When WPS secured a major contract in 2023 to deliver repair and maintenance works across social housing stock in and around Croydon, it was clear that successful delivery was dependent on having the right supply chain partners in place from day one.

WPS needed a partner that could support delivery at scale for properties in South London, whilst ensuring reliability, speed and value for money. .

To that end, WPS identified Huws Gray Partnership Solutions as its ideal strategic merchant partner, marking the beginning of a relationship built on flexibility, problem-solving and shared values.

A local solution for a regional contract

The core of the partnership is Huws Gray Partnership Solution’s commitment to offering an excellent local service. To support WPS’s contract requirement, Huws Gray’s property team identified and launched a dedicated branch in Croydon, creating a strong local hub to service a substantial and geographically diverse housing portfolio that includes over 24,000 properties in Lambeth and 16,000 properties in Croydon.

By establishing a solid local presence, Huws Gray has been able to ensure faster response times, consistent availability of materials and closer day-to-day collaboration with the WPS operational teams – all critical factors in maintaining excellent service levels in a social housing environment.

This flexible, agile approach is particularly key in the wake of the implementation of Awaab’s Law, groundbreaking new legislation which legally mandates landlords and social housing providers to provide meaningful solutions to a range of issues within a set time frame – 10 days for damp and mould and 24 hours for boiler breakdowns or gas leaks.

People-led partnership

From WPS’ perspective, the strength of the partnership is down to the people behind it.

Anthony Percy, Divisional Director at WPS, says: “The team at Huws Gray consistently demonstrate a ‘can-do’ attitude. They are proactive, solutions-focused and are genuinely committed to helping us overcome challenges on site. This dynamic and technical mindset makes a real difference when you’re operating in social housing environments, which can be beset with time and cost pressures.”

Whether responding to urgent requirements, sourcing specialist products or adapting to changing demands on site, the Huws Gray Partnership Solutions team works closely with WPS to remove friction from the supply process, ultimately helping operatives stay productive and maintain the highest first time fix rates.

Flexibility, fairness and value for money

Unsurprisingly, cost control is a major pressure point for social housing providers, who typically work to major budget constraints. This means the supply chain has to be reactive and flexible in its approach to pricing.

Huws Gray’s commitment to working collaboratively with WPS on pricing has been a key tenet of the partnership’s success to date. Rather than a rigid, transactional approach, the teams work together to ensure pricing remains competitive, transparent and appropriate for the contract, including a fair and reasonable approach to handling fees.

Nick Wyatt, Operations Manager at WPS, says: “Huws Gray understands the realities and challenges of social housing delivery. They’re competitive on price, fair to work with, and focused on delivering long-term value rather than short term gain; all factors that make them ideal partners.”

Problem-solving technology

Technology has also played a pivotal role in strengthening this partnership. As with many contractors, WPS had historically found it difficult to successfully implement in-house van stock management technology across its teams.

By gaining access to Huws Gray’s Stock & Go van stock management system, WPS was able to transform its internal processes, affording it greater visibility, control and efficiency, without adding operational complexity.

By ensuring operatives have the right materials on their vans at the right time, Stock & Go has helped reduce downtime, cut unnecessary branch visits and support faster first-time fixes — all critical metrics in social housing performance.

Beyond core supply

In addition to core materials, Huws Gray has supported WPS with specialist and non-core product requirements too, helping teams source solutions that may sit outside traditional merchant offerings. This breadth of capability has proven particularly valuable when addressing complex property issues or bespoke repair needs.

The partnership also extends beyond logistics and materials. Huws Gray’s local branch presence and operational model actively contribute to social value, supporting local employment and strengthening ties within the communities WPS serves.

A partnership built for the long term

As regulatory expectations increase and social housing providers face growing scrutiny, partnerships like this one are becoming essential.

Steve Coombs, Divisional Director at WPS, concludes: “By combining local investment, practical technology, commercial flexibility and a genuinely collaborative approach, Huws Gray Partnership Solutions continues to play a vital role in supporting us to deliver high-quality outcomes for residents across Croydon and the South East.

“We know Huws Gray are a trusted and reliable partner, so we are looking forward to further broadening the scope of our relationship with them for other social housing projects nationwide.”