road, Shipley BD18 2NT Housing Association property refurbishments Proposed project Simon Cuff sponsor Contact information Commercial Business Manager Tel Proposed MBA Project Project title Environmental Management and ISO Project objective Project description Travel involved Identify the development required and scope a framework to extend current management systems (ISO 9000) to incorporate environmental management systems and accreditation to ISO standards. Identify and control the environmental impact of its activities, products or services Specify systems to continually improve environmental performance Implement a systematic approach to setting environmental objectives and targets achieving these and to demonstrating that they have been achieved Provide assurance to management that it is in control of the organisational processes and activities having an impact on the environment Assure employees that they are working for an environmentally responsible organisation Provide assurance on environmental issues to external stakeholders such as customers, the community and regulatory agencies Comply with environmental regulations Within propertysolutions central office and site offices. Background, experience Candidate Profile Management Systems ISO procedure and process design Potential Interview dates TBC Other Information Location of interview propertysolutions, The Old School, Wrose Brow Road, Shipley BD18 2NT Please return the completed form to: Elaine Dean, Bradford University School of Management Emm Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD9 4JL E.Dean1@bradford.ac.uk

2 propertysolutions BRIEF FOR THE PROJECT Environmental Management and ISO ASSET MANAGEMENTS propertysolutions DEPT. Introduction to the Incommunities Group At Incommunities we provide affordable, high quality homes in desirable neighbourhoods across the Bradford district. We currently manage 22,000 homes, all of which were previously owned by Bradford Council. In addition to providing quality homes we also pride ourselves in offering all our customers with reliable and effective support on all housing related issues. Incommunities Group (formerly BCHT) was launched in February 2003 to offer affordable, high quality housing within desirable neighbourhoods where people want to live. It followed a ballot of every tenant which saw 66% of them vote and 62% support the change in ownership and management of their homes. As a result a stock transfer of 25,000 homes from Bradford Metropolitan District Council to BCHT, now known as Incommunities. The Incommunities Group was made up of six local Housing Trusts. The local Trusts are: Incommunities - Aire-Wharfe Incommunities - West City Incommunities - East Incommunities - North Incommunities - Shipley Incommunities - South Each of these six local Trusts became Industrial and Provident Societies from the 1st August An Industrial and Provident Society is a legal entity for a trading business in the United Kingdom. The Group also has a charitable subsidiary called Incommunities Foundation Limited (registered on 7th February 2005) and a repairs and maintenance organisation called Incommunities - Building Services. A charitable trust is one which is organised to serve private or public charitable purposes and is required to report its activities - especially financial activities - to the government. If the trust ceases to exist or otherwise becomes unable to carry out its purpose, then the trust property can be transferred to another charity with a similar purpose.

3 In January 2007, following a review of governance arrangements, a new group structure was created. The six Area Trusts joined together to form a new RSL, Bradford Community Housing Limited. Local Management Trusts were formed in each of the Trust areas to increase customer involvement in our services. BBS, our repairs and maintenance organisation, became part of the new Group Trust, BCHT Group (2006) Limited. Incommunities is now legally registered as Incommunities Group Limited. Asset Management - propertysolutions propertysolutions are an integral part of Incommunities Asset Management Department. The key aim of propertysolutions is to ensure the successful delivery of all planned and improvement works on behalf of the Department of Asset Management, which then supports the wider regeneration capital improvements as part of Incommunities regeneration plans. Underpinning this are propertysolutions aspirations to provide BCHT with a single route to construction services that minimises risk and provides high quality efficient and effective services that meets the needs and aspirations of Incommunities long-term strategic Business Plan challenges. Intrinsically linked to that is propertysolutions vision to offer current and future customers a unique one stop shop service accessible to everyone, in an efficient and cost effective manner. The key aims are summarised as follows: - Provide cost effective, customer focused construction services. Provision of flexible services able to respond to Incommunities changing needs. Provision of construction services within a culture of continuous improvement. Provision of a fit for purpose operation, to provide corporate property solutions in line with strategic corporate priorities. The service operates across the district of Bradford. propertysolutions have a robust 5 year strategy which includes approval to diversify some of their core services in later years. As a direct result of Incommunities 30 Year Investment Programme, propertysolutions can now identify & forecast its long-term turnover revenue more accurately. During the last 2 years, the service has responded to business needs by developing an operational structure that will assist in the long-term delivery. The structure is now under review, with the focus on ensuring we are able to deliver the forecasted turnover revenue to match Incommunities Group Business Plan projections. In addition to this work, the service now collaborates closely with Investment & Regeneration and is currently working with them to deliver a 5 year programme to meet Decent Homes. The service does not provide any statutory functions, however it does foresee as part of its growth strategy, areas of work where this could become a necessity. The key service responsibilities are summarised as follows: - Achieve optimum long and short term financial projections in line with the Group s Business Plans. Develop an improved construction service to meet the corporate requirements and add value to the wider Department of Asset Management. Reduce incommunities VAT risk exposure. Achieve optimum reductions in running costs as the function develops and improves on its efficiencies.

4 propertysolutions have specialist teams who are focused mainly towards regeneration works for social housing landlords and other service providers. In addition, they provide a bespoke specialist service for customers who require specialist needs. This work covers, Decent Homes work Major refurbishment where customers remain in occupation Estate regeneration including mixed-tenure and mixed-use Gas central heating systems Extensions / New Build Design & Build Services Personalised handyman scheme for those smaller jobs around the home External factors impacting on the service Ongoing and increased competition from private contractors. Incommunities Business Plans Targets Asset Management Development & Regeneration Programme. An over dependence on reducing and increasingly work without the resource capacity to deliver. (More from less) Difficulty in recruiting qualified and suitably experienced staff to some positions. A growing national trend to see less internal organisations providing services. (Audit Commission) Commitment to continuous improvement propertysolutions regularly updates areas of best practice and technical standards, combined with continuous investment in staff development and Health & Safety training. A key priority for them going forward is around 'nurturing relationships with the entire Incommunities Group for future business growth and their new revised operational structure recognises the importance of that to their plans. They know they are different they re an entrepreneurial service, focused on delivering high quality and cost effective services. They are definitely open to new and progressive ideas that challenge the norm, and set new standards for achieving business growth through rewarding people for delivering long-term success. The Core Team Even though propertysolutions have a resource base of over 200 multi-skilled trade operatives, which it can call upon, the core team within propertysolutions consists of approximately 88 employees, covering a range of professional and multi-skilled trade jobs. These include Site Managers, Estimators, Quantity Surveyors, Contracts Managers and Joiners, Electricians, Plumbers, Painters and Decorators as well as Apprentices. As stated previously, the section is relatively new (2004/5) the main focus until recently has been on small one off refurbishment schemes to Incommunities housing stock. We have a significant regeneration programme underway for the refurbishment of our properties and the majority of this work has been contracted to external partners. Over time we aim to transfer this work internally to propertysolutions.

5 Where You Come In Our brief is for a high-flyer MBA student to review the current commercial and operational arrangement within propertysolutions to determine the development and scope required to extend the current management systems to incorporate environmental management and accreditation to ISO As part of the process, you should focus specifically on the following areas: - Identify and control the environmental impact of its activities, products or services Specify systems to continually improve environmental performance Implement a systematic approach to setting environmental objectives and targets achieving these and to demonstrating that they have been achieved Provide assurance to management that it is in control of the organisational processes and activities having an impact on the environment Comply with environmental regulations If you believe you can assist us, we would like you to submit an outline proposal of how you would approach the project, together with information about you and testimonials from other clients / organisations you may have worked with. We appreciate that without talking in detail to us, it is not possible to draw up plans. However, on the basis of the initial outline we will undertake a short listing exercise if necessary, and invite you to make a presentation to us based on their proposals, before entering into an arrangement through Bradford University Business School. The Person to whom this project will appeal A confident communicator used to working with senior staff, you must have strong IT skills, a flexible approach, and enjoy being a great ambassador for Bradford University as well as yourself. You will be the type of person to whom being one step ahead comes naturally. Cheerful disposition, socially confident, possessing proven management skills within a service operations business environment. This is a huge role / project and offers enormous variety, scope and responsibility. For these reasons, we require someone who is methodical, has an organised approach to work, reliable and is willing to rise to the challenge of working on their own within a busy office environment. You will be expected to be based part-time in our offices. Where You Come In Whilst we do have a number of experts within the business, we would like to explore what additional options might be available to us and how we might tailor a solution to best fit our particular needs. We appreciate that without talking in detail to us, it is not possible to draw up any detailed thoughts and a proposal. If you would like to contact us before drafting your proposal, we would be pleased to hear from you. Simon Cuff, Commercial Business Manager on tel