Philip Roberts, head of strategic FM at Hertfordshire County Council, has been appointed to IFMA's board of directors.

Roberts oversees a wide range of services delivered across the County's 1.5M sqm property portfolio. He has prior international experience, having worked in the facilities group at the British Council before moving to Hertfordshire.

His is one of a series of new appointments made as IFMA prepares for its year 2000 programme.

WS Atkins, Amey, Serco and Aqumen are reported to be on the list of candidates as Government ministers pursue the concept of outsourcing education services.

So far, contracts for the operation of schools have tended to go to a few specialists. The plan now is to open competition up more widely, to include companies that have extensive experience of the outsourcing process.

The scale of the potential market is vast, though the principles involved may attract considerable debate.

i-FM recently reported that an Amey consortium has been shortlisted for the refurbishment of secondary schools in Glasgow.

Elliott Chase