Northamptonshire Partnership Homes is an arms-length management organisation (ALMO), which employs approximately 300 people and manages around 11,500 homes on behalf of West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).
SFS has been working with NPH (and its predecessor Northampton Borough Council) since 2004 and this new contract, which commenced on 1 March 2026, takes the partnership to 2031, over 27 years.
The new fleet comprises 68 x Ford vehicles, a combination of Customs, Connects and Transit vans, plus 2x DAF 7.5t caged tippers, which will be used by NPH teams to carry out estate services, property repairs and external works. The vehicles are being fitted with custom built racking following extensive consultation and sign off with a mixture of trade operatives, as well as tool points and storage pods to ensure vehicle interchangeability and improve the first-time fix rate.
For enhanced sustainability and to reduce carbon emissions, the new Custom and Connect vans are petrol hybrids to replace the current diesel vehicles. To minimise future repair and maintenance costs all the new vehicles have automatic transmissions.
Lee Burdett, Operations Manager, NPH commented:
"SFS understand our business requirements and our delivery model, and that stood out in their submission. Unlike other providers they have complete awareness of the importance of carrying out all servicing and maintenance out of hours. This means we can minimise vehicle downtime, plan our trade resources in advance and maximise our productivity, therefore providing a better service to our tenants. Their staff are always approachable, and they've built up great relationships with everyone across the organisation, including all the drivers. Put simply SFS adds value."
Bob Sweetland, Managing Director at SFS, said:
"We work hard to retain our customers and take time to understand how each individual organisation operates. Our aim is to continually improve how we do things; to work with our customers in addressing challenges and finding solutions. We are thoroughly delighted that NPH is happy with our services and we look forward to continuing the partnership for many years to come."
SFS has been delivering fleet and workshop management solutions to local authorities for over 30 years. The company operates its own specialist short-term hire division, CTS Hire, and a network of 15 workshops across the UK.
For more information about Specialist Fleet Services tel: 01604 234601; email info@sfs.co.uk; visit www.sfs.co.uk
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