Over the past four years, FormFive has proved itself a valuable member of the property and construction sector – as well as a community partner that sets great store by what it can do for the community within which it operates.
Founded in 2021 with a focus on ‘from concept to completion’, FormFive works in collaboration with developers, project management companies, architects, investors and, importantly, the wider supply chain, to carry out viability studies, project planning, design management, cost management and construction.
The emphasis has always been on breaking the mould of what a traditional main contractor should provide and while FormFive has clients across the UK, the aim has always been on being a local partner. That aim has been important in not only building a strong network of support services, but also in bringing the construction and property communities together for the good of Northamptonshire, as well as providing assistance on a wider level – to community groups and where those in need, but short of resources, require help.
Matthew Abraham, Managing Director of FormFive, said:
“That strapline of concept to completion embodies how we help our clients, simply by making life easier for them all the way through the process. From the earliest stage, we go through their ideas and identify any issues or grey areas. There’s always an element of risk starting a construction project, but if they know where they are with everything, the client can relax and let us do our job. From the fi rst point of contact, we liaise with all the other professionals involved in bringing the project to completion.
“By engaging our services, the client is putting some money into the project upfront, but is reducing the risk and taking the hassle out of making sure the project is workable before making any final decisions, with the confidence that someone is working in their best interests.”
Collaboration with other professionals led Matthew, along with Parm Bhangal, founder of Bhangals Construction Consultants, to set up Prop Connect, a series of networking events that bring together the property and construction sectors to help form strategic alliances and encourage the use of local firms rather than looking further afield.
The first event, at Bhangals’ headquarters on Grange Park was attended by more than 90 people, while the second, at The Guildhall in January, sold out. The next event will take place on March 27. Matthew said:
“Parm and I could both see that Northamptonshire has some great businesses, but the county is not being serviced correctly in terms of the choices being made.
“All to often we see that a company from outside the area is coming in to work on a project here, while local firms are sending teams hundreds of miles to work on their projects. It makes no sense. While of course there are specialisms, construction is construction, and any decent firm will be doing pretty much the same job wherever they are from.
“Using local companies is greener and more efficient, because you reduce the cost and time involved in travelling; it also supports the local economy; and who is going to be most passionate about the project, a company developing the area where its people live and work, or one from the other side of the country? It makes sense to think local.
“The feedback from the first Prop Connect meetings has been great, very positive, and Parm and I are convinced it will be a huge benefit to the local business community.”
Outside of the business community, FormFive has been as busy as ever.
As a company that believes in supporting the education sector, Northamptonshire Education Awards sponsors FormFive recently provided a new roof for Headlands Primary School in Northampton. It also supported Northampton Town FC’s Christmas Toy Appeal, and built a kit shop and coffee shop for Northampton Casuals FC. The new shop has seen the club’s revenue regularly amount to more in a week than it used to take in a month. Matthew said:
“Where we can help, we will. I do it because I think it’s important to support the local community, our schools and organisations that don’t always have the resources they need. Nine times out of ten, if we do something for the community, we do it free of charge.
“For Northampton Casuals, for instance, this is a club that is relying on membership fees and donations just to keep going. By having somewhere people can go to buy their kit and merchandise, and get a coffee while they’re there, it has made a massive difference.
“Over the past four years, I’ve come to believe that this is a great place to work. We are maintaining growth, our ethos has always been that of a family-run business, and we are part of a fantastic community that we support, and which supports us.”
For more information call 07926 167477, email info@formfivegroup.co.uk or visit the website
