ARK e-management Ltd (ARK), the newly formed support services company (link to news 13th April), and Bernard Williams Associates (BWA), specialising in the financial control and procurement of buildings and facilities services, are to establish a business association to "offer clients a broader skill base in consulting projects", combining building and facilities economics with e-commerce solutions.

The association agreement, signed this week, will enable both companies to undertake wider consulting assignments by combining their resources for specific projects "to address the future needs of organisations in terms of their specifications for services and resources, the management of related information and the use of built and physical assets."

Bernard Williams

Bernard Williams, senior partner of BWA, said: "BWA's principal involvement will be in support of the 'e-procurement' of facilities services and projects. I am convinced that by combining the skills and knowledge within ARK and BWA, we will be able to meet the growing expectation in the market for advice on how to manage the significant changes that e-commerce will bring about in business to business relationships."

Lionel Prodgers

Lionel Prodgers, Managing Director of ARK, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to secure an exclusive agreement with BWA to combine their skills with ARK on assignments where we have developed new methods and management processes, combined with on-line technology, to take conventional business support into the future."

Anna Lagerkvist