NPS Property Consultants Ltd, part of Norse Consulting, is proud to be working in collaboration with Norfolk County Council Children’s Services team, SEN advisors and Fred Nicholson School staff, to design this state-of-the-art 224-pupil place SEN school.

Relocating to Swaffham from their now outdated site in Dereham, Fred Nicholson School will have a new purpose-built learning environment and the capacity to expand, meaning more pupils with Special Educational Needs can access this vital resource.

Throughout the design process, thoughtful considerations have been made including daylight lighting control, enhanced acoustics, external sensory landscaping and internal sensory and therapeutic facilities.

These elements aim to support the school with reductions in challenging behaviours and an environment which will progress pupils’ independence, communication, and engagement. An enhanced building fabric and efficient building services design means there will be improved thermal comfort year-round for pupils and staff and zero reliance on fossil fuels to operate the building.

All parties involved have been on an educational journey to truly understand the unique SEN design requirements, which will greatly benefit both the children and their families in Norfolk. Being able to design a learning environment the pupils deserve sets the standard for an educational setting that is ambitious and aspirational for all, and Norse Consulting is incredibly excited to be a part of this project.

NPS Property Consultants Ltd, part of Norse Consulting, has successfully been awarded planning approval for Norfolk County Council Children’s Services expansion project at Hethersett Academy.

The new scheme will feature a brand new dining hall and kitchen, with external terrace-style seating, 2 DT rooms, 2 ICT-rich classrooms, and 9 general-use classrooms.

The expansion will enable the school to expand from 8 forms of entry to 9 forms of entry. The new build will be fully electric, with air source heat pumps and solar PV panels on the roof, ensuring the build is sustainable and working towards Norfolk County Council’s net zero carbon goal.

Construction for the scheme is expected to commence in November 2023, with occupation in January 2025.

IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES, RICHARD GAWTHORPE EXAMINES HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE WIDER PUBLIC SECTOR CAN RESPOND TO RISING DEMANDS ON THEIR PROPERTY SERVICES WHILE GRAPPLING WITH CAPACITY CHALLENGES WITHIN THEIR ORGANISATIONS.

The government is investing significantly in infrastructure and place. The first round of allocations of the £1.7bn Levelling Up Fund have been announced, promising investment in the infrastructure that improves everyday life in the UK.

Now, however, we need to turn our attention to delivery – and, once again, that raises the issue of capacity and appropriate skills and experience within local authority teams.

Councils have innovated, reimagined and changed the ways they work to deliver significant savings and efficiencies. But there is only so much that they can do in the face of large reductions in government funding and increasing demand for their services

At the same time, the funding landscape is becoming more complex and overstretched teams are struggling to resource bidding activities with actual delivery on the ground.

As Pooja Agrawal, CEO of Public Practice wrote in the MJ after last autumn’s budget, there is a Catch-22 situation here.

She said: “Authorities with already stretched resources [will have to divert] capacity and time to bid for this funding, leaving some authorities with no resource to even consider bidding for funding, therefore deepening the resource gap.”

The current situation with a shortage of capacity does make working within the built environment in the public sector challenging, yet there is light at the end of the tunnel.

One long-term solution is public/public partnership, an area that we at the Norse Group, a 100% local authority-owned company, are very experienced in, especially via our multi-disciplinary property consultancy Norse Consulting.

For example, having been Norfolk County Council’s property and multidisciplinary design partner for over 25 years, Norse Consulting has a close relationship and partnership with the client, and this ensures the authorities property needs of the authority are consistently met.

Sharing best practice, knowledge and experience gained from its suite of offices across the UK, Norse Consulting continues to provide resilience, capacity and expertise to meet an ever-changing property landscape.

The “unprecedented” global pandemic has taken its toll on the public sector and left many local authorities reeling.

From the moment it hit, it required new ways of thinking and very different approaches and that is what is also required when it comes to dealing with this issue of lack of capacity.

Local government has no alternative but to step up now and look ahead with new purpose.

There are short and long-term solutions to dealing with the issues of lack of capacity and shortage of skills, especially within the built environment.

And among those is the option of working in partnership with a trusted public sector partner like Norse Consulting.

This article is part of the Rising to the Challenge series. For more information on creating capacity within your own teams contact Richard Gawthorpe via Richard.Gawthorpe@norsegroup.co.uk or call 01603 706140.

IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES, RICHARD GAWTHORPE EXAMINES HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE WIDER PUBLIC SECTOR CAN RESPOND TO RISING DEMANDS ON THEIR PROPERTY SERVICES WHILE GRAPPLING WITH CAPACITY CHALLENGES WITHIN THEIR ORGANISATIONS.

At a recent Local Government Chronicle (LGC) round table event, a high-level panel of local government officers reflected on what the best partnership models might be.

And LGC editor Nick Golding, chairing the discussion, said: “Partnerships have been absolutely at the centre of local government’s response to Covid and are now at the core of so much local government does.”

Long-term solutions addressing capacity and the skills gap are available to Local Government whether they are with private or public sector partners – and these partnerships can be extremely effective.

They can absorb the transient workload during peak times, upskill existing staff, bolster against the unforeseen and offer senior officers the time and space to look to the longer term.

Furthermore, they allow flexibility in responding to priorities; bring job stability and security and offer community sustainability, helping to keep jobs and any financial surpluses within the local communities.

This is another area that we at the Norse Group, a 100% local authority-owned company, are very experienced in, especially via our multi-disciplinary property consultancy Norse Consulting.

Since 2007, Norse Consulting has had a long-term partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest, delivering built environment professional skills, and supporting social infrastructure, schools and corporate buildings.

The joint venture (JV) and its supply chains have created between 30 and 70 jobs per year since 2007; approximately £70 million has been invested in schools and more than 4,000 new school places have been created.

Norse Consulting has supported the council in delivering over 1,200 high-quality new homes, including 134 affordable new homes delivered on 21 brownfield or garage sites, alongside providing expertise to its housing delivery company Sixty Bricks and capital delivery teams.

Now named Evolve, the JV and its operating model has been reset again under a new five (plus five) year agreement, which will continue to provide professional services supporting the council’s ambitions.

This article is part of the Rising to the Challenge series. For more information on creating capacity within your own teams contact Richard Gawthorpe via Richard.Gawthorpe@norsegroup.co.uk or call 01603 706140.

PART 5: Turning our attention to delivery

IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES, RICHARD GAWTHORPE EXAMINES HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE WIDER PUBLIC SECTOR CAN RESPOND TO RISING DEMANDS ON THEIR PROPERTY SERVICES WHILE GRAPPLING WITH CAPACITY CHALLENGES WITHIN THEIR ORGANISATIONS.

The so-called “era of the Great Resignation” has left significant talent gaps across local authorities and resulted in calls for greater investment in the management tiers of tomorrow.

Furthermore, “The Future of Local Government”, a report published by PwC and the County Councils Network in July 2021, suggested more flexible working arrangements might provide solutions given that the private sector is attracting staff, who appreciate flexibility in the workplace and might not have previously considered this area as it does offer work/live benefits including a reduction in commutes and the culture of long hours at a desk are changing.

In addition, today’s younger workers often want flexibility across all dimensions, an opportunity to exercise their entrepreneurial spirit, and an employer that promotes their well-being. They also care a good deal about compensation, and not as much as prior generations about a possible pension.

The public sector does therefore need to channel other benefits to attract new talent, such as capitalising on the social value aspects of the work it delivers and emphasising its agility and great purpose within the community.

So, today I am going to look at interim management as a solution to the shortage of skills and expertise within the built environment in local government.

This is another area that we at the Norse Group, a 100% local authority-owned company, are very experienced in, especially via our multi-disciplinary property consultancy Norse Consulting.

But, in the meantime, leaders with expertise and experience are desperately needed and interim management can provide a solution.

According to the 2020 Interim Management survey from the Institute of Interim Management (IIM), the professional body for interim managers and executives, approximately one-third of interim management now takes place within the public sector.

Again, Norse Consulting has seen significant success in this area; it has recent examples of this type of placement to support the senior teams within councils.

In its experience, bringing a new leader in from outside the local authority allows an independent review to take place to determine the strengths in a team and where support and development is needed to ensure cohesion and efficiency of that property team moving forward.

An Interim Head of Property Services is also able to break down barriers and facilitate a more effective and efficient operating model with a buy-in from the existing team.

This article is part of the Rising to the Challenge series. For more information on creating capacity within your own teams contact Richard Gawthorpe via Richard.Gawthorpe@norsegroup.co.uk or call 01603 706140.

PART 4: PARTNERSHIPS AT THE CORE OF DELIVERY

IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES, RICHARD GAWTHORPE EXAMINES HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE WIDER PUBLIC SECTOR CAN RESPOND TO RISING DEMANDS ON THEIR PROPERTY SERVICES WHILE GRAPPLING WITH CAPACITY CHALLENGES WITHIN THEIR ORGANISATIONS.

In April this year Crown Commercial Service (CCS), the UK’s largest public procurement organisation, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced that they aimed to boost commercial capability across local government through a new contract management training programme.

CCS now envisages that almost 200 local government officers will complete the Contract Management Pioneer Programme over the next 12 months, which is great news for the sector.

Last week I outlined how public sector organisations are currently struggling with severe gaps in capacity, especially when it comes to the built environment.

But today I want to highlight one particular short-term solution for the public sector, the traditional procurement route.

This sees local authorities procure of services from a supply chain – and it can work particularly well within property services in local government.

Indeed, it is an area that we at the Norse Group, a 100% local authority-owned company, are very familiar with, especially via our multi-disciplinary property consultancy Norse Consulting.

In this scenario, and in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the public sector can competitively tender discrete pieces of work that can be packaged up and delivered by the private sector.

Alternatively, these discrete pieces of work can be packaged up and tendered through national frameworks either competitively or by a direct-award arrangement.

One advantage of using a national or regional framework (PCR15 compliant) is that members (the supply chain) of the framework have already been vetted, approved and demonstrated a proven track record.

There are numerous benefits to this approach, including reducing overall procurement costs and internal resources to the buyers, expertise in the chosen field being procured, as well as the building of long-term relationships with the supply chain.

Norse Consulting has secured many commissions and medium-term contracts following its inclusion on a number of frameworks, over the past 30 years, enabling it to develop fruitful and long-lasting relationship with clients.

Among these are the professional property services it provides to Blue Light Services across the country, including Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and Dorset Police.

Norse Consulting’s professional property teams have recently had their contract with Norfolk and Suffolk Constabulary extended; won a new contract with Derbyshire Constabulary and Fire Services and been appointed as an approved consultant on the East of England Ambulance Service Framework.

This article is part of the Rising to the Challenge series. For more information on creating capacity within your own teams contact Richard Gawthorpe via Richard.Gawthorpe@norsegroup.co.uk or call 01603 706140.

PART 3: Era of THE great resignation

In a series of ARTICLES, Richard Gawthorpe examines how local government and the wider public sector can respond to rising demands on their property services while grappling with capacity challenges within their organisations.

A recent survey by chief executives’ group Solace highlighted nine out of 10 of its members were “concerned about the pipeline of staff with the appropriate skills/qualifications to work in the most senior roles in the council over the next three to five years.”

Over the coming weeks, I will examine some of the long and short-term solutions – but today, let us look at the evidence.

Severe shortages in labour and expertise, the ongoing impact of years of cuts in funding and now the unexpected and devasting effects of Covid-19 have left public sector organisations with severe gaps in capacity, especially when it comes to the built environment.

According to research published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in May, most employers are already experiencing skills shortages within their workforces – or expect to have such shortages within the next five years

Some 33% of respondents were suffering a shortage in core business skills, while a further 41% expected shortages in the year ahead.

The research also revealed there was a real need for capacity building for the Net Zero transition, with over three quarters (76%) of employers already stating they have a shortage of the skills needed to support the move.

And, certainly, local government is no exception to this situation, particularly in property services.

Within asset management, estates surveying and the built environment, in particular, we are seeing large gaps within teams where specific expertise and experience are required.

This is a subject that we at the Norse Group, a 100% local authority-owned company, often hear about via our teams at our multi-disciplinary property consultancy Norse Consulting.

This crisis appears to cut across all areas of employment, yet within the public sector there are additional challenges.

For example, as highlighted recently by the CIPD in its Labour Market Outlook (Spring 2022) report, there is less flexibility to respond to recruitment and retention challenges with increases to pay and other benefits arrangements.

A recent study by Macdonald &Company in June 22 highlights that property professionals in the private sector who have moved to new employers or received a counteroffer after intending to resign, have received an average salary uplift of circa 18%.

This demonstrates that the current job market is very much candidate-led, with employers needing to offer increasingly competitive salaries to attract and retain the best colleagues.

The good news is that solutions are available – and I will look at some of these over the coming weeks.

This article is part of the Rising to the Challenge series. For more information on creating capacity within your own teams contact Richard Gawthorpe via Richard.Gawthorpe@norsegroup.co.uk or call 01603 706140.

Part 2: Direct-award toolbox

Group Business Development Director for the Norse Group, Richard Gawthorpe, examines how local government and the wider public sector can respond to rising demands on property services while grappling with a lack of capacity within their organisations.

The completion of the first phase development at Chambers Green in Needham Market has been marked by councillors and representatives from Mid Suffolk Growth.

The Chambers Green Development, at the former Mid Suffolk District Council headquarters, will consist of a mix of 92 homes for sale, homes for affordable rent, and a retail outlet.

The completed first phase includes 32 new build homes built to a high specification and a new East of England Co-op food store to support the growing development and local community, opening its doors in the coming months.

An additional 60 homes will be added to the Chambers Green site, as part of phase two. The conversion of the listed buildings will provide flats that will retain the original character and features of the buildings, with a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses being delivered on the remainder of the site. Green space will be retained and enhanced on the site and available to the public.

It is expected that work will start on the second phase of works later this year.

The whole development is being delivered by Mid Suffolk Growth, a joint venture between Mid Suffolk District Council and the Norse Group.

The new development comes alongside the transformation of the former Middle School and the creation of a further 41 homes, meeting the demand for housing in the town as part of the council’s wider vision for Needham Market.

Cllr Lavinia Hadingham, Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet member for housing, said:

“The completion of phase one on this development is already making a difference in the lives of our residents, and I’m thrilled to see it coming together step by step. This development is not just about providing homes for the present but also ensures that the town is sustainable going forward. The council remains focussed on meeting the housing needs of the whole community, adding to our council housing stock and having homes available for those wishing to own property too.”

Richard Gawthorpe, Norse Consulting Group Business Development Director, commented:

“I am delighted that the team have successfully delivered phase one of the project at Chambers Green and that the new homes have been so well received. Delivering this project for Mid Suffolk District Council has allowed us to bring much-needed high-quality housing to Needham Market.”

The housing developments at Chambers Green and the former middle school are part of Mid Suffolk District Council’s Invest in Needham programme, which includes a new library that opened at the former middle school site in February and a new café and visitor centre at Needham Lake that opened in May.

Norse Consulting has cemented its commitment to the Society for Public Architecture, Construction, Engineering and Surveying (SPACES) by signing a new partnership agreement with the organisation.

The Norse Group’s specialist multidisciplinary building consultancy has supported SPACES since its inception and has now signed a new three-year partnership deal with it.

Alex Gee, Operations Director of Norse Consulting and Chair of the SPACES Low Carbon Committee, said: “We were the first company to sign up to the new partnership deal with SPACES and are delighted to continue our support of the organisation.

“Since SPACES was formed 7 years ago, we have found the organisation offers a great technical industry network to colleagues, both in local government and the private sector.

“This helps all of us to capitalise on the latest ideas and best practice – and is invaluable to Norse Consulting across all its many disciplines.”

SPACES is a collaborative organisation for those in the building professions who work within or for the public sector.

It is committed to assisting its members to achieve the highest possible standards in the development, design, construction and management of the public sector estate.

Norse Consulting was one of the sponsors of the organisation’s recent annual Study Day, held at De Montfort University, with the theme of Net Zero Carbon – Building Resilience.

Team members were also heavily involved in the event, with Alex facilitating an interactive round table discussion and Norse Consulting Senior Director Marina Robertson leading a session on Creating a Low Carbon Skills Economy.

Marina said: “Networks such as SPACES allow professionals to come together to find out what each other are up to, share thinking, innovation and offer valuable support when the solutions are not always obvious.

“The spirit of co-operation that SPACES has cultivated with organisations that can sometimes be in direct competition with each other in a crowded marketplace is its enduring legacy.

“The challenges our industry, society and the world are currently facing will only be overcome if we all work together.”

Members of SPACES are responsible for delivering public sector construction projects and/or maintaining public sector buildings with a combined annual spend of around £20 billion.

Membership is open to all working in the private and public sectors, including clients, consultants, architects, engineers, surveyors, contractors, project managers, the civil service, and academics.

Norse Consulting also sponsors the organisation’s Annual Awards, President’s Dinner and annual yearbook.

Alex said the drive towards Net Zero Carbon was the biggest challenge the industry had ever faced. The study day provided the opportunity to pull together, discuss the topic and share vital knowledge.

“Norse Consulting has been involved with SPACES over many topics – including low carbon when the organisation kickstarted its Year of Net Zero in 2021.

“Our professional teams are supported with technical input around design standards, engineering standards, new legislation, and the impacts these all have on day-to-day working methods.

“The intellectual value that SPACES offers us is second to none, so it makes perfect sense to continue our great relationship with our colleagues within the organisation for the next few years.”

Jackie Lowe, President of SPACES, said:

“We are really pleased to be able to extend our partnership with Norse Consulting, which supports us in continuing to offer free membership to those working within the public sector and expands our resource capability. In addition, we continue to offer a safe space for those in the construction industry to meet and discuss common challenges that those delivering for the public sector strive to resolve”.

The Norse Group is the largest commercial local authority trading company in the UK and has a track record of delivering profitable and successful partnerships with councils across the country.

Formerly known as the NPS Group, Norse Consulting offers a broad range of building consultancy services as stand-alone or integrated packages, incorporating multidisciplinary expertise, all with the primary purpose of improving people’s lives.

We are pleased to announce Norse Consulting (the new parent company of NPS) has been reappointed to EPH (formerly The Essex Procurement Hub) national framework agreement.

The place will allow the group’s specialist multidisciplinary building consultancy to provide a range of construction consultancy services to public sector bodies across the UK.

Services will include building services engineering; principal designer, employer’s agent and clerk of works services; valuation, estates and property marketing services.

Also included in the four-year EPH national framework are topographical/land surveying and measured land services and energy consultation services.

Simon Hersey, Chief Operating Officer of Norse Consulting, said: “We are delighted to have successfully been reappointed to the EPH framework and look forward to having the opportunity to deliver trusted and responsive consultancy services to both existing and new public sector clients all over the UK.”

EPH has over 12 years’ experience providing successful frameworks for Public Sector Bodies across the UK.

Lili Roqueta, Procurement Support Officer for EPH, said: “Our frameworks are among the easiest and most accessible out there.

“You only need to complete a simple one-page form to access it, you use your own documents to specify your individual requirements and choose direct award or mini competition.”

For more information contact ephframeworks@braintree.gov.uk

We are pleased to announce Norse Consulting (the new parent company of NPS) has been reappointed to EPH (formerly The Essex Procurement Hub) national framework agreement.

The place will allow the group’s specialist multidisciplinary building consultancy to provide a range of construction consultancy services to public sector bodies across the UK.

Services will include building services engineering; principal designer, employer’s agent and clerk of works services; valuation, estates and property marketing services.

Also included in the four-year EPH national framework are topographical/land surveying and measured land services and energy consultation services.

Simon Hersey, Chief Operating Officer of Norse Consulting, said: “We are delighted to have successfully been reappointed to the EPH framework and look forward to having the opportunity to deliver trusted and responsive consultancy services to both existing and new public sector clients all over the UK.”

EPH has over 12 years’ experience providing successful frameworks for Public Sector Bodies across the UK.

Lili Roqueta, Procurement Support Officer for EPH, said: “Our frameworks are among the easiest and most accessible out there.

“You only need to complete a simple one-page form to access it, you use your own documents to specify your individual requirements and choose direct award or mini competition.”

For more information contact ephframeworks@braintree.gov.uk

We are pleased to announce Norse Consulting (the new parent company of NPS) has been reappointed to EPH (formerly The Essex Procurement Hub) national framework agreement.

The place will allow the group’s specialist multidisciplinary building consultancy to provide a range of construction consultancy services to public sector bodies across the UK.

Services will include building services engineering; principal designer, employer’s agent and clerk of works services; valuation, estates and property marketing services.

Also included in the four-year EPH national framework are topographical/land surveying and measured land services and energy consultation services.

Simon Hersey, Chief Operating Officer of Norse Consulting, said: “We are delighted to have successfully been reappointed to the EPH framework and look forward to having the opportunity to deliver trusted and responsive consultancy services to both existing and new public sector clients all over the UK.”

EPH has over 12 years’ experience providing successful frameworks for Public Sector Bodies across the UK.

Lili Roqueta, Procurement Support Officer for EPH, said: “Our frameworks are among the easiest and most accessible out there.

“You only need to complete a simple one-page form to access it, you use your own documents to specify your individual requirements and choose direct award or mini competition.”

For more information contact ephframeworks@braintree.gov.uk

We are pleased to announce Norse Consulting (the new parent company of NPS) has been reappointed to EPH (formerly The Essex Procurement Hub) national framework agreement.

The place will allow the group’s specialist multidisciplinary building consultancy to provide a range of construction consultancy services to public sector bodies across the UK.

Services will include building services engineering; principal designer, employer’s agent and clerk of works services; valuation, estates and property marketing services.

Also included in the four-year EPH national framework are topographical/land surveying and measured land services and energy consultation services.

Simon Hersey, Chief Operating Officer of Norse Consulting, said: “We are delighted to have successfully been reappointed to the EPH framework and look forward to having the opportunity to deliver trusted and responsive consultancy services to both existing and new public sector clients all over the UK.”

EPH has over 12 years’ experience providing successful frameworks for Public Sector Bodies across the UK.

Lili Roqueta, Procurement Support Officer for EPH, said: “Our frameworks are among the easiest and most accessible out there.

“You only need to complete a simple one-page form to access it, you use your own documents to specify your individual requirements and choose direct award or mini competition.”

For more information contact ephframeworks@braintree.gov.uk

We are pleased to announce Norse Consulting (the new parent company of NPS) has been reappointed to EPH (formerly The Essex Procurement Hub) national framework agreement.

The place will allow the group’s specialist multidisciplinary building consultancy to provide a range of construction consultancy services to public sector bodies across the UK.

Services will include building services engineering; principal designer, employer’s agent and clerk of works services; valuation, estates and property marketing services.

Also included in the four-year EPH national framework are topographical/land surveying and measured land services and energy consultation services.

Simon Hersey, Chief Operating Officer of Norse Consulting, said: “We are delighted to have successfully been reappointed to the EPH framework and look forward to having the opportunity to deliver trusted and responsive consultancy services to both existing and new public sector clients all over the UK.”

EPH has over 12 years’ experience providing successful frameworks for Public Sector Bodies across the UK.

Lili Roqueta, Procurement Support Officer for EPH, said: “Our frameworks are among the easiest and most accessible out there.

“You only need to complete a simple one-page form to access it, you use your own documents to specify your individual requirements and choose direct award or mini competition.”

For more information contact ephframeworks@braintree.gov.uk