Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association has set up a social enterprise company employing six people to handle all its close and back court cleaning and provide concierge services for its sole multi-story block.

Aiming to provide better services to tenants in the area, the new initiative gets underway this month.

Ian Morrison, chief executive of Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association, said: “These varied services to our residents were provided over recent years by four different companies and organisations at a total annual cost of over £330,000.

“After a review and comments from tenants, the housing association committee decided that we could provide a better, more responsive service at the same price by setting up our own local social enterprise company.”

Mr Morrison said: “Through the new social enterprise, called WS Estate Services, we will have our own local team of estate caretakers on the ground ensuring that all our communal closes and back courts are cleaned and looked after.

“We are confident for the same money we can provide an improved service to all our residents, responding more quickly to any concerns residents may have.

“And as it is a social enterprise company, any profits or savings made by the company will be ploughed back into improving services to our tenants.”

The team will be headed by experienced operations manager Steven McLaughlin who joined WS Estate Services from Cadder Housing Association in north Glasgow.

The new social enterprise team will be responsible for cleaning once a week 197 closes, and 205 back courts.

Close cleaning includes brushing and removing all litter and debris from landings and stairs, and a thorough weekly wash. The back court services will ensure that bin stores are cleaned and any bulk uplifts are removed to collection points agreed with the city council.

The team will also provide a 12 hour concierge service 365 days a year from 8am to 8pm at the association’s multi-story block in Curle Street and CCTV support service outwith these hours.

The new service will in total cover 1,300 housing association tenants and 550 owner occupiers.

WS Estate Services Ltd was set up this year as a new social enterprise company, with a £125,243 grant from the Scottish Government’s Aspiring Communities Fund backed by European Union Social Fund and £100,000 investment on commercial terms from Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association.