Recently launched by Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS), the AVAIL Housing Hub will bring together a host of benefits, including material supply, stock management technology, waste disposal and expert training. 

The offering is designed to tackle the many challenges of modern social housing, including changing legislation, health and safety, rising costs, and
decarbonisation regulations. 

Having opened Housing Hubs in Leeds and Newcastle last year, for the first time JPS has launched a dual service site, with customers in Aberdeen also able to access a George Boyd concept branch.

A wealth of products for construction, maintenance and repairs will be made available to customers via the hub’s large external yard and warehouse, and JPS will apply its automated replenishment technology to ensure levels of stock – which are specifically selected to support social landlords with their key challenges – are always maintained.

The George Boyd concept branch will provide plumbing and heating stock, electrical assortment, and a kitchen and bathroom range tailored to public sector building requirements, so operatives can purchase all the materials required for whole house solutions. 

The branch will offer customers a click and collect facility, for speedy access to products. 

Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city and almost a quarter of its dwellings are socially rented either via housing associations or the local authority. Aberdeenshire, a neighbouring council area, has around 15% of its homes classed as social housing meaning that across the region there are in excess of 40,000 homes that could benefit from the Housing Hub’s offering.

Scott Cooper, managing director of JPS and George Boyd, said: “When we were considering the location for our next AVAIL Housing Hub, we wanted to choose an area with a comparatively high percentage of social housing, and where we knew we could make a true difference.

“JPS already has a strong foothold in Scotland, as the leading supplier of materials for repairs in social housing in Edinburgh, Stirling, Dumfries and Dumbarton. We also already partner with a number of housing providers in Aberdeen, but we know the Housing Hub will enable us to do so much more for the city, so it made sense to for our next opening to be here.

“The hub, and its multiple benefits – which are making a huge difference in cities like Leeds and Newcastle where Housing Hubs are fully established – will arm operatives working on social properties with innovative products, at a great price point to help elevate the living conditions of the region’s residents. 

“With the addition of our George Boyd concept branch at the same site, customers will be able to make big efficiencies in their purchasing of materials and take advantage of the advice of our expert team about a wealth of different projects.

“Housing associations are feeling more pressure than ever before to provide better housing for less while simultaneously raising the standards of their properties. In Aberdeen, the AVAIL Housing Hub enables us to act as a supply partner that can help them deliver on their objectives for the people who need it most.”