Communities and Housing Investment Consortium

Name

Communities and Housing Investment Consortium

Legal name

Communities and Housing Investment Consortium Ltd

Website

https://chicltd.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Communities and Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC) is a member-owned UK procurement consortium providing pre-vetted frameworks, Dynamic Purchasing Systems, and managed procurement services to housing associations, local authorities, and public sector organisations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Procurement Services Revenue: CHIC operates as a member-owned consortium providing procurement services. While membership is free for public sector organisations and charities, revenue is generated through procurement management fees, framework participation fees from suppliers, and managed service charges.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CHIC is a member-owned procurement consortium that provides compliant procurement routes to market for social housing providers. It delivers a portfolio of public sector procurement frameworks, Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS), and a fully managed procurement service supported by an automated eSourcing portal and the CHIC Order Management System (COMS). Membership is free for public sector organisations and charities, with revenue generated through managed service charges, framework participation fees, and procurement management fees.

Product overview

Communities and Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC) is a member-owned asset management and procurement consortium providing a platform of integrated procurement solutions for social housing. The core offering centers on the CHIC eSourcing Portal (built on Panacea Software) for automated procurement management and the CHIC Order Management System (COMS) for programme delivery. CHIC provides 19+ procurement frameworks (including Newbuild, Retrofit, Healthy Homes, Roofing, Windows & Doors, Kitchens, Fire Safety, and Merchants) and multiple Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) covering retrofit installations, materials, consultancy, development, and facilities management. Services are delivered through a fully managed service model with regional member support. The consortium also operates CHIP, a dedicated charity for social value delivery, and produces the CHIC Podcast for thought leadership content. Membership is free to public sector organisations and charities including housing associations, local authorities, and health and education sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CHIC eSourcing Portal Automated e-procurement software platform developed with Panacea Software to oversee procurement procedures including frameworks, DPS, RFQ and PQQ, from e-tender through to call-off and award, with real-time reporting and audit trail. Used by CHIC members (housing associations, local authorities) for compliant procurement.
• CHIC Order Management System (COMS) Order management system for social housing programme delivery, reshaping planned maintenance operations across frameworks and DPS solutions. Used by CHIC members to manage procurement activities through contract life cycle.
• Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) Solutions Flexible electronic procurement systems with open-ended access allowing new suppliers to join at any time, covering retrofit installations, materials, consultancy, development, facilities management and compliance services for public sector members.
• Procurement Frameworks Compliant procurement frameworks for asset management, development and professional services covering Newbuild, Retrofit, Roofing, Windows & Doors, Kitchens, Fire Safety, Mechanical & Electrical, Consultancy and Merchants for housing associations and local authority members.
• Managed Service Fully managed procurement service supporting CHIC members through the entire procurement process with dedicated member services and supply chain management engagement throughout contract terms, delivered by regional member leads.
• Healthy Homes Framework Framework for delivering retrofit energy efficiency measures and refurbishment works covering consultancy services, fabric first measures, ventilation systems, renewable energy and heat systems, whole house refurbishment and digital measuring tools.
• Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) DPS Dynamic Purchasing System for Domestic Energy Efficiency Retrofit Services in Wales, providing access to certified PAS 2035/PAS 2030 suppliers registered to the TrustMark scheme, supported by Welsh Government Optimised Retrofit Programme funding.
• Roofing Systems Framework Framework for design, supply and installation of roofing systems covering flat roofing, pitched roofing systems and mixed roofing projects for social housing providers.
• Newbuild Development Framework 8-year framework for construction works and consultancy services including main contractors, MMC manufacturers (modular, frame & panel, turnkey contractors) and regeneration contractors, awarded Constructing Excellence Gold Standard Accreditation.
• Procurement Intelligence Hub Procurement Intelligence Hub launched for CHIC members to access procurement insights and intelligence.

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of survey respondents found it clear what CHIC offers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Broadoak GroupflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 June 2026Broadoak Group served as the headline sponsor for CHIC Conference 2026, contributing to the success of the annual event focused on the future of social housing.
• Bristan GroupcoreOthersBristan Group is a supplier partner hosting networking and product events with CHIC. They provide taps, showers and bathroom products compliant with UK water regulations and Building Regulations Part G.
• AICOcoreOthersAICO sponsored the Disrepair Challenge round table event and provides fire safety consultation and products including smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Community Housing Cymru (CHC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIC became a commercial partner with CHC, Wales's housing association representative body. The partnership focuses on developing services and solutions to meet Welsh housing association needs, supporting innovation and collaboration.
• Efficiency NorthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Efficiency North to deliver the Merchants Framework, a 12-lot framework streamlining compliant merchant procurement for social housing repairs, retrofit and compliance.
• Healthy Homes HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHIC became a strategic partner of the Healthy Homes Hub, providing healthier homes for communities across the UK through collaborative procurement solutions.
• Panacea SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationCHIC collaborated with Panacea Software to develop and launch the CHIC eSourcing portal, an automated e-procurement platform for managing procurement procedures.
• ARK ConsultancycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerARK Consultancy serves as CHIC's Managing Agent, providing sector expertise and support for damp and mould discussions and procurement solutions.
• Devonshires SolicitorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCHIC partnered with Devonshires Solicitors to deliver webinars on the Renting Homes (Wales) Act, providing legal guidance to members.
• CHIP CharityflagshipOthersCHIP (Communities and Housing Investing in People) is CHIC's dedicated charity for delivering social value objectives including employment sponsorship, community grants, and annual awards.
• Welsh GovernmentcoreOthersWelsh Government provides funding through the Optimised Retrofit Programme (ORP) for Welsh Registered Social Landlords, with CHIC delivering DPS solutions to support programme delivery.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Pagabo: Pagabo is a UK procurement provider offering framework solutions for construction and consultancy, with a growing presence in the public sector. Comparable to CHIC in framework delivery model but operates across broader verticals.
• Procure Plus: Procure Plus is a UK procurement consortium providing construction and maintenance frameworks for social housing providers. Smaller in scale but directly comparable to CHIC's framework-led housing proposition.

Broad incumbents

• Crown Commercial Service (CCS): CCS is the UK's central government procurement organisation providing frameworks used by housing associations and local authorities. Operates in the same compliant-procurement space as CHIC at a much larger scale.
• Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO): YPO is a large UK public buying organisation supplying a wide range of frameworks and products to local authorities, schools, and emergency services. Broader in scope than CHIC but operates in the same public sector procurement space.
• Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO): ESPO is a UK local authority-owned purchasing consortium offering extensive frameworks across multiple categories. Comparable as a public sector procurement organisation, though broader in scope than CHIC's housing focus.

Direct peers

• Fusion21: Fusion21 is a UK social enterprise procurement consortium serving housing, education, and public sector organisations with compliant frameworks. Highly comparable to CHIC in mission, member model, and procurement focus on the social housing sector.
• Procurement for Housing (PfH): PfH is a UK procurement consortium owned by its housing association members, providing frameworks for repairs, maintenance, and asset management. Direct peer to CHIC in serving social housing providers with framework-based procurement.
• LHC Procurement Group: LHC is a UK public sector procurement organisation providing frameworks for housing, construction, and facilities management. Operates in the same social housing procurement space as CHIC, particularly in England.
• Efficiency North: Efficiency North is a procurement consortium serving housing providers in northern England. CHIC's existing co-development partner on the Merchants Framework, and a direct comparable in member-owned housing procurement.

Regional players

• Community Housing Cymru (CHC): CHC is the representative body for housing associations in Wales and a strategic partner of CHIC. Relevant peer as a Wales-focused housing association network that interacts with procurement — adjacent rather than directly competing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@chicltd8850
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicltd
• Xx.com/chicltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Communities and Housing Investment Consortium