Meet the repairs team
Our repairs team has 60 members of staff right across the business, and who specialise in a variety of trades - plumbing, electrics, brick laying, and more. In 2020 - 2021, our repairs team completed 15,860 repairs and 90% were completed at our first visit. This shows what a skilled and varied team we have working here at the Trust.
Nick Dixon, Repairs Team Leader
Tell us about yourself
My name's Nick.
What do you do? What's your fave thing about the job?
I'm a Repairs Team Leader.
I've been here a while, so staff from all teams (not just repairs) ask for help on how things work here.
Got a fave work memory that you'd like to share with us?
I took a customer's standard lamp home and rewired it for them. They said it was the only light they'd use downstairs and were really upset when it stopped working.
How do you like your cuppa?
I find it’s best not being too fussy, as you generally get it the way the customer has theirs.
Tell us about yourself
I'm Kieran Stockton and I work alongside Becca Walton.
What do you do?
Becca and I are Work Planners in the repairs team. This we means we look at calendars and decide when our operatives can do which job and where.
What's your special skill?
Calmness under pressure. Sometimes there are tight turnarounds for our repairs teams - such as an emergency meaning our operative can't go where he was meant to be going. I make sure everything still happens smoothly.
What's your favourite part of the job?
Talking with and getting to know our operatives. I know the whole team from chatting to them whilst sending them across Cheshire and High Peak to our jobs.
Got a fave work memory?
All in all, I love reacting to emergency repairs and making sure we reach our target of being with the customer within 4 hours.
How do you like your cuppa?
Tea with two sugars please.
Kieran and Becca, scheduling work for our repairs operatives.
David Pownall, Maintenance Plumber
What's your name?
My name's David Pownall.
What do you do?
I'm a plumber.
What's your special skill?
I'd say fault finding those annoying jobs that can be head scratching.
What's your favourite part of the job?
I love jobs that require two of us, so I can work with my talented colleagues (most of them!)
Got a fave work memory?
It's hard to answer that. I've got two that spring to mind - both of them are helping customers get back into their homes.
In the first one, a tenant locked herself out whilst putting the rubbish out and her chip pain was on. When I arrived, I regained entry to her home and the chip pan was on fire. I remembered what to do and put it out for her.
More recently, a 2 year old girl had shut the door whilst her mum was outside. Our work planner phoned me and I left Poynton - where I was carrying out a repair - straight away - to sort out this emergency. The customer was in tears at the window, trying to keep her child safe. Fortunately, I got us back in quick.
What's your name?
Chris Clark.
What do you do?
I'm an electrician.
What's your special skill?
Being cheeky with our tenants.
I also have more knowledge and experience in carrying out solar and Electric Vehicle points than most electricians I know.
What's your favourite part of the job?
I love and hate all jobs equally!
Got a fave work memory?
I used to work in sales, so I used this to help a new customer get his broadband price cut in half and fitted a few weeks quicker than he had been quoted.
How do you like your cuppa?
Far too busy for cups of tea me… 😜
Chris Clark, Electrician.
Tim Bates, Joiner
What's your name?
Tim Bates.
What do you do?
I'm a joiner.
What's your special skill?
I'm good at gaining access to tenant's homes when they've accidentally locked themselves out.
What's your fave part of the job?
I love working on UPVC windows and doors.
Got a fave work memory?
I found a wallet with £1000 in it on a communal corridor. I managed to trace the owner, who happened to be one of our customers, and we gave it back to them.
What's your name?
Richard Robinson.
What do you do?
I'm a repairs inspector. I make sure a repair is finished to the right standard and meets the Trust's expectations.
What's your special skill?
Problem solving and good communication.
What's your fave part of the job?
I like a job with a challenge. Jobs where you need to really investigate what's gone wrong to identify what repair is needed.
What's your fave work memory at the Trust?
I visited a property to complete a repairs inspection and I felt that something just wasn't right with the customer.
I'd completed my safeguarding training previously and the skills I learnt from that training kicked in. I followed the expected procedures and thankfully, the customer received all the support needed from the Trust.
Richard Robinson, Inspector