Suppliers on NHMF Frameworx represent the very best in expertise, innovation, best practice and collaboration. We recently met up with Jason Amos and Sophie Zenonos from Houghton Group, a leading Southeast social housing contractor. With over 30 years heritage, and established by Jim and Ian Houghton, the business is still very much family-run by three brothers, Jamie, Ryan and Lewis, supported by an extensive team of response, maintenance and voids specialists.
Houghtons has recently joined NHMF Frameworx as an Approved Provider on the 2025 NHMF Frameworx Responsive Maintenance & Planned Maintenance, Net Zero Carbon & Passive Fire Safety agreements, which were launched to utilise version 8 of the M3NHF Schedule of Rates, helping housing providers to easily source contractors for maintenance services across the UK. The agreement offers a compliant, cost-effective solution through direct award or mini-competition, and promotes social value by reinvesting surplus into sector improvements.
Building with heart, delivering with integrity
Jason is a property specialist who has worked for many social housing landlords and contractors in a career spanning three decades. His experience, especially in renewables and retrofit has firmly strengthened Houghton Group’s service offering in decarbonisation work, with Jason able to help clients navigate eco and Warmer Homes funding, grants and effective spend. Having spent nine years with the business, Sophie has witnessed firsthand the company’s significant and sustainable growth, reflecting its dedication to excellence and its ability to adapt to an ever-changing landscape. Over this time, the company has expanded its capabilities and deepened its community impact, which has strengthened its position in the industry. What both of them point out is how much of a family culture there is across the business, with Directors remaining personal points of contact with clients.
Previously relying on word of mouth with growth positive due to their quality workmanship and special expertise in heritage buildings, the business has transformed itself into a full-service provider of response, maintenance, voids and decarbonisation services to the social housing sector. The last five years has seen the £10 million business move into a niche space that is working perfectly for clients. Houghtons is not a Tier One contractor, but neither are they a small subcontractor. Their ethics of direct delivery and close client relationships mean nothing is too small, or too large, if current clients want to add on extra services to their existing programmes. They complete, on average, 8,000 projects every year across Southeast London and neighbouring counties, with this number growing.
Building the team to pre-empt demand
With direct delivery at their heart, Houghtons take what could be seen as an unusual – but really sustainable strategy – when it comes to employment. They horizon scan and look at what’s coming next, build and invest in their team before demand requires it so that they are always ready with capacity and a pool of skilled people. Rather than waiting for contracts to come in like some contractors do, they get teams upskilled ready to go, and then build the work pipeline and sales to match the employment. As an example, recognising that Damp, Mould and Condensation was going to be a major challenge for landlords, they started to build their own DMC labour team several years ago. Now with Awaab’s Law in place, they are perfectly placed to help clients with be compliant with the new stringent legislation. It’s a reverse model that prevents them becoming overwhelmed with work and no in-house skill set. As Jason comments, “This generally does not end well for either the client or the contractor.”
Sophie has been closely involved in the delivery of social value to date, with her colleague Lydia set to take this forward into 2026. This social value has always been client-led. “There’s no point us going in and throwing money at something that the communities don’t want or need. That’s just not sustainable. Instead, we talk to them and listen to what their preferred initiatives are, and importantly how they want to measure and evaluate outcomes. Volunteering our time to do litter picking may not be as glamourous and some other initiatives, but it really makes a difference, there and then.”
Paul Smith, Head of NHMF Frameworx, comments: “Authentic partnerships within the housing sector are built on shared values and that’s what makes them so powerful in continuing to drive real change, and responding effectively to the evolving challenges we face.
“We’re delighted that Houghton Group has successfully been appointed to several of our framework agreements including Responsive Maintenance & Planned Maintenance, Net Zero Carbon & Passive Fire Safety agreements, an endorsement of the organisation’s comprehensive range of skills and services. By working closely with our providers, we’re able share knowledge, strengthen our partnerships, and create better delivery for clients and residents.
“I’m especially proud though to share some of the social value work that Houghton Group carries out, dovetailing perfectly with our own ethos and approach, centred on authentic social value. Frameworx was created with a new ethos and approach designed to offer greater choice and simplified better value for social housing providers, contractors and suppliers, but rather than sitting on accumulated profits, we are committed to investing in initiatives like social value, training and benchmarking.
“A huge congratulations to Houghton Group for the amazing social value your teams are carrying out. We look forward to working with you closely as you not only continue to deliver quality, but also add value to the communities where you live and work.”
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Key benefits of frameworx:
- Aligned with M3NHF Schedule of Rates
- All surpluses will be invested in social value, sustainability, innovation, research and training
- Supplier benchmarking, monitoring and sharing best practice
- Not-for-profit organisation
- Highly competitive maximum fee 1.5%
More information on the organisation and the approved providers appointed to each of the frameworks is available here: https://www.nhmfframeworx.org.uk/framework/