Project Jaguar marks a ‘defining moment’ for the FM industry, according to Gordon Bryden, MD of Carillion Services (pictured). Carillion plc is leading the consortium, which includes Haden Building Management and Reliance Integrated Services, appointed preferred bidder by BT for the £500 million facilities management contract (see News story 3rd May). Bryden believes Jaguar will open up the market for so-called corporate PFI schemes: "As people understand more of what Project Jaguar is about, they will realise the potential."

Talking to i-FM, Bryden identified what he believes gave Carillion the edge in the closing stages of the race with Amec to win Project Jaguar: "I think we offered an innovative approach. We took existing expectations of supply chain management and put forward a new solution, removing the silos."

Part of that innovation is the structure of eight regional service providers (RSPs), operating within a franchise type arrangement - which ensures adherence to common policies and processes. The RSPs will be created as new entities, incorporating elements of both the three partnership companies and the existing supply chain. The consortium, to be separately branded, will act as both prime client interface and enabling organisation – for example by providing a national IT infrastructure for the RSPs. Bryden does not rule out the consortium bidding for other contracts but it is certainly not on the agenda at the moment.

The RSPs will be set up as separate operations to ensure they serve the local client and deliver innovation. "There will be an element of peer pressure," says Bryden, "we need to capture and drive forward best practice. We will be looking beyond Project Jaguar and BT to other industries."

Bryden anticipates signing a contract with BT at the end of May or early in June.

Richard Byatt