Invicta Building Services Ltd were delighted to be appointed work on behalf of London and Quadrant with the residents of the Siedle House retirement complex in Woolwich. The £700 K project involved the upgrade of the heating system, and communal power and lighting throughout the building.
Invicta were brought in to the project following a dispute with the previous contractor.
This necessary upgrade was divided into a number of distinct and separate parts.
The first part was the upgrade in communal areas of LV distribution equipment, sub main cabling, final circuit cabling, lighting and emergency lighting systems, external lighting, fire alarm systems.
Secondly, we worked within the resident properties upgrading the apartment consumer units, warden call system, access and control and door systems, and lightning protection system.
Thirdly, modifications to the communal boiler plant, the installation of a LTHW distribution pipe network throughout the building, and the third part was the installation of domestic services in 60 residents’ properties including heating circuits, radiators, hot and cold water services, installation of new hot water cylinders, electrical controls, and making good the builders’ work and connections following the works.
During the project L and Q made the decision to renovate the kitchens in each of the properties and a rolling program of upgrading was started.
The original project started in March 2020, and were carried out despite the additional constraints placed upon the company with the need to comply fully with the Covid-19 regulations which gave an extra complexity to the project, particularly as we were working with elderly and vulnerable residents.
With the additional refurbishment works final completion date was in July 2021.
An experienced Resident Liaison Officer was appointed to this project to provide residents and other stakeholders with an available on-site point of contact to ensure smooth and immediate communication concerning all aspects of the refurbishment project.
As part of our final inspection with residents on completion of the works we always conduct a resident feedback questionnaire following a common set of measures to identify their level of satisfaction with different aspects of the project.
Our Key Performance Indicators include the quality of work, disruption caused, appointments kept, service provided by staff, communication re works, housekeeping in the property, overall satisfaction, and willingness to recommend, and the residents are requested to complete the following questions contained in the questionnaire with 3 responses:
1. Unacceptable.
2. Satisfactory.
3. Excellent.
We completed the modernisation works within 36 properties and handed these over to L and Q. Of these, almost 85% of the residents responded to the feedback questionnaire. Based on the residents’ responses provided there were three categories that received the highest score of a superb 100%. These were: appointments kept, politeness of staff, after care, overall satisfaction. Only one resident gave less than the top score for each of these categories.
Quality of work, problem handling, and recommendation in the property all received 98.77%. There was only one resident who gave less than the top two scores and that was in one category, namely, disruption caused.
When the scores were totalled, we are extremely pleased to state we received an average across all categories of 98.92%, and within this there were some exceptionally pleasing results.
These results are hugely satisfying not least as these works started in March 2020 and were all carried out with the need to follow government Covid-19 regulations presenting extra challenges to our site teams.
Social Values always play a part in our relationship with clients and residents, and we tailor these based on the project and consider where it can have a visible impact. In this case, we supported the Siedle House project with a contribution to redevelop the rooftop communal garden area for the benefit of the residents, with planted areas installed and maintained by our RLO, and a herb growing competition which engaged the residents who were unable to leave the building easily due to Covid.
Finally, the safety and welfare on site is important. We conducted weekly Covid compliance inspections, and our Nebosh certificated Health and Safety Manager conducted random unannounced Health and Safety inspections. There were no accidents reported for the duration of this project.
And here’s some excellent feedback from satisfied residents on completion of our work to their homes:
“I would like to say the work carried out on my flat is excellent. The painting and the heating is great, also I would like to mention Keith and Eamon who helped me in January when I was very ill, and in and out of hospital, getting me shopping etc. I can’t thank them enough, and I am very happy with the work carried out on my flat”
Mr D Simons
“Invicta have made a lovely job of my new kitchen, it’s lovely. The new heating system is so much better and warms my flat in no time. The workmen were always pleasant and very helpful, they took great care of my home”
Mrs V Etherington
“Very pleased with the works and the quality. Can’t fault any of the workmen on site. They are polite and helpful and make a refreshing change from the previous contractors. We all love Jodie who does more than she needs to for us here”
Mrs S P
“Is this a new flat? It looks so different. I feel very blessed that I now have new heating, electrics, kitchen and decorations. Thank you so much and God bless Invicta”
Miss A O
“The care and attention Invicta spent carrying out the works in my property was marvellous. We were all very untrusting of contractors from our previous experiences but the team are a delight to have on site and I feel I have made a lifelong friend with Jodie”
Mr G S
“Moving was made very easy. Jodie and her team took good care of me and helped me. My flat is lovely and warm now and my kitchen is brand new ”
Ms N Bodi
“The kitchen looks amazing along with the rest of the flat. I’m really impressed with Invicta Building Services. Jodie and Eamon have been brilliant and their workforce are polite and respectful. They are a joy to have on site”
Mr J Dunne
“Overwhelmed by the works. The new kitchen looks like it should be in a catalogue. Everything was explained in full and the whole thing was made very easy”
Mr L Adedapo
Great Social Values project underway
Our Senior RLO at Siedle House, actively worked alongside the residents on a fabulous Social Values project transforming the Sun Lounge Roof Terrace into a welcoming, colourful sunny retreat the residents can be proud of and can be enjoyed by residents and their families.
Along with some of the residents, a lot of effort was made in the early months, digging up flower beds, planting bulbs and bedding plants and Invicta donated a new garden bench as well as all the materials and plants required to transform the roof into a safe space where residents can take a break from the confinement of their flats.
Furthermore, she initiated a seed growing competition, with some herb seeds and runner beans.
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