Link4Life cancel contract with local business – offering a new contract to a company in Exeter

Link4Life

Link4Life has cancelled a fire and security contract with a local business, instead opting to support a company in Exeter.

Click Fire and Security, based in Milnrow, had previously held the contract with Link4Life for around a year before it was cancelled via email in favour of Trinity Fire & Security Systems in Exeter, whose office servicing the north west is based in Warrington.

Click’s managing director Derek Dixon said: “We are the only NSI Gold company in the Rochdale Borough. We just simply want to be given a chance locally. I’m not sure how the tender process was completed. It wasn’t advertised on Pro North which monitors all tender platforms. I have spoken to another maintainer, they had no indication the tender was up for renewal.

“This is not in any way a cry for the businesses I control; to be excluded from the process is at the very least frustrating and has a direct effect on the local economy, the value of the contract is irrelevant. As Rochdale businesses we have a right to question why this low value contract has been placed with a company from Exeter.

“Click suppliers are local, we have a fleet of vehicles sourced, maintained, insured and sign written in the local area. Our stationery, equipment, uniforms, insurance, IT services and accountants are all from Rochdale companies. Our suppliers are judged on performance, our ISO and NSI procedures audit suppliers. Click has a social value policy which we take pride in.

“We have eight service technicians, six of whom are based in Rochdale. You need the response and service out of hours in an emergency.  These companies can’t perform out of hours. They’re too far away or have sparse resources locally.

“This is a bad decision that does nothing for the town. If Link4Life won’t support local business, why should Click?”

Mr Dixon said that Click will no longer be supporting the Rochdale Business Awards.

Darren Grice, Deputy CEO at Link4Life, said: “Like the majority of other businesses, Link4Life has procurement methods to source all suppliers. 

“Unfortunately, on this occasion, it means that the chosen supplier for Fire & Security is based outside of the Borough, but as a charity we need to ensure that we are receiving the relevant product/service for the best value for money.”

Trustee of Link4Life, Councillor Rina Paolucci said: "It would not be my place to comment as a Trustee."

Councillor Janet Emsley, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Community & Culture, has also been contacted for comment.