Merger Matters
Great Places is growing!
Great Places is currently in merger talks with Manchester-based Mosscare St Vincent’s (MSV) Housing Group. If everything goes to plan we will come together to create a new, bigger organisation on 1 October 2023.
At the very heart of the proposal to merge is the commitment and knowledge that we will work with our customers to constantly improve our services. Life is hard for many people at the moment; there are many significant challenges on the horizon and we need to be in a strong position to do everything we can to deliver the best possible services and support.
What will a merger mean for current Great Places customers?
If the merger goes ahead as planned, the new organisation will still be called Great Places, and our head office will remain in Didsbury (south Manchester).
Nothing will change for existing Great Places customers in terms of your tenancy, lease or licence because your landlord is not changing, and you will not be required to do anything as a result of the merger. However, there will be many benefits to customers from both of the previous organisations.
The merger will create savings for the new business – for example, we will not need two head offices – that will allow the new organisation to invest around £4m extra a year into services for customers. This means we’ll be able to invest even more into customers’ homes, including making them more energy efficient and helping to keep fuel costs down.
Why are Great Places and MSV a good fit?
As well as working in the same areas, both organisations have a shared history of working in Greater Manchester and across the North West region for well over 50 years. This shared knowledge and understanding of our customers and communities means we are in a great position to deliver genuinely tailored and locally focused services where customers have a real voice and influence. The merger will enable us to take the best parts of both organisations and cultures forward, creating a new business with customers at its heart.
Both Great Places and MSV already work hard to provide safe and secure homes, to operate an effective repairs service, build and invest in homes and communities and create environments in which people can truly flourish. We now need to build on this, and one of the key drivers for the merger is to deliver more together as one larger organisation. The number one aim of the merger and the top priority will be to ensure we provide the best possible services to customers.
Benefits of merger
The new Great Places will:
- Put customer voice and influence at the heart of decision-making;
- Commit to doing the basics well for all customers;
- Significantly strengthen our responsive repairs service;
- Invest more in existing homes;
- Increase our focus on energy efficiency, building safety and community regeneration;
- Continue to invest in specialist homes and services such as care leaver accommodation and later living schemes.
How can I have my say?
MSV is carrying out consultation with its existing customers; this is a legal requirement because if the merger goes ahead their landlord will change from MSV to Great Places. Although existing Great Places customers do not need to take part in a formal consultation exercise, we still want to work with you to hear your views and build these into how we deliver our services to you going forward.
If you would like to receive a printed copy of the survey, please call our Customer Hub on 0300 123 1966 to request this.
Where can I find out more?
There’s an extensive list of questions and answers around the merger on our website; however if you have any further queries or thoughts you can ask a Great Places colleague or email communications@greatplaces.org.uk
We are keen to get your input into these proposals and your views on what the priorities of the new organisation should be. We have created a short survey to gather your feedback; if you complete the survey by 11.59pm on Wednesday 31 May 2023, as well as registering for the Our Voice platform, you’lll go in to a prize draw for a chance to win a £50 Love2shop e gift card.
Please scan the QR code to access this and share your thoughts, or visit www.greatplaces.org.uk/mergersurvey