Housing group invests in service

Apr 1 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

AFFORDABLE housing provider Isos Group is to create up to 20 jobs as it expands its building services team across the North East.

The team is currently part of Milecastle Housing in Hexham, one of the three main housing providers operated by Isos, and already handles repairs and service work for its home patch of Tynedale and sister company Castle Morpeth Housing.

Now the division will also take on responsibility for the largest part of the Isos Group, NomadE5 – which owns 6,000 of the group’s 12,000 properties – and will transfer its operation to the parent company Isos Housing Ltd. Isos Property Services is launched today, but will take on its full responsibilities gradually over the next 12 months, with staff numbers rising from 62 to 82. The group also plans to hire apprentices.

The staff will work out of three main depots in Hexham, Morpeth and a new site on Tyneside which will be secured shortly. Management and administration of the business will remain in Hexham.

Isos chief executive Keith Loraine said: “Extending the team by taking it groupwide will improve services to all residents, boost cost effectiveness and create further cohesion across the Isos Group.”