A SOCIAL housing provider has become the first to be awarded a contract to carry out work for a fellow organisation using a North-East procurement scheme.

Redcar based Coast & Country has won a £350,000 contract to carry out improvement work to former council stock homes now managed by Dale & Valley Homes, in the Wear Valley area of County Durham.

Both are members of the North East Procurement (NEP) consortium, a non-profit organisation that lists suitable mainly private sector firms to carry out work for 13 social housing providers in the region.

The latest agreement is the first time that one member has been selected to supply services to another.

The property services division of Coast & Country, which is responsible for managing the former housing stock of Redcar and Cleveland Council, will install modern showers at a range of properties from houses to sheltered housing schemes The division, which employs more than 200 staff, will take about a year to complete the work.

Anthony Brown, Coast & Country's director of property and assets, said: "It is an opportunity for organisations to collaborate and work together on things each of the organisations are good at.

"We are delighted Dale & Valley have expressed the confidence in us, it is a real opportunity.

"We provide a full range of building services and winning this contract with Dale & Valley is an important milestone for Coast & Country.

"It signals the growth and development of our contracting business across the North East.

"We hope to do it with other companies, it is an area where we can grow the business."

Dale &Valley Homes, chief executive Peter Chaffer said: "We are committed to achieving the best results for our customers in both quality and value.

"Working with other organisations helps us secure the most competitive contracts which achieve those objectives.

"We chose Coast & Country's property services division as the contractor because it demonstrated excellent service and a commitment to value for money."

Ian Brimer, Chief Executive of NEP, said: "This contract illustrates how NEP can act as a business to business organisation for its members, helping retain employment and money within the North East."