Fastflow Group, the utilities and property services business, and United Living, a new and refurbished housing specialist, today announce that they have merged to operate under one group.
The enlarged group will retain the existing contracting companies under their separate brands with existing contracts being unaffected. The merger will allow the Group to provide a broadened maintenance and development capability in the property sector. The two organisations will be better equipped to meet the ever-increasing UK demand for new and well-maintained housing.
Fastflow Group is an independent provider of essential services to the utilities and property sectors. Over 600 people are employed on sites throughout the UK, improving and managing a broad range of client assets. Group turnover is £137 million.
With over 65 years of experience, United Living is a leading provider of new and refurbished homes for clients throughout the UK. The Group employs 540 people with a turnover of £275 million. The combined headcount, not including sub-contractors/supply chain, will exceed 1,100 people.
Between them the companies delivered 1,263 new homes in 2018. In addition, 29,895 planned maintenance jobs were completed and 47,100 short notice responsive repairs were carried out.
Ian Burnett, Chief Executive Officer of United Living will step down but remain as an advisor to the Group. Neil Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fastflow Group will take overall responsibility for the enlarged group as Chief Executive Officer.
Neil Armstrong said:
“The reasons for combining these two great businesses are simple and compelling. The enlarged maintenance and new housing capability will benefit clients and our people, safeguarding jobs and providing more opportunities to progress within the group.
“At United Living, we see people with a shared ethic and common purpose, who are already delivering a best in class service. People who, like us, take their responsibilities to customers, residents, employees, the environment and communities in which they work very seriously.
“By harnessing this commitment and talent and by working together, investing time and money to drive improvement, we will take the business to the next level.”
A short film in which Neil Armstrong explains the rationale behind the deal can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dacyJCj3rs
Ian Burnett added:
“United Living and Fastflow are both organisations with a strong history of excellent customer service and quality projects within the utilities services, social housing and residential markets. Bringing the two businesses together will enhance the geographical coverage and offering for customers by providing a fully integrated service from development through to build and maintenance of the whole project. I look forward to continuing my involvement with the enlarged group as an advisor.”
Fastflow Group’s Oxford based DW Support Services is contracted to carry out planned and responsive repairs for housing providers owning around 200,000 properties across the south of England. Partner, which operates on a national basis out of Durham and Derby, has completed over 2,000 new houses on 82 sites across the UK over the past seven years.
United Living, with offices in Cardiff, Salford, Sheffield, Swanley and Wolverhampton has 65 years of experience in providing maintenance and new housing to registered housing provider partners, local authorities and private developers.
Flagship projects of United Living include: South Thames College in Wandsworth – a development of 201 homes, a library and commercial space for L&Q; Black Dog Way, in Gloucester – bringing 95 homes to the city centre for Rooftop Housing and the Pollards Hill refurbishment project for Moat – working on hundreds of homes in the community on internal and external works.
In addition to delivering high quality homes, it supports training, employment and community initiatives.