Social housing specialist Fortem has announced plans to grow its business over the next three years, setting a target to increase turnover from £205 million to £300 million by 2028.

The strategy, branded 'FOR Our Future', focuses on three core areas: repairs and maintenance, capital works, and retrofit programmes.

The company, a subsidiary of Willmott Dixon, has also bolstered its leadership team to support its growth objectives. Judy Hegarty has been promoted to Deputy Managing Director, Kat Fidler has stepped into the role of Director of Operations, and Dan Churton has joined as Client Solutions Director from Orbit Housing.

Operating across England with a workforce of 1,200, Fortem collaborates with 16 local authorities and housing associations. Each year, it handles 350,000 reactive repairs and completes 4,000 voids upgrades. Among its major contracts, the company recently extended its partnership with Birmingham City Council, securing a £170 million deal to continue providing repairs and maintenance services for an additional two years starting April 2024.

The launch of the 'FOR Our Future' strategy comes as the UK government pledges increased investment in affordable housing and energy-efficient upgrades to housing stock by 2030. Fortem plans to align its efforts with these national priorities, aiming to improve operational efficiency and deliver sustainable growth across its three business streams.

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The company's new strapline, 'Every Home Matters', emphasises its commitment to supporting tenants and ensuring customer satisfaction. Fortem's leadership sees the strategy as a way to deliver greater value to the residents and communities it serves, reinforcing its position as a key player in the social housing sector.

Key strategy highlights:

Exclusively working in social housing, with a key focus of 'walking in their customers' shoes’. To reinforce this, Fortem has appointed Dan Churton, former Commercial and Transformational Director from Orbit Housing, to the Board, to ensure the new strategy constantly adapts to changing sector requirements.

Customer-Centric Approach: Fortem is focusing its services on three core workstreams:

Repairs and maintenance: providing 24/7 responsive repairs, refurbishment compliance, including gas servicing, electrical testing & fire safety works

Capital works: improvements to housing stocks, including kitchens and bathroom roll outs, aid adaptations, high-rise fire compliance and fire doors.

Retrofit programmes: a newer funding stream, which is PAS 2035 and 2030 compliance, designing and installing energy efficient measures in local authority or housing association homes, such as external wall installation, windows, new doors, new roofs, loft insulation, PVs on the roof, air source, heat pumps.

Unlocking our People Potential: Fortem's focus on training and development to equip its people with the skills to be successful includes plans to recruit over 100 apprentices and management trainees from local communities over the next four years.

Digital Transformation: Fortem is leveraging cutting-edge technology including Totalmobile, Talkdesk, and Microsoft, to provide services like Remote Assistance and Dynamic Scheduling, bringing greater efficiency and convenience to its operations and enhancing the customer experience.

Purpose Beyond Profit: Sustainability is at the heart of Fortem's strategy. The company is committed to achieving zero-carbon operations by 2030. As part of its broader commitment to corporate social responsibility, Fortem last year delivered £2.6m of social value investment including 26 biodiversity projects, 85 school workshops, 2000 work experience placements and 270 winter warmer packs.