Thirteen housing group boss reveals around 100 staff are to leave jobs

Everyone leaving roles has opted to take voluntary redundancy following merger of Fabrick Housing and Vela Group in April

The boss of new housing group Thirteen has revealed around 100 staff will leave their jobs, as part of ‘efficiency’ changes to the organisation.

Job cuts have resulted from the merger of Fabrick Housing and Vela Group to make one super-organisation, back in April - but everyone leaving their roles has opted to take voluntary redundancy.

The number of staff that chose to leave the Middlesbrough-based Thirteen Group is “significantly less” than 10% of its overall 1,400-strong workforce, chief executive Alison Thain has confirmed.

She said: “A number of people have chosen to go for voluntary redundancy.

“We have 1,400 staff altogether, and the overall figure that chose redundancy is significantly less than 10% - around 7 or 8%.

“The whole idea of coming together was to make efficiencies.

“We have good relationships with the trade unions, and we are about halfway through the process.

“Some people went on April 1, while other people are still making a decision.

“The redundancies are mostly in senior and middle management.

“ We should be finished the process by the autumn.”

The new housing group looks after more than 32,000 properties, stretching from North Tyneside to York.

It is made up of five partners; Erimus Housing, Housing Hartlepool, Tees Valley Housing, Tristar Homes and Thirteen Care and Support, which works with young people and troubled families.

Work has started on a £5.4m headquarter building for Thirteen Group, which is located on the £100m Northshore enterprise zone on Teesside.

The new base had been part of a commitment by the Vela Group towards Stockton Council’s regeneration plans.

The company’s operations will be split between the new site and Fabrick Housing’s former headquarters at Hudson Quay, Middlesbrough.

Thirteen Group will also be bringing in new IT systems and ways of working, as part of the changes.

• See Tuesday’s Business pull-out for a more in-depth interview with Alison Thain.