Testimonial - Journal

Supplier of the month: Novus Property Solutions – building community, maintaining trust

Novus Property Solutions recently helped with landscaping, painting, and site clean-up for the **Joshua Tree Children in Need** build, as featured on the BBC One series DIY SOS.

Supplier of the month: Novus Property Solutions

Grown from family beginnings with the Seddon brothers George and John, Novus Property Solutions has spent 128 years building a national reputation as an award-winning, leading specialist in the construction and maintenance industry — all while staying firmly rooted in the family values of integrity, respect, loyalty for their employees and customers, and long-term thinking.

Local solutions delivered nationwide

While many industries have moved toward large, globalised corporate models, construction and property maintenance remain grounded in local expertise and long-standing regional businesses.

Novus’s family roots honour that tradition, and their client-centric approach ensures they deliver tailored services that not only meet but exceed expectations.

While the business grows — with more than 700 colleagues across 21 offices spanning the UK — their commitment to quality remains consistent.

Their regional model plays a key role: operations are organised around leadership teams from Scotland down to the South of England, ensuring clients receive local insight.

Driven by innovation and excellence, their mission isn’t only to provide high-quality services. It’s about delivering them through a safe and skilled workforce, investing in safe, comfortable and sustainable solutions for communities, and keeping customer welfare at the forefront by offering long-term, reliable partnerships.

The Novus Way

“We are Novus and this is our way
Building a legacy where people can live, work and thrive.”

At the heart of Novus’s work are three core values: integrity, innovation, and collaboration, supported by guiding principles: Be Responsible · Get it Right · Embrace Change · Work Together · Nurture · Be Authentic.

Their commitment to these values is evident in their sustainability work, from decarbonisation initiatives to energy-efficient retrofit solutions, and in their involvement with national networks championing inclusion and responsible business practice. Novus are active members of WISH (Women in Social Housing), the North West Business in the Community (BITC) Leadership Board, and a signatory of BITC’s Race at Work Charter and the Armed Forces Covenant, recognising the needs of serving personnel, veterans, and their families.

The BITC Board, chaired by Sophie Seddon, Novus Shareholder and Non-Executive Director, brings together senior leaders from some of the region’s most forward-thinking organisations, united in their commitment to driving positive social change. Their work focuses on:

Career Paths & Future Skills
Tackling Hidden Homelessness
Building Community Pride
Climate Resilience

Doing business responsibly – their commitment to Social Value

“Operating with family values at our heart ensures we’re able to create an environment where people can live, work and thrive, and we integrate environmental, economic and social considerations into all our strategic decision making.

Our commitment to doing business responsibly extends to giving back to the communities we work in across Great Britain, and social value underpins all of the work we do.”

— Novus Property Solutions

Novus’s approach to Social Value is grounded in real community need.

Their activity spans practical volunteering, environmental improvements, food support, wellbeing initiatives, and skills development — all shaped by local priorities.

In 2024, their impact included £3 million of Social Value delivered, thousands of lives touched, and more than 200 initiatives supported.

They raised funds for charities nationwide, volunteered over 1,000 hours, and strengthened partnerships with organisations such as The Lighthouse Charity, and CRADLE.

Their momentum has continued into 2025, achieving BITC Responsible Business Accreditation, and delivering £900,000 of Social Value impact with 350 lives changed through those Social Value contributions — in just the first quarter of the year.

Community impact in action

“Match My Project has simplified engagement, creating a joined-up approach to Social Value delivery.”

As part of their partnership with Onward Homes, Novus has leveraged Match My Project (MMP) to deliver their Social Value commitments.

With 178 volunteer hours and £57,458 of resources delivered across 14 community projects, they’ve secured first place on the supplier leaderboard, demonstrating real impact in their communities.

Led by Kevin Rhone, Head of Social Value and Client/Customer Care, Novus’s recent MMP initiatives include:

Supporting Community Shop with their Urban Roots Project by providing joinery work for outdoor planters, helping residents grow food and plants.

Refurbishing kitchen units for Walton Youth & Community Project to enable better workspace for their holiday food programme.

Supporting the Big Green Week with rubbish disposal, safety talks and a skip donation to help revitalise community spaces.

Providing food donations for Our House Community, a hub reducing isolation and poverty through connection and support.

Donating slow cookers for the delivery of cooking workshops to help local residents learn healthy, affordable meal preparation.

Offering employment to a local resident recommended by Everton in the Community.

“Novus were instrumental in getting the allotment ready for community access, Community Shop are hugely grateful.” — Community Shop

Christmas Meal Volunteering with Community Shop

You can keep up to date with more of Novus’s Social Value activity here.

The Match My Project difference

We spoke to Kevin Rhone about how Novus uses the Match My Project platform to streamline the way they connect their Social Value commitments with local priorities:

“The platform has acted as a bridge between Onward, Novus and local communities, making it easier to identify and respond to opportunities that align with our Social Value Pledge.”

A simpler, more connected way of delivering social value

Since joining the platform, Novus has experienced a noticeable shift in how easily and effectively they can engage with community groups.

“Match My Project has simplified engagement. Instead of relying solely on traditional outreach, we now receive alerts from community groups and have a dashboard of opportunities. This has improved responsiveness and transparency, and helped us deliver on our commitments. It’s also boosted collaboration with housing associations and other community stakeholders, creating a joined-up approach to Social Value delivery.”

“Working directly with community organisations has influenced how we design Social Value plans, ensuring they reflect real needs rather than assumptions.”

Learning from communities — and shaping better social value plans

Working directly with community organisations has provided Novus with valuable insights that continue to shape how they plan and deliver Social Value.

“Working directly with community organisations has been invaluable. We’ve learnt that flexibility and listening are key — projects often evolve based on local priorities. For example, refurbishing community centres or supporting employment initiatives taught us to tailor resources and timelines to maximise impact. These lessons have influenced how we design annual Social Value plans, ensuring they reflect real needs rather than assumptions.”

Advice for other suppliers looking to maximise their impact 📈

Novus have also shared their advice with other suppliers who want to make the most of the platform — and perhaps even reach the top of the leaderboard themselves.

Be proactive: Regularly check the platform and respond quickly to matches.
Align with your core values: Choose projects that fit your expertise —this ensures quality delivery and stronger outcomes.
Communicate openly: Early engagement with community partners avoids misunderstandings and builds trust.
Track and share impact: Use case studies and reports to showcase results internally and externally.

💡 Tips for community groups looking to get noticed

Finally, Novus offered guidance for community organisations hoping to attract support from businesses.

Be specific: Clearly outline what support you need and the expected impact.
Show readiness: Provide timelines and any resources you already have in place.
Highlight mutual benefits: Explain how the project supports wider community goals and aligns with social value priorities.
Use the platform actively: Keep profiles updated and respond promptly to offers.

Explore more

🔗 Explore Onward’s Match My Project site

📌 Read last month’s Supplier of the Month: McConnell Group

👉 Top 5 tips for suppliers

Interested in joining the network?

Supplier of the month: McConnell

Established in 1929, McConnell provides refurbishment, planned maintenance, retrofit, energy efficiency, cladding, and fire remediation services for public and private sector clients across the UK.

As an accredited and quality-assured Principal Contractor, McConnell takes overall control of the construction phase of complex, multi-contractor projects, bringing experience, confidence, and commitment to every site they manage.

A trusted partner in every sector

McConnell’s skilled tradespeople and specialist subcontractors are supported by a senior management team whose members have delivered more than £3bn worth of projects across housing, retail, defence, industrial, education, and healthcare sectors.

Their depth of expertise makes McConnell a reliable partner for some of the UK’s biggest property and infrastructure owners.

Recognising the parts that build the whole

For McConnell, success isn’t just about the big picture — it’s about recognising the parts that make it possible. Every project is built on the contributions of individuals and teams working together with care, clarity, and responsibility.

They pride themselves on offering high-quality, straightforward, and dependable services, grounded in the belief that each person and every detail plays a vital role in delivering lasting results.

“We are a group of people, and it is how we act and perform individually, and as a team, that defines our service. It is therefore important that our people understand the behaviours and responsibilities that are at the core of ‘being McConnell.’”

As a Living Wage Employer, McConnell believes that how they treat their colleagues, customers, supply chain partners, and communities defines their success. Their core value — CARE — captures this approach:

C – Conscientious, Constructive, Characterful
A – Accountable, Adaptable, Accepting
R – Reliable, Resolute, Respectful
E – Ethical, Empowered, Exceptional

Commitment to Social Value

Julian Sanz, Head of Social Value at McConnell, and five team members from the Young Brent Foundation smile while holding donated coffee mugs for their new project - a coffee shop.

Though early in their Social Value journey, McConnell is already making an impact — ranked 2nd on Sovereign Network Group’s supplier leaderboard, with 21 volunteer hours and almost £6k worth of resources delivered across six community projects.

Beyond the numbers lies a genuine commitment to community, one built on human connection. Led by Julian Sanz, Head of Social Value, with over 20 years’ experience and multiple national awards (Social Value Champion 2022, Social Value Leader 2024), McConnell focuses on projects that make a tangible difference.

McConnell’s recent contributions include:

Supporting Brent Play Association, which provides services for children with special needs, by donating pumpkins, goody bags, and activity books for Halloween.
Donating a large TV to Brent Play Association for children with severe mobility issues.
Funding a new project with the Young Brent Foundation: a coffee shop providing work placements for neurodivergent students.
Providing a laptop for Punchdrunk Enrichment, a charity creating immersive theatre experiences for schools and communities.
Gifting £1,000 to fund food education workshops with Give.Help.Share.

“Huge thank you to McConnell and Julian for their support. You’ve put smiles on many children’s faces and empowered them to make healthier food choices.”

— Give.Help.Share

McConnell and Young Brent Foundation staff stand behind a table filled with pumpkins prepared for children’s Halloween festivities.

Julian Sanz stand with the Young Brent Foundation with a £1000 cheque.

You can keep up to date with more of McConnell’s Social Value activity here.

The Match My Project difference

McConnell uses the Match My Project platform to find, plan, and deliver targeted community initiatives, transforming how they approach social impact.

Connecting faster, delivering better

“It can take months to build up a strong community network and involves lots of meetings & travelling — but with the platform all the information is there. It saves a huge amount of time and resources in terms of outreach.”

Simpler and more strategic

“There’s a huge variety of projects to support and the platform allows us to find community projects and partners that are important to my client from the comfort of my desk!

Each request has detail around exact requirements, costs, materials, and time, so it makes it easier for me to understand what allocation of resources I need, helping me to plan my delivery.”

Focused on real outcomes

“The platform’s focus on outcomes means we really feel like we are making a positive impact for our community partners and clients.

I personally have been a big fan of the idea of the platform for a long time. It’s become integral to how we achieve our outcomes and really support communities.”

Proving impact, building reputation

“McConnell is quickly getting recognised as a proactive partner who wants to deliver Social Value for our clients.

The supplier leaderboard and feedback system on Match My Project allows our clients and user groups to see what type of business we are, what we’re like to partner with, and if we do what we say we will — which is all having a positive effect on how we’re seen and our client relationships.”

Learning from those who lead change

McConnell’s Social Value journey is continually shaped by the people they meet through community projects:

“We’ve had a really positive experience working with community partners and what has really shone through is many people’s unwavering desire to do good.

When we supported Give. Help. Share with their healthy eating workshops for school children, I had no idea that the founders, Amanda and Jacqueline, had given up careers as teachers to pursue their dreams of helping young children and families.

Their story isn’t the only one like that. It’s really helped me as a Social Value practitioner to look at projects in a different way. The ones I feel passionate about are the projects I try to focus on now — the ones that make life-changing impacts.”

Julian Sanz stands with Amanda and Jacqueline from Give. Help. Share with a £1000 cheque.

Through partnerships like these, McConnell continues to lead with purpose — proving that when care, collaboration, and community come together, the results go far beyond construction.

Explore more

🔗 Read last month’s Supplier of the Month

💡 Tips and Tricks for Businesses on Match My Project

🤝 Interested in joining the network?
Sign up here or get in touch at hello@matchmyproject.org.

Our October Supplier of the Month, Greenmount Projects, is an award-winning, turnkey design, construction and maintenance company based in the North West. That means they take full responsibility from concept and design through to construction, finishing and handover – making them a comprehensive end-to-end partner.

Sounds impressive, right? But look a little closer and you’ll find something even more valuable – a deep commitment to how they work, not just what they deliver. That “how” is grounded in collaboration, integrity and community spirit.

Incorporated in 2018, Greenmount may be one of our newer suppliers, but their energy and innovative approach have quickly set them apart. They bring fresh thinking to every project, transforming not just spaces but the very parameters of design, construction and maintenance.

“Greenmount Projects maintains an unwavering commitment to consistently deliver results marked by excellence and safety within a collaborative and professionally driven framework.”

Proud to be a dependable partner with a hands-on approach, Greenmount’s technical expertise, commitment to quality, and rigorous focus on health and safety ensure that clients always remain front and centre.

Commitment to community

Greenmount’s impact stretches far beyond their technical expertise – from refurbishment and bespoke joinery to electrical, mechanical and decorating services – and deeply into their role within the community. Their dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is woven into everything they do.

They are a Living Wage Employer and an active member of Team Wigan & Leigh – a collective that includes Wigan Council, Wigan & Leigh College, NHS Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Trust, Wigan Warriors, Wigan Athletic, Leigh Leopards, JJH Building Contractors and others. Together, they’ve supported countless community initiatives, from charity bingo events and sponsored hikes to humanitarian aid trips to Ukraine.

Their ethos centres on teamwork and empowerment:

“Our success hinges on the collective expertise, integrity, and dedication of our staff. We promote a work environment that fosters optimism and pride, enabling employees to contribute their utmost. Through training and mentoring, we aim not only to maintain competitiveness but to help our people realise their full potential.”

Commitment to Social Value

Through their partnership with Wigan Council on the Match My Project platform, Greenmount has also donated nearly 500 hours and over £60,000 worth of resources across 10 local projects – a remarkable contribution to building a stronger community that’s earned them the top spot on the supplier leaderboard.

Project Highlight – Wigan & Leigh Hospice Patient Lounge

Greenmount recently refurbished a patient lounge at Wigan & Leigh Hospice. The goal was to create a welcoming, comforting yet functional environment for patients and their families – one that felt less clinical and more like home.

Working closely with the hospice team, Greenmount listened to staff and families to thoughtfully shape the design. This included optimising the furniture layout to encourage connection between patients and visitors, and thinking about the role of colour in shaping how we feel. Natural tones were chosen to cultivate a sense of calm, selecting shades of green to bring the outside-in, softening the clinical space.

“Greenmount Projects are admirable at fulfilling their social responsibilities — they genuinely care about our community.”
— Wigan & Leigh Hospice

What others say

“We’re incredibly grateful to Greenmount for their generous sponsorship and support of our recent event. Their professionalism and willingness to get involved made them an absolute pleasure to work with. Thanks to their contribution, we were able to raise vital funds to support young people and families in our community. It’s amazing to have local businesses like Greenmount backing the work we do – thank you for making a real difference!”
– Wigan Youth Zone

“Without the support from Greenmount, our junior section and club could not have progressed to the extent required to support the growth of cricket within our local area. Our gratitude to Greenmount has no limits — they are an outstanding, supportive organisation.”
– Wigan Sports Club

Looking ahead

Greenmount Projects is more than a business – it’s a pillar of the Wigan community. Their commitment to social value continues to grow, both through channelling their professional expertise for good and by stepping beyond their comfort zone to support local organisations and initiatives across the borough.

As part of Team Wigan & Leigh, they’re looking ahead to the end of 2025 with the goal of raising £150,000 for charities throughout the community – a testament to their belief that business success and social impact go hand in hand.

Interested in joining the network?

Cleaning with a Conscience

At Match My Project, we champion suppliers who not only deliver excellent services but also go the extra mile to improve lives and build stronger communities. This month, we’re proud to spotlight Cleanscapes Ltd, a company whose commitment to social value is as polished as their window panes.

Operating across the South East, including Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Berkshire, and London, Cleanscapes provides high-quality cleaning and window cleaning services. But their real shine comes from the work they do beyond their contracts: the impact they’re making on people, places, and possibilities.

33 Projects, Countless Lives Touched

Cleanscapes has successfully completed 33 community-benefiting projects and is currently committed to 19 more, helping to uplift over 24 communities across the region. Their dedication to going beyond the basics of business is woven into the very fabric of their organisation.

As they put it:

“We strive to make a positive difference to the life and future of our locality by taking socially responsible decisions that have real, beneficial, measurable impacts on the people and the environment around us.”

How Cleanscapes Gives Back

Cleanscapes’ social impact comes to life in a variety of creative, compassionate ways:

Resident Clean-Up Days – Offering free labour and equipment to help residents transform their
estates.

Community Investment Fund – Partnering with clients to use social funds to enhance local spaces
directly.

Children’s Books for Environmental Awareness – Authored and distributed by Cleanscapes to inspire young minds.

Sponsorships & Events – From coffee mornings and away days for sheltered residents to bouncy castles for local kids, they support a wide range of community gatherings and celebrations.

What Communities Are Saying

The real measure of social value lies in the voices of the people it touches. Here’s just a snapshot of the feedback pouring in from communities Cleanscapes has supported:

MTVH South London

Cleanscapes Managers, Supervisors and RLO all worked very hard on
ensuring that this project was brought to the Residents of Commodore
Court with care and thoughtfulness. Bringing their much-loved quiet
communal garden back to life. They have improved its functionality,
beauty and experience all in one project. The residents are very
grateful for the improvements, which will be fully evident with the
growth expected this coming spring. Thank you, CLEANSCAPES!!!

Hyde Housing – Sheltered & Supported

The funding was appreciated by 280 elderly vulnerable residents who were able to get together for Christmas and enjoy food, entertainment, and help build and reinforce their community spirit. Thank you for making this happen.

Herbert Morrison Primary School.

Thank you, Cleanscapes, for helping to revive music in our school. Pupils and staff at Herbert Morrison are overwhelmingly grateful for your generous provision of instruments. Lessons will certainly impact the musical skills and achievements of our pupils.

Petworth Community Garden CIC

Thank you to Cleanscapes Ltd for providing much-needed items for our Community Garden – they are just what we needed, and we appreciate your support.

Reaston Street Play Street

Amazing support for our community gardening projects from Cleanscapes 🙂

The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour

We are delighted to get our kettles so quickly; they are already making a difference to families. Thank you.

And many more…

Why It Matters

Cleanscapes demonstrates that social responsibility can be integrated into service delivery. Their model is one we admire and hope others will be inspired by, where commercial success and community wellbeing go hand in hand.

They’re not just cleaning buildings: they’re helping build better futures.

As Cat Poole, Social Value Co-ordinator at Scape Group Ltd, reflects:

“Through Match My Project, we’ve been able to deliver meaningful social value in partnership with housing associations and have supported some truly inspiring initiatives.

Among so many worthy requests supported, we’ve sponsored free after school clubs, funded clothing for families with little or nothing, attended a community fruit and veg stall event, provided supplies for a children’s play street, funded winter training facilities for youth football and sponsored school trips which gave many children the chance to experience something special. We’ve also carried out garden and hoarding clearances for vulnerable residents and helped improve outdoor spaces for wider community use. It’s been a privilege to play a small part in enabling these fantastic projects to happen.

Internally we share these stories with colleagues across the business, helping everyone see the real impact of our work. It is something we are incredibly proud of and it reminds us why social value matters.”

Thank you, Cleanscapes Ltd, for showing us what it means to care about every corner of our communities.

This is what impact looks like. What could it look like for your community?
Join Match My Project today

We’re excited to highlight Purdy Contracts Ltd—our top-performing supplier on Match My Project for May. A member of the Kinovo Group, Purdy is a trusted provider of mechanical, electrical, building services, and renewable energy solutions. They joined the platform through Hyde Housing and have demonstrated exceptional commitment to delivering meaningful social value.

Their impact so far speaks volumes:

27 organisations supported
42 projects completed
9 projects currently underway
139 hours contributed

But it’s not just the numbers that stand out—it’s the real, tangible impact they’re making in local communities.

Here are just a few examples of the initiatives they’ve supported:

South London Recruitment Event, in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions – Forest Hill Jobcentre

Replacing damaged basketball backboards for Prospex

Event team support for the Greenwich Community Santa’s Grotto, in partnership with Good Neighbours

Community feedback reflects the genuine care and professionalism of the Purdy team:

“Good Neighbours can’t express our gratitude for the Purdy team attending our event… The Purdy team were amazing, really hands-on, got stuck in, worked well with the team and were a real asset to the day.”
– Good Neighbours

“Purdy (Peter and Pippa) are fantastic to work with. Helpful, flexible and professional… The support makes a big difference to Oasisplay and the children and young people we support.”
– Oasis Children’s Venture

“Purdy Contracts were superb… We cannot thank them enough for the difference their contribution will make to the local community.”
– Prospex

“It was a pleasure to work with Purdy Contracts Ltd. They will make a real difference to 6 families in need who want to make the few clothes they have look smart.”
– The Rotary Club of Chichester Harbour

We’re very grateful for this kind support, helping us to help those in our local community who are facing financial crisis.

– Medway Foodbank

Every hour given, every partnership formed, and every project completed helps create positive, lasting change where needed most.

Purdy Contracts Ltd has shown what it means to go beyond the brief, setting a high bar for purposeful, community-focused engagement.

We’re proud to have them as part of the Match My Project network and look forward to seeing even more impact as they and our wider community of businesses continue to grow.

We recently heard from Ruth Martin, work placement coordinator at The Hive College, about how Match My Project has been helping her source opportunities for young people with disabilities in Birmingham.

I’m Ruth, I’m from The Hive College. We are an outstanding, according to Ofsted (and ourselves), college in Erdington North Birmingham. We offer courses for young people with disabilities, and that’s right across the spectrum. So we have some very complex learners, right the way through to those with more mild to moderate conditions.

And my role there is to get our learners into jobs. Did you know that less than six per cent of, this is in the UK, people with disabilities are in employment, and that is 4.8 per cent in Birmingham. So if that doesn’t make you uncomfortable and desperate to do something about it, then you can stop reading now! So how can you do something about it? And why Match My Project?

So I was introduced to Match My Project by a contact completely by fluke a couple of years ago. Didn’t really know what it was, gave it a go. Very, very simple and very quick to fill out. I think I probably spent a maximum of half an hour on there, and kind of thought nothing of it, but incredibly we got matched with an organisation with a company called Kier Highways. You might have noticed them at number one on the leaderboard in Birmingham and that’s because of what they have delivered.

Voluntary sector organisations have asked about longevity before and we are still very close partners with Kier. Not only did they deliver and provide an amazing work opportunity, a paid position for one of our learners, it’s super easy to use, super quick and I got this fantastic relationship from Kier Highways out of it. So they have delivered first aid training to some of our learners. They’ve delivered vehicle marshalling training. They have had our groups go round their stores and their centre in Aston.

We’ve had multiple work experience students. We’ve probably had about 10 students that have gone to them for long term work, experience opportunities. They have donated money – they’ve bought us three quarters of a car – £15,000 – in the last year. And most incredibly, one of their Social Value managers is now on our board of trustees.

So in terms of longevity, in terms of commitment, in terms of relationship, I hope that gives you a little flavour of the power that Match My Project can have. Such a very simple, very basic, low cost, low input from this side of the fence. But massive, massive what we’ve received back.

Community organisations and businesses in Birmingham can sign up to Match My Project here.