Written by Chloe Holmes
2 May 2025
James Ealey is deputy chief executive of Northern Housing Consortium and NHC Procurement. He discusses the recent changes to the brand, and how this reflects the organisation’s mission.
NHC Procurement embarks on a new chapter with a new identity. Can you explain what inspired this change?
Absolutely. It’s been almost twenty years since we last reviewed our procurement brand, and with the 50th year celebrations for Northern Housing Consortium last year, it felt a fitting time to look ahead to the next chapter. We were eager to build on the investment in our stakeholder perceptions research last year, which was pivotal in mapping out the next steps. And so, we had three ambitions: to futureproof the brand in a competitive marketplace, to reflect the nature of the service we provide, and to align with our membership’s values and voice.
You recently were appointed as deputy chief executive of NHC, tell us about the organisation’s mission, and how the relationship with NHC Procurement?
The Northern Housing Consortium represents the views of housing organisations in the North of England. We are a membership organisation made up of local authorities, ALMOs, and associations that provide social housing for tenants.
Having a clear link with the organisation we’re part of is an incredibly important next step, and a hugely positive touchpoint for our membership. We reinvest every penny of NHC Procurement’s surplus back into the policy, engagement, and public affairs work that our colleagues deliver at NHC – totalling £2.5 million over the last five years.
And so, there is a real opportunity now, to showcase this unique differentiator in the procurement marketplace and what that surplus contributes to – representing our members at a national level, driving change-making conversation and influencing policy on behalf of the membership. It’s now our job to build on this as we look to the future.
How does the team support the membership?
The team provides a dedicated hand-holding service across all aspects of compliance, regulatory, independent living, financial solutions, and achieving net zero.
Our members welcome a chat if they are frustrated that existing procurement processes aren’t delivering value, concerned that their buying processes are not aligned with current regulations, or worried that their supply chain doesn’t have the scale to fulfil their pipeline.
The organisations we support have a lot of plates to spin, and with changing legislation and expectations, they welcome our support to navigate, at times, a complex landscape.
What would you like the team to achieve in the next 12 months?
Over the next 12 months, our ambition is very much to continue to support our members with the challenges they may see ahead – including the digital switchover, the growing compliance and regulatory requirements, plus retrofit alongside net zero ambitions. And ensuring we are a helping hand to our members in their ability to serve their tenants in the best way possible, which contributes to our mission to ensure every person has a safe, warm, and affordable home.
What is your ambition for NHC Procurement over the next five years?
Thinking big, over the next five years – we would like to be thought of as the provider of choice for our local authority and housing provider members. Our ambition is to create relationships that result in NHC Procurement being front of mind when our members are thinking about their procurement pipeline, and call us, where we can signpost the best route to market.
What attracted you to working with the team at NHC?
Very much the desire to support our members and their tenants for the greater good. That has always shone through – it’s the people that make the organisation and we’re super fortunate to have built such a brilliant team.
Describe working at NHC in three words.
Empowering, meaningful, and fun! And really great people, to add a few more.
What’s the best advice you’ve been given?
Listen! You can learn so much, and as they say – you were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. By actively listening, you learn so much from the people around you.
james.ealey@nhcprocurement.org.uk
www.linkedin.com/in/jamesealey
