UK: NMBS and Unity Green Deal have entered into a formal agreement in which Unity Green Deal will supply its Green Deal/ECO solution to NMBS’s 650 independent merchants, who combined, represent over 2000 outlets across the UK.

As the UK's largest buying group dedicated to independent builders', timber and plumbers' merchants, NMBS was challenged to investigate how its members could respond to the Green Deal initiative and to source a practical model for those members who wished to engage with this major opportunity.

Based in East Yorkshire, Unity Green Deal’s case management systems have been in use with numerous companies involved in the management and production of Energy Performance Certificates since 2007. The company is said to have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the renewable and energy efficiency sector.

It will be an accredited Green Deal Provider and advisory service and will supply systems and centralised services to enable independent local supply chains to offer a "seamless Green Deal/ECO solution when the initiative is launched in October". It will also provide merchants and their trade customers with "an easy to access, low cost 'plug and play' solution to enable advisors, installers and merchants to work together to generate and benefit from the Green Deal/ECO opportunities they create", said John Johnson, managing director of Unity Green Deal.

Leads are uploaded on the host’s website, either through an embedded i-frame, which can be white labeled to mirror a company’s own corporate identity, or directly into a personalised online portal.

This enables the company to automatically channel the procurement of products, materials and installation services back through the supply chain to the leads originating from the source company or individual and their adjoining network. 

The central management system tracks and monitors each project and enables real-time access to the entire supply chain and to customers. It provides a clear and auditable communication platform which supports the complex interconnecting activities involved in the deployment of Green Deal/ECO measures and ensures that all projects run efficiently throughout each phase.

“We are delighted to be working with NMBS and their members," Mr Johnson stated. "It’s our view that local independent companies with local knowledge and trusted businesses who genuinely understand the requirements of their local market will be the key players in this exciting new market.

"Our role is to provide the glue which links them together and support them to deliver an exceptional Green Deal/ECO service to their local domestic and non-domestic customers.”