Insider Media Limited

Three Midlands-based contracts formerly owned by failed housing provider Connaught partnerships were saved in a recent deal. Contracts with Midland Heart, Matrix Housing and Sandwell Homes have all been purchased by social housing and maintenance provider Mears.

The update was announced as KPMG, administrator for Connaught Partnerships, revealed that another 400 jobs would be lost at the company. The total number of redundancies so far is 1,100.

Connaught Partnerships, which is headquartered in Leeds, also has a hub in Bromsgrove.

Eight contracts were transferred to Mears earlier this week.

KPMG said that it was “hopeful that the Mears transfer presents re-employment opportunities for some of the 600 staff made redundant from those contracts”.

Staffordshire-based Lovell Partnerships, a subsidiary of the Morgan Sindall Group, purchased the majority of Connaught Partnerships’ contracts and related assets after it was announced that the latter had entered administration. About 2,800 jobs were saved through Lovell Partnerships’ purchase.

Brian Green from KPMG said: “We have now transferred the vast majority of Connaught Partnerships’ contracts to new providers, safeguarding the majority of jobs and ensuring continuity of service for tenants.

"To do this within days of the company going into administration is remarkable and is a testament to the commitment of everyone involved in securing the future of these contracts in a very difficult situation. Unfortunately around a quarter of staff were made redundant as part of the administration but we are hopeful that some of these staff will be re-employed by Mears.”