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Mitie retains Welsh deal
Welsh government renews multi-site contract.
Vertas Nottinghamshire launched
Joint venture with county council is providing a range of services.
Leeds energy efficiency role for Equans
New contract focuses on improvements for council-owned homes.
Retrofit win for MSPS
Morgan Sindall Property Services appointed by Epping Forest District Council.
Q3 partners on services in Oxford
FM company working with Oxford Direct Services to provide expert support.
Liberty secures new contracts
Three heating and renewable energy deals in Shropshire and Wrexham signed.
Tender process for new CCS framework gets underway
Monday saw the doors open on RM6378, covering facilities management and security services.
Equans and Sheffield partner on modernisation
City Council appoints Equans for refurbishment programme.
Orian Solutions buys cleaning business
Council-owned services group acquires Harrogate-based cleaning company.
Strategic Suppliers taking less of public sector spend
New analysis finds FM companies still doing well, mostly.
Morgan Sindall Property Services appointed for homes refit
Retrofit will encompass over 600 homes.
Fife appoints Lovat’s
Heating framework deal covers Council’s estate.
Brent Council contract for Mears
London borough repairs and maintenance deal went live last week.
Two appointed for North Lanarkshire energy upgrades
Multi-year contract focuses on new central heating systems for residential properties.
Edinburgh fire safety contract for Harmony Fire
Contract covers works at 30 multi-storey residential buildings across the city centre.
Robertson scoops galleries contract
National Galleries of Scotland names firm for hard services.
Expanded contract for Wates
Move by Ealing Council extends Wates Property Services role.
Kier extends Wiltshire FM partnership
New contract takes partnership with Wiltshire Council to 18 years.
Scotland’s first schools PPP deal comes to an end
School services brought back under Falkirk Council control.
Mitie named to CCS framework
FM group added to the Crown Commercial Service’s Management Consultancy Framework Four.
SFG20 warns on challenges of council devolution
Maintenance standard organisation cites five issues centred on non-compliant work on council estates.
Birmingham contract expansion for Serco
Existing agreement expanded to include operation of Alexander Stadium.
Pinnacle appointed in Manchester
Group lands first major housing management contract in the city.
Liberty renews Fareham contract
Borough council extends deal with Wates business.
Mears takes Milton Keynes contract
Council’s new contract covers day-to-day repairs and maintenance services.
Three local authority contracts for Pinnacle
Partnerships bring 342 new homes under management.
Sheffield contract for Harmony Fire
Sheffield City Council deal focuses on its residential fire safety upgrade programme.
Bristol win for Restaurant Associates
New contract for Compass business to oversee catering and hospitality operations for city council.
Cardo appointed in Wokingham
New contract covers repairs and maintenance for thousands of local homes.
Suez extends Kirklees partnership
Long-term relationship with the Council is nearing 30 years.
Islington Council win for Polyteck
New contract covers essential building repairs and maintenance services.
Basildon contract for Morgan Sindall Property Services
1000 homes to benefit from retrofit works.
Atlas appointed in Kensington and Chelsea
London borough awards soft services contract.
Equans renews longstanding partnership
Cheshire West and Chester Council awards new five-year contract.
Biffa appointed in Wokingham
Borough council names new waste, recycling and street cleaning contractor.
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Camden extends Veolia deal
Camden Council renews recycling and waste contract.
New Sandwell contract for Graham
Sandwell Property Care deal focuses on the Borough’s non-housing properties.
Councils win for Veolia
New contract gets underway for East Herts and North Herts Councils.
Bolton completes in-house move
Bolton Council has completed the transfer of its previously outsourced facilities and estates management services.
Ashford contract for Harmony Fire
Second Borough Council deal brings total up to £3.6m.
Harmony Fire appointed on RBKC framework
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea confirms place on £25m fire safety works framework.
Doncaster extends Suez contract
Waste and recycling deal extended to March 2028.
Graham appointed in Solihull
Council builds on existing relationship with hard services deal.
Arun District Council renews Biffa contract
Council cites tender’s ‘significant assurance and solid proposals’.
Mears reappointed in Thanet
District Council extends a 27-year partnership.
Mears reappointed in Dover
Dover District Council renews repairs and maintenance contract.
Mears reappointed in Folkestone & Hythe
Folkestone & Hythe District Council extends contract for repairs and maintenance services.
Birmingham stadium contract for Elior
Caterer appointed by the City Council for services at Alexander Stadium.
Vertas in Nottingham joint venture win
Nottinghamshire County Council partners for delivery of catering and facilities management services.
Suez extends longstanding relationship
Recycling and recovery company has worked with Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough for almost 25 years.
Peterborough looks at insourcing
Services outsourced to the council’s own company could come back in-house.
Framework appointment for United Living
United Living Property Services awarded place on the LHC Retrofit and Decarbonisation Framework.
OCS signs SCTS contract
Signing reaffirms long-standing partnership between Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and its TFM provider.
Biffa secures East Sussex extension
Councils exercise extension option in existing contract.
Burnley to bring services in-house
Council extends outsourcing deal while key services are transferred.
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Merton contract for Veolia
London borough awards eight-year deal covering multiple services.
Biffa signs in Lincoln
City of Lincoln Council awards £50m waste/recycling and street cleansing contract.
Public sector spend on FM continues to grow
Total public sector spend has increased 31% over the past four years.
Notts County looking for FM partner
County explores new solution for catering, cleaning, landscape and maintenance services.
Strategic suppliers see public sector income fall
Select group of service providers is doing well despite a second year of decline in their share of this market.
Kier in Cambridgeshire win
New contract covers hard services for the county council’s estate.
Croydon contract for Veolia
Council awards eight-year contract that builds on existing services.
Lovat’s win at Midlothian
Local council awards hard services contract to Lovat’s Group.
Vinci renews in Lincolnshire
Vinci Facilities secures new contract to deliver facilities management services for Lincolnshire County Council.
ISS extends partnership with City of London
New contract has a life of up to nine years.
Suez wins in Southend
Eight-year contract covers recycling, waste and street cleansing services.
Veolia wins at Kingston
Kingston Council has signed an eight-year contract with the resource management company.
Suez wins in South Gloucestershire
Eight-year waste and recycling contract commences in 2025.
Serco appointed in Milton Keynes
City Council awards Serco Leisure a 16-month lease to operate Bletchley Leisure Centre.
Suez scoops Luton deal
Luton Council awards new contract for recycling and recovery services.
8-year extension for Suez in Manchester
New contract agreed with the largest waste disposal authority in the UK.
SMEs missing out on government contracts
Only 20% of direct public sector procurement spend was with SMEs in 2023.
Bellrock in West Sussex win
West Sussex County Council hard FM contract is valued at up to £10m pa.
United Living lands Harrow deal
London Borough of Harrow contract covers property repairs and maintenance.
Serco renews in Charnwood
New £56m contract covers refuse and recycling services for Charnwood Borough Council.
Warrington extension for Equans
An extended partnership with Warrington Borough Council covers FM with the addition of net zero consultancy.
Manchester extends Equans contract
Equans is set to continue delivering FM services across the council’s estate.
Two local authority wins for Churchill
Group’s Environmental Services business has been appointed by New Forest District Council and the London Borough of Hounslow.
Wates kicks off Derbyshire deal
New contract covers planned and responsive maintenance works for South Derbyshire District Council.
United Living in RBKC win
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea deal is worth £23.3m.
Wates renews Herts deal
Hertfordshire County Council has extended the 19-year partnership.
Veolia in 8-year win
The resource management company will deliver waste and street cleansing services to the London Borough of Sutton.
Birmingham extension for Equans
Birmingham City Council has extended its partnership with Equans with the award of a new contract.
Fortem extends Birmingham deal
The long-held property services contract will run for at least another two years.
OCS renews SCTS contract
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is building on a 13-year relationship with the decision.
Contract extension for Equans in Manchester
The extended partnership will see maintenance works continue across Greater Manchester.
Macro wins in Surrey
The FM company has signed two contracts with Surrey County Council.
Council plans ‘hybrid model’ for service delivery
North East Lincolnshire Council will move to a new model as its outsourcing contract comes to a close.
Wates seals Greenwich deal
665 homes will benefit from energy improvement works under a £21m contract.
BCIS calls for priority on repairs and maintenance
The Building Cost Information Service is asking the government to address urgent R&M issues.
Birmingham:10-year deal for Veolia
Veolia has won the contract to run the city’s recycling and refuse treatment solutions until 2034.
Serco in Buckinghamshire leisure win
Serco Leisure and its partner have been appointed to operate five centres.
Venture in Wiltshire Council win
Venture Security has won a mobile security contract covering multiple sites.
Haringey extension for Veolia
The London Borough of Haringey’s existing deal is extended by two years.
Bolton to bring services back in-house
Bolton Council is set to reclaim facilities and estates services when its current outsourcing contract ends.
Biffa renews shared contract
The two clients have extended the deal for a further two years.
Q4 sees continued fall in public sector FM deals
The trend is up and down over time, but our latest report finds a considerable decline in activity for the final quarter of 2023.
Strategic suppliers see revenue slip
Top public sector supply partners have seen a decline in their overall sector revenue of 17% in the past year.
Sodexo extends six public sector contracts
The Government division has renewed deals with a combined value of £34m.
Tivoli kicks off county council contract
Grounds maintenance service provider now looking after 130 sites for West Sussex County Council.
SUEZ to stay on in East Devon
East Devon District Council has extended its recycling and waste contract.
Wakefield turns to Robertson
Wakefield Council has awarded a new contract to the Stirling-headquartered FM business.
Amey helps courts drive down carbon
Amey is reporting a 30% reduction in carbon consumption for Avon & Somerset Courts.
Q3 sees £1bn of public sector FM deals
The UK government awarded more than 250 contracts relating to facilities management in Q3 2023, worth a total of £1.1b.
Wates in £35m major works win
Established client returns with a new social housing works programme.
Mitie partners on major solar project
Set to be one of the largest solar parking canopy projects in the UK, solar PV and battery installation has been confirmed in Portsmouth.
Swindon extends Amey partnership
Swindon Borough Council will retain Amey for a further year to support its carbon reduction strategy.
Public sector deals jump in value
The number of contracts procured in Q2 2023 fell against Q1, but total value was up more than £250%.
DMA named as CCS supplier
The building services group has been added as a supplier on the Crown Commercial Service’s FM and workplace DPS system.
Net zero: Edinburgh turns to Turner & Townsend
The consultancy group will support the city’s plans to decarbonise homes, workplaces and public buildings.
Public sector: top FM business winners
A new report from public sector procurement specialist Tussell reviews market trends to identify 150 ‘FM Titans’.
Public sector procurement on the rise
The number of contracts awarded for FM services in the public sector rose in Q1 2023, reversing 2022’s second half decline.
Services move in-house at Barnet
Once dubbed ‘easyCouncil’ for its commitment to outsourced service delivery, the London borough is leaving almost all of that behind.
Tivoli expands council contract
The grounds care group has secured an expanded contract with South Tyneside Council.
Suez in Milton Keynes win
The new contract covers waste management and grounds care services.
Veolia: long-term London waste win
The resource management company has won a nine-and-three-quarter-year contract with Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Public sector procurement slips again
Contract awards for FM services in the public sector fell for a second quarter to the end of 2022.
Stirling rolls out largest of its kind IoT network
This is the UK's first scalable and secure technology roll-out designed to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of council tenants.
Public sector procurement falls
Contract awards for FM services in the public sector were at a two-year low in Q3 2022.
Mears in South Cambridgeshire win
South Cambridgeshire District Council has appointed Mears as its repairs and maintenance contractor.
SPIE lands North Lanarkshire deal
A new contract with North Lanarkshire Council covers servicing and maintenance for CCTV and related systems at multiple sites.
Council has the Ansa
Cheshire East Council has appointed a council-owned business to provide waste management and recycling services.
MSPS helps Basildon to optimise energy use
Morgan Sindall Property Services is working with smart thermostat provider Switchee to help Basildon Council improve the energy efficiency of its housing stock.
Pinnacle lands Solihull cleaning contract
Pinnacle Group will provide specialist cleaning services to more than 600 properties for Solihull Community Housing.
EQUANS bags Birmingham contract
EQUANS has been appointed by Birmingham City Council to retrofit 300 homes in a pilot project for decarbonising the council’s 60,000 properties.
Northumberland turns to Totalmobile
Northumberland County Council is deploying the company’s field service management solution to digitalise its FM operations and link the FM business unit with other council services.
Perth sights Summit
Perth and Kinross Council has appointed Dundee-based Summit Facilities Services on a four-year contract.
Novus appointed in Sheffield
Sheffield City Council has awarded an £11m deal to the maintenance and compliance contractor.
Richard Irvin extends Aberdeen role
The Stirling-based hard service specialist has won an additional contract with Aberdeen City Council.
Market insight: public sector procurement picks up
FM-related deals in the public sector were worth a total of £872m in the second quarter of this year, up significantly on Q1 levels.
Mears lands Tower Hamlets contract
The deal covers day-to-day responsive repairs and emergency repairs in homes and in communal areas, void properties and out-of-hours call handling.
Council wins for Norse
The services group is using its tried & tested partnership model on new contracts with three local councils.
Morgan Sindall signs Welwyn Hatfield deal
Morgan Sindall Property Services has signed a new contract with Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council covering a range of services for 9,500 properties.
Skanska wins in Edinburgh
Skanska UK has been awarded a seven-year facilities management contract by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Norse in new joint venture
Devon County Council and Norse Group are teaming up to launch a new FM and property business.
Market insight: public sector procurement falls in Q1
FM-related deals in the public sector were worth a total of £360m in the first quarter of this year, slipping back to 2020 levels.
Mountjoy extends Fareham contract
Fareham Borough Council has awarded the property services provider a two-year extension on its housing services contract.
Saltire in North Lanarkshire win
A new contract for hard services specialist Saltire FM extends a long-running partnership.
Mears lands Havering deal
The London Borough of Havering contract covers repairs and maintenance for 12,000 homes.
Polyteck in Islington win
The London Borough of Islington has awarded a 24-month building repair contract to the services provider.
EQUANS extends Birmingham relationship
Birmingham City Council has appointed EQUANS to deliver planned and responsive repairs, maintenance and refurbishment works to more than 40,000 properties.
McGill in second Falkirk win
The ambitious Dundee-headquartered contractor has been appointed on a new £2.6m deal.
BAM in multi-service leisure centre win
Following a competitive process, the group has been appointed to provide design, construction and FM for the Bedworth Physical Activity Hub.
Serco in 10-year Mansfield win
Following a competitive tender process, Serco Leisure has been appointed by Mansfield District Council to operate three centres in the town.
Sodexo named for London framework
The service provider has been appointed as the single supplier on the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime property services integrator framework.
Woking names new service partner
Woking Borough Council has awarded a new contract to Portsmouth-based property services company Mountjoy.
Amey backs Barnsley’s sustainability plans
The services group has helped Barnsley Council secure £1.3m from the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
Great Yarmouth to go its own way
The council has confirmed plans to end its joint venture company and take full charge of service delivery.
Public sector FM deals hit 2-year high
In 2021, government procurement for FM services was worth over £5bn, nearly double the value of FM procurement in the year before.
UKGBC offers guidance for local authorities
The UK Green Building Council has published a framework to support local authorities to measure the impacts and wider benefits of building retrofit.
Novus in Harrogate win
The maintenance contractor has secured a four-year contract with Harrogate Borough Council.
FM framework webinar
Baachu, the facilities management marketing and business development consultancy, is planning a free webinar focused on the upcoming £35bn RM 6232 contract opportunity.
CCS publishes FM contract notice
Valued at £35bn, the new ‘collaborative agreement’ will have a life of four years and cover facilities management and workplace services.
Manchester extends EQUANS deal
Manchester City Council has awarded the ENGIE services business division a two-year extension on its FM contract.
UKGBC offers guidance for local authorities
The guidance is designed specifically to drive up the sustainability of new commercial buildings.
Northants contracts to be tendered
The new West Northamptonshire Council has said it intends to put a series of services out to tender in the near future.
EQUANS in 10-year Cheshire win
The ENGIE group’s services-led business has secured a new contract with Cheshire East Council.
Novus wins in Leeds
Novus Property Solutions has been awarded a contract to deliver essential maintenance works to social housing properties owned by Leeds City Council.
Norse extends Waltham Forest deal
Norfolk County Council’s services business has secured an extension of its longstanding partnership with Waltham Forest Council.
Market insight: 176 public sector contracts in Q2
The public sector continues to be fertile ground for new contracts, with FM-related deals totalling almost £230m awarded in the second quarter of this year.
Local government and net zero: more to be done
Central government has not provided local authorities with clarity about their roles in achieving net zero by 2050, and its approach to funding their net zero work is piecemeal.
CBRE plans Cornwall meet-the-buyer event
As part of its bid to be selected as Cornwall County Council’s FM partner the firm is looking to connect with local SME service providers.
Wates in multi-year London win
Lambeth Borough Council has appointed Wates to provide repairs and void works as part of a new borough-wide contract.
Powys to bring property services back in-house
Powys County Council is calling an end to its joint venture with Kier, which will see services shift to an in-house model in a year’s time.
Bouygues E&S delivers on lighting project
Bouygues Energies & Services has completed a partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Borough to replace 90% of its street lighting with LED lights.
Market insight: £465m in new contracts in Q1
The public sector should probably be on your business development target list. Over 180 new FM contracts were awarded in the first quarter of this year, according to public procurement experts Tussell.
Hillingdon extends Keysource deal
The London Borough of Hillingdon has renewed its managed services contract with data centre and critical environment specialist Keysource.
Q3 in multi-site London win
The deal, won in competitive tender, covers more than 50 London Borough of Redbridge sites.
Cenergist partners on decarbonisation project
Leeds City Council has selected the energy and water services company to provide support in delivering a £14m carbon reduction upgrade.
Mountjoy in Elmbridge win
The Portsmouth-headquartered building services group has been awarded a five-year fabric repairs contract.
Landmark decarbonisation project gets go-ahead
Aberdeen City Council has awarded a three-way partnership the contract to deliver a decarbonisation retrofit scheme across 100 social housing properties.
Mears scoops Islington deal
Islington Council has awarded Mears Group a new contract to manage the planned maintenance of council homes.
Mountjoy retains Isle of Wight deal
The property services company has renewed its maintenance contract with Isle of Wight Council.
Mears in 7-year Redbridge win
Redbridge Council has extended its maintenance contract with Mears Group.
Cambridgeshire names Bouygues as net zero partner
Bouygues Energies & Services and energy company SSE Enterprise are teaming up to deliver a range of services for the county council.
Idverde in 10-year London win
The grounds maintenance and landscape specialist has been awarded a contract with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Mitie named for Covid testing sites
Mitie has been appointed as a supplier on the Crown Commercial Service agreement for Covid community testing sites.
ENGIE in £33m Manchester deal
Manchester City Council has appointed the company on a three-year repairs and maintenance contract.
Wates in five-year win with Thurrock
The east of England council has appointed Wates on a housing services deal worth £45m.
Graham extends Sandwell role
Sandwell Council has awarded the company a new four-year hard services contract.
Norse updates Daventry jv
Daventry Norse has been renamed West Northamptonshire Norse ahead of the county’s reorganisation of local government.
Biffa appointed in Edinburgh
The waste management specialist has won a three-year contract extension with the City of Edinburgh.
Biffa in eight-year Winchester deal
The Winchester City Council contract includes a strategy focusing on lower emission vehicles and new services.
Samsic wins council security contract
Samsic UK has been appointed to provide security services for Charnwood Borough Council in Leicestershire.
Wales plans risk assessment legislation
The Welsh Government is to strengthen legislation to ensure workplaces and shops are safer, as pandemic conditions persist.
ENGIE secures council extension
North East Lincolnshire Council has extended its long-standing partnership with ENGIE following the award of a new three-year contract.
Tivoli extends West Lindsey deal
West Lindsey District Council has extended its grounds maintenance contract with Tivoli for a further year.
North Ayrshire Council signs BAM FM
A new three-year contract covers hard services for over 200 sites.
Fusion21 launches £1.1bn framework
Procurement organisation and social enterprise Fusion21 has announced the launch of its national Workplace & Facilities Framework. It is now inviting bids from interested suppliers.
ENGIE targets zero carbon for South Somerset
South Somerset District Council has contracted ENGIE to develop a net zero carbon roadmap.
Veolia wins two-horse race in Bedford
Veolia has been appointed by Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils on a waste management deal.
Mears in new win with Exeter
Exeter City Council has awarded the company an integrated asset management contract covering repairs and refurbishment services.
Vertas teams up with Derbyshire
The facilities services provider has launched a joint venture with Derbyshire County Council to provide services to over 450 sites.
Veolia in 10-year Bucks deal
Buckinghamshire Council has confirmed its decision on a waste management services contract that begins this week.
Veolia retains double district council deal
The services provider has emerged from a tender exercise with a new eight-year waste and recycling contract.
Wates mobilises long-term Crawley deal
Wates Living Space has started a 10-year contract for Crawley Borough Council, deploying virtual and social distancing mobilisation measures.
Mears extends London role
August sees the start of a new contract for the social housing specialist with Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
Wates secures hard services framework place
Wates Facilities Management has been appointed to the four-year Constructing West Midlands Framework.
Call for more clarity on social value in contracts
New CBI research suggests that progress on embedding social value in government contracts is being slowed by confusion around definitions and application.
United Living scoops 5-year London deal
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has awarded United Living Property Services a repairs and maintenance contract worth in excess of £20m.
Biffa scoops Anglesey deal
Anglesey has awarded a new £40m waste collection and cleansing contract to Biffa.
Norse scoops Derbyshire waste deal
The Norse Group will be providing domestic refuse collections for more than a million people when it adds a new waste service for Amber Valley to its portfolio later this month.
A new dawn for the bicycle?
Emergency road closures, widening of footways and the creation of new pop-up cycleways mean that bikes could be the fastest way of getting around cities like London, Manchester and Birmingham as the UK eases slowly back to work.
Public sector outsourcing market may be stabilising
April saw a 66% in new public sector contract opportunities compared to February according to Tussell, the market intelligence firm.
Allerdale takes waste services in-house
The borough council has created its own company, which is already on the job providing waste and recycling services.
Unexpected delay in Barnsley
The coronavirus epidemic has produced a wide range of impacts on companies and contracts, including a three-month delay in change in Barnsley.
Public sector ordered to pay suppliers immediately
The Cabinet Office has published guidance for public bodies on payment of their suppliers to ensure service continuity during and after the current coronavirus outbreak.
Graham secures Worcester contract
The hard services specialist has won a multi-site repairs, maintenance and minor works contract with Worcester City Council.
Graham lands legionella deal
Graham has secured a legionella management services contract with Northern Ireland's Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.
Wates wins in Barnsley
Wates Living Space has been appointed on a new repairs and maintenance contract by Barnsley Council.
EMCOR UK extends Lancaster partnership
The company has renewed its 16-year relationship with Lancaster Gas Partnership, with a deal that runs through to 31 March 2022.
Wates and Mears split Crawley deal
Crawley Borough Council has appointed two contractors to manage the maintenance of council homes.
ENGIE and Wates secure 10-year council contracts
Tamworth Borough Council has awarded new contracts worth more than £100m for the improvement, repair and maintenance of more than 4,200 council houses.
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Rugeley plans smart energy system
An ENGIE-led consortium will create the design of a Smart Local Energy System that will demonstrate how carbon and energy costs can be reduced for residents of the Staffordshire town.
Amey working to digitise Sheffield
By spring, Amey will have created a digitised public highway network for Sheffield, with thousands of individual sensors communicating wirelessly via smart sensors deployed to the city's assets.
Biffa lands eight-year deal in Winchester
Winchester City Council has renewed its waste contract, based on a bid that provides best value for money and a package of service improvements.
Nottingham scoops contracts in Derby
Nottingham City Council's school catering service has beaten leading private sector operators to win a tender for four new contracts based in its neighbour to the west.
Councils unsure of their carbon footprints
Almost half of local authorities in England do not know their own carbon footprint, according to a freedom of information request from engineering services trade body ECA.
The future of work is the future of the city
A poll of over 30,000 full- and part-time workers across 50 cities in 18 countries has found people significantly more optimistic about their local communities than the state of their nations.
Serco in London waste management win
Richmond Council confirms the award of a 10-year waste and recycling collection contract to Serco.
ENGIE launches Newcastle energy centre
ENGIE has launched a high-profile new carbon-reduction district energy centre in partnership with Newcastle City Council.
Amey secures extension
North Lanarkshire Council has added three years to an existing highways maintenance and management contract.
Cornwall names Biffa for waste management
The nationwide waste services provider has been awarded a new contract by Cornwall Council.
UK public procurement up 17% in 2019
Over 2000 buyers awarded more than 45,000 contracts adding up to £93bn in total value, according to public sector specialists Tussell.
Graham in compliance double
Graham FM has secured two compliance services contracts, one with Derry City and Strabane District Council and a second with Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Mears confirms Rotherham win
The social housing specialist has won a 10-year repairs and maintenance contract with Rotherham Council, extending an established relationship that has been in place for nearly 10 years.
Public sector procurement pays dividends
YPO, the UK's largest publicly owned buying organisation, has delivered £7.8m in dividends to its 13 local authority owners.
Bolton to focus on local suppliers
The council has introduced policies designed to target SMEs for the delivery of facilities management, construction and support services across its estate.
ENGIE in £60m Rotherham win
The energy and services specialist has been appointed to handle repairs and maintenance for almost 10,000 homes.
North Yorks grows service company
More news from the public sector service provider market as North Yorkshire Education Service grows through acquisition.
Wakefield teams up with ENGIE for zero carbon
Following its declaration of a climate emergency, Wakefield Council has commissioned the energy and services group to help achieve its target of becoming a carbon-neutral organisation by 2030.
Council names in-house delivery as default choice
In what it calls "a significant shift in approach", the London Borough of Haringey has adopted a new policy making direct delivery of council services the preferred option.
Norwich to take services back in-house
Following lengthy discussion, Norwich City Council is moving to break up its joint venture with Norse Group.
Maxim in pair of local authority wins
Sunderland-headquartered Maxim FM has signed a four-year partnership agreement with Lancashire County Council, as well as securing a place on a framework agreement with Liverpool City Council.
Milton Keynes double for ENGIE
The energy and services group has been announced as the preferred bidder for two new contracts with Milton Keynes Council.
Wates in London housing win
Tower Hamlets Council has awarded a four-year refurbishment works contract to the group's Living Space division.
Whitehall's Strategic Suppliers: new insights
Tussell, the public sector procurement advisor, reports that central government's 'Strategic Suppliers' will be earning £10bn over the 2018/19 contract year.
Sodexo introduces new Public Service Pledge
Sodexo has published the third edition of its unique set of strategic and ethical commitments to its customers, employees and the communities in which it operates.
Avison Young appointed in Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council has appointed the property services advisor to provide a range of management services at Lakeside North Harbour.
Derwent FM team in Irish win
Torc Housing Partnership has been selected as preferred tenderer for the second phase of the Irish government's social housing PPP programme, covering design through to ongoing service delivery.
Think-tank puts the case for outsourcing
Labour's policy of bringing public services back into government hands would be a mistake says a new report. But, on the other hand, politicians consistently overstate how much money is saved by outsourcing services.
Mountjoy lands five-year Horsham deal
The Portsmouth-based property services company has been awarded a planned and reactive building maintenance contract by Horsham District Council.
Derbyshire looking to Suffolk for facilities services
Derbyshire County Council, under the financial pressure that every local government body seems to be facing, is talking with Suffolk County Council about launching joint venture service provision businesses.
Wates secures Birmingham extension
Wates has extended its housing repairs and maintenance contract with the city for a further two years.
Councils part ways with waste service providers
Two councils have recently ended their relationships with outsourced service providers, one to bring the service back in-house and the other because central government has undermined their strategy.
Harrogate awards major contract to local firm
Harrogate Borough Council has appointed Robinsons Facilities Services to look after more than 60 public buildings, including a number of key landmarks.
Kent extends Skanska FM deal
With a two-year contract extension agreed, Skanska will continue to provide total facilities management services for Kent County Council.
Serco secures £120m in public services wins
Serco's Environmental Services business has signed a new contract with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead as well as securing a number of contract extensions with existing local authority customers.
Kier sell-off: public sector contracts on the way out
When construction and services group Kier, a 'Strategic Supplier' to government, sells a portfolio of non-core businesses this will include off-loading £200m in public sector contracts.
Interserve lands adult education deal
Here's a reminder that the construction and services group is still in some surprising sectors: its new one-year, £1m contract to deliver adult education in Liverpool.
Ian Williams lands East Devon deal
East Devon District Council has appointed the property services group to maintain its 4,200 council homes over a 10-year contract period.
Outsourcing is a big business, but a good one?
UK local authorities awarded outsourcing contracts worth £20bn over the three-year period 2016 to 2018. The biggest spend area was FM.
Bouygues E&S lands Westminster deal
Westminster City Council has appointed Bouygues Energies & Services to deliver a range of services across 160 locations including City Hall, libraries and other community facilities.
ENGIE lands Ashford repairs and maintenance deal
The services group has been awarded a 10-year contract with Ashford Borough Council worth £25m.
Swing to frameworks leaving service providers behind
Public procurement specialist Tussell says that facilities management suppliers are missing out on hundreds of opportunities with the public sector because they aren't listed on some of the most important frameworks.
Peterborough brings services in-house
Peterborough City Council has negotiated an end to its contractual relationship with Amey, moving a range of services into a new local authority trading company.
SPIE takes Liverpool schools deal
SPIE UK has been awarded a 10-school hard FM contract by Liverpool City Council.
Think-tank urges better public sector procurement
Reform, which focuses on public services improvement, has published a lengthy analysis of commissioning policy and practice in England, culminating in a series of recommendations.
PHS lands Leeds and Dudley deals
The support services group has secured two contract renewals, each covering a range of hygiene and washroom services across multiple sites.
Public procurement standard out for consultation
Views are being sought on a new draft standard that sets out generic requirements for organisations providing products and services to the public sector.
Wates lands LBHF maintenance deal
Wates Living Space is set to commence repairs and maintenance for 7,000 homes on behalf Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Arcus lands first public sector contract
The hard services specialist, best known for its relationship with Sainsbury's, has been awarded a seven-year deal by Central Bedfordshire Council.
Bouygues sheds light on Brent streets
Bouygues Energies & Services has worked with Brent Borough Council to transform their street lighting, completing a 12-month investment programme in January.
Vinci confirms £20m Sandwell contract
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has awarded a four-year contract to Vinci Facilities covering improvement works to its social housing estates.
Brent brings cleaning services in-house
The London local authority's cabinet has given the go-ahead for cleaning of council estates to be done directly by council staff.
Third of councils at risk of financial failure
New analysis from business and financial adviser Grant Thornton has found that 36% of all local councils in England are at risk of financial failure in the next ten years.
Norse lands Barnet Council deal
The support services group has been awarded a three-year cleaning contract for the London Borough of Barnet.
Government outsourcing: "a turbulent year"
An annual review from public procurement analyst Tussell also highlights some key trends for the future.
Sodexo lands Surrey grounds deal
Surrey Heath Borough Council has awarded its five-year grounds maintenance contract to Sodexo.
Charging ahead: ENGIE commissioned for West Yorks network
The energy and services group has been appointed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority to provide a new network of at least 88 rapid electric vehicle charging points across the region.
Mitie in £32m Waverley win
Mitie's property management business has won a new contract with Waverley Borough Council to provide and manage repairs and maintenance services for 5,000 properties.
CCS tackles renewable energy for government
The Crown Commercial Service is setting out to make it easier for public bodies to reduce their carbon footprint by launching a new agreement that makes renewable energy easier to source.
Shutting down outsourcing could cost LAs billions
Moving all services in-house would cost local authorities at least £30bn potentially outstripping any hoped-for savings, according to a new report from think-tank Localis.
Glasgow takes support business back in-house
Cordia, Glasgow City Council's arm's-length services business, has been wound up, with all staff and services brought in-house.
Norse named largest local authority trading company
The Norse Group is the largest of the 743 trading companies in England, Scotland and Wales, according to research from business services firm Grant Thornton.
Local authorities: going off outsourcing?
Local government's appetite for outsourcing to the private sector is declining, according to research from the independent think-tank New Local Government Network.
ENGIE enters local authority energy market
The energy and services group has signed its first energy white-label contract with a local authority to supply householders across the north-west of England.
Four-year Barnet deal for Wates
London's Barnet Council has appointed Wates Living Space to handle maintenance services for 98 buildings.
Government outsourcing bounces back
Public sector outsourcing spend increased sharply in the first six months of 2018 despite a backdrop of Brexit uncertainty.
Councils team up to win contract
Middlesbrough Council has partnered with Durham County Council to see off stiff competition for a five-year pest control deal.
Stockport replaces Carillion with Robertson
Robertson FM has secured a 12-month contract following the collapse of the council's previous service provider.
Local authority service sharing continues to grow
The latest analysis from the Local Government Association shows that there are now 555 individual shared service arrangements across the country, resulting in £840m of cumulative efficiency savings.
Councils routinely breach rules on payment
Almost nine in 10 local authorities are not monitoring if their supply chain is getting paid within 30 days for services provided, according to data obtained by the ECA and BESA trade associations.
CCS launches FM Marketplace, confirms providers list
The Crown Commercial Service has launched the Facilities Management Marketplace agreement, designed to give the public sector access to a wide range of suppliers for their FM requirements.
Barnet Council may review Capita partnership
The council is considering undertaking a review of its wide-ranging, long-term outsourcing deal which could lead to significant changes.
Bellrock expands Runnymede contract
Bellrock's FM services contract with Runnymede Borough Council has been enhanced with the council's selection of group company Concerto to roll out its project and facilities management software.
Satisfied of Tunbridge Wells sticks with Cordant
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has renewed its contract with Cordant Cleaning for a further three years and extended the remit to include additional services.
Interserve in £10m Southwark extension
London's Southwark Council has awarded a two-year contract extension worth over £10m to its TFM provider.
Interserve locks up West Yorks police deal
Interserve has been appointed as the single principal supply chain partner for a force-wide security services framework at West Yorkshire Police.
Operations director appointed at Daventry Norse
Norse Group has appointed Nick Drake as operations director for the group's recently formed partnership with Daventry District Council.
Cordant boss calls for social value in government contracts
Public sector contracts should no longer be given to the lowest bidder but awarded to "social business" companies that agree to share profits with staff and employ local workers.
TUC offers insights on lessons to be learned from Carillion
The TUC has published a report on the reforms needed to protect public services and improve quality in the wake of Carillion's collapse three months ago.
Public sector directly employed maintenance staff in decline
In-house maintenance teams, once common at large public sector organisations, are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
Oxford City Council companies split for growth
Oxford Direct Services, established in 2012 in response to reduced central government funding, has now set up a new commercial division that plans to deliver £10.4m in value back to the council over the next four years.
Cambridgeshire to wind up cleaning and catering service
In-house isn't always an attractive alternative. Cambridgeshire County Council has concluded that its own service supply operation can't compete in an increasingly tough market.
Johannesburg taking 4000 security guards in-house
One of South Africa's leading cities is reversing its reliance on outsourcing as it moves to bring security services in-house. Cleaning will be next.
Calls for change, but will they stick?
Yesterday, a profit warning from Capita sent its share price plummeting by nearly 50%, cutting the company's stock market value by more than £1 billion.
Oxfordshire seals early exit from Carillion contract
Oxfordshire County Council struck an exit deal with Carillion in December, avoiding what it says was the likely prospect of lengthy litigation which would have arisen following the service provider's collapse.
Trigion secures landmark Worcester library deal
Trigion Security Services has won the contract to provide security at The Hive in Worcester, Europe's first joint public and university library.
Slough FM contract for Bouygues E&S
Bouygues Energies & Services has been awarded a four-year contract to work in partnership with the council to deliver facilities management services to over 80 buildings across Slough.
Croydon confirms new Veolia deal
Croydon Council has confirmed a long-term extension of the environmental services contract that covers four south London local authorities.
Gearing up for the next-gen CCS framework
Preparations are underway for introduction of the next FM services framework from the Crown Commercial Service. There's plenty of time to get involved, but providers should be planning their bidding strategies now.
Concerto wins Richmond contract
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has signed a deal with project and FM business Concerto.
Kier wins in Wales
Kier Workplace Services has been awarded two new FM contracts in the Welsh region worth a total of £5.5m.
Skanska eyes up high-level deal
The City of London Corporation has awarded an extensive high-level cleaning services contract to Skanska, building on a successful existing collaboration.
Public sector outsourcing spiked in Q3
The public sector outsourcing market experienced its strongest quarter in 2017 between July and September, as government bodies renewed investment in transforming back-office services.
Lambeth extends partnership with ENGIE
The London Borough of Lambeth has extended the TFM deal for a further two years, adding about £12m to the total contract value.
Serco extends Herts partnership
Serco has been awarded a two-year extension to its partnership contract with Hertfordshire County Council, pushing the end date out to March 2021.
EMCOR renews Hants deal
EMCOR UK has been awarded a new contract by Hampshire County Council that extends the maintenance services it has been providing for more than 20 years.
Norse signs 16th local authority partnership agreement
Norse Commercial Services has sealed a 10-year, £50m deal with Daventry District Council, creating Daventry Norse.
Medway Norse takes over recycling centres
The Norse Group's local jv has taken on responsibility for running three waste recycling centres owned by Medway Council, in a deal valued at £1.2m per year.
Serco lands five-year extension at Basingstoke and Deane
Serco's Leisure division has secured a five-year extension to its contract with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to manage three major sites.
Warwickshire launches catering business
Warwickshire County Council has set up its first trading company, and put it in charge of the school meals service across its estate.
CCS unveils new estates framework
The Crown Commercial Service has launched a new Estates Professional Services framework which, it says, could save public sector bodies £35m over the next four years.
Southampton plans service delivery business
Southampton City Council has taken another step towards the formation of a local authority trading company that will assume responsibility for delivering a range of services, including FM.
LGA calls for procurement rules simplification post-Brexit
Simpler rules regulating how councils buy goods and services after Brexit could boost local growth and create jobs, the Local Government Association says.
Corrigenda lands Hampshire hard FM deal
The Fareham-based hard services specialist has won a "substantial" maintenance contract covering multiple sites for Hampshire County Council.
Norse cleans up in Medway
Medway Council has awarded a four-year schools cleaning contract to Norse Commercial Services.
Carillion splits with Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire County Council and Carillion have agreed to an early end for part of a 10-year property and facilities management services contract.
Shared services now 'business as usual' for local councils
New data from the Local Government Association shows that there are 486 individual shared service arrangements amongst local authorities across the country, resulting in £643m of efficiency savings.
Amey has Selby extension in the bag
Amey has secured a seven-year extension to its environmental services contract with Selby District Council.
Robertson secures multi-site Perth deal
Perth & Kinross Council has awarded a three-year contract covering more than 200 buildings to Robertson FM.
Mountjoy wins in Hampshire
The construction and maintenance services provider has been appointed by Hampshire County Council to deliver reactive repairs and planned maintenance services across an extensive portfolio.
Wates lands £14m Tamworth deal
The group's Living Space business has been appointed to carry out a repairs and investment contract for Tamworth Borough Council, covering 4200 properties.
Balfour Beatty extends deal with Southampton
Balfour Beatty's Living Places business has increased the scope of a contract with Southampton City Council, taking on additional responsibility for CCTV systems.
Kent council business targeting public sector FM
Gen2 Property Management, a property and facilities management business set up and operated by Kent County Council, is looking for new clients across the Southeast.
Churchill fires up new Lewisham contract
Churchill Services has confirmed the mobilisation of a new contract with the London Borough of Lewisham, covering cleaning and associated services to 50 council properties.
Amey Tri-borough contract safe
Amey's 10-year facilities management contract with three London local authorities is not affected by the decision to terminate key parts of the Tri-borough partnership.
Tri-borough deal collapses
The landmark partnership bringing together three London councils to share services procurement and delivery has come to a premature end, with two parties turning their backs on the third.
Gloucestershire puts Caterlink on the menu
Gloucestershire County Council has awarded a new three-year contract to the schools catering specialist.
Serco in 10-year Rushmoor win
Hampshire's Rushmoor Borough Council has awarded a long-term environmental services contract to Serco.
Vertas adds transport to its service offer
The facilities services group has signed a five-year deal with Suffolk County Council to provide school transport services for children with special educational needs.
Mears wins 10 year Manchester deal
The Mears Group has signed a long-term repairs and maintenance contract with Manchester City Council and its arm's length housing management organisation, Northwards Housing.
More joy for Mountjoy in Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council has awarded a five-year reactive repairs and building maintenance deal to the maintenance services specialist.
Kier scoops Lewisham hard FM deal
Lewisham Council has awarded a three-year multi-site hard FM contract to Kier.
Norse jv takes Suffolk TFM deal
Suffolk Coastal Norse has been appointed to provide Total Facilities Management services at East Suffolk House, the new-build home of Suffolk Coastal District Council.
Churchill retains Wiltshire deal
Churchill Services has been awarded a five-year cleaning contract by Wiltshire Council, building on an existing relationship.
Isle of Wight gig for Mountjoy
The building maintenance specialist has won a four-year contract to deliver day-to-day services for Isle of Wight Council.
Amey preferred supplier for massive Surrey waste deal
Amey has been named the preferred supplier for a 10-year waste and recycling services contract covering four local authorities.
FES in five-year deal with Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire Council reports that it has awarded a property and facilities maintenance contract with 'a strong community focus' to FES FM.
Bouygues lands LGA deal
Bouygues Energies & Services has won a three-year total facilities management contract at the Local Government Association's headquarters in London.
Maher named Arc Partnership MD
The Nottinghamshire County Council jv, responsible for a £200m projects and services programme, is getting its first Managing Director.
Serco reports three contract extensions and a new win
Serco's Environmental Services business has recently been awarded three contract extensions and one new contract, in total valued at over £45m.
One Public Estate passes 150 mark
The Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association have confirmed that 159 councils will join the next phase of the programme that targets improvements in the use of public sector property.
ENGIE confirms Wakefield TFM deal
ENGIE has been awarded a 10-year total facilities and property management contract by Wakefield Council.
Buoyant half year for local government outsourcing
The value of outsourcing contracts signed by UK local authorities in the first half of 2016 increased by 84% year-on-year to £684.9m.
Amey's Tube maintenance deal headed in-house
For the past 13 years Amey has been contracted to manage maintenance work across three lines, the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly. At the end of next year, that will come to an end.
Working alone getting safer in Essex
Mitie and its partner Lone Worker Solutions have been awarded a contract to protect employees of Essex County Council when they are working alone or out of sight of colleagues.
Mitie helping Scotland stay green
The Scottish Government has retained its unique status as the only government in the world to hold the Carbon Trust Triple Standard, and Mitie is citing its supporting role.
ISS renews Arun deal
ISS has emerged from a competitive battle to secure a 10-year greenspace management contract with Arun District Council in West Sussex.
ENGIE preferred solution for Wakefield
ENGIE has landed a 10-year multi-service contract with Wakefield Council.
Keysource lands Leeds critical FM contract
Leeds City Council has appointed the critical environment specialist to provide support for its data centres in and around the city centre.
Kier lands Southwark consolidation deal
The group's facilities management business has been awarded a four-year contract with Southwark Council worth £32m.
Local authority procurement: a mixed bag
A survey of procurement practices at almost 200 local councils in England shows some encouraging consistency, as well as some gaps where suppliers would probably appreciate some progress.
Robertson bags East Renfrewshire deal
Robertson Facilities Management has won a two-year contract with East Renfrewshire Council to supply electrical maintenance services across the region.
Arthur McKay renews contract with National Records of Scotland
The building support services company has won a four-year facilities management contract with the Scottish Government department that looks after registration, statistical and archival services.
Sodexo in Scottish agency win
Sodexo has been awarded a five-year contract to provide a range of services to the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, an arm of the Scottish Government.
Outcome focused and delivering the goods
ENGIE's wide-ranging long-term contract with North East Lincolnshire Council is proving that in the right circumstances a private sector outsourcing company can deliver financial, operational and social benefits to a public sector client.
Eric Wright FM moves into Stoke
With building work completed on the first of three multi-million pound PFI retirement living sites in Stoke-on-Trent, consortium partner Eric Wright will launch its 25-year FM services contract.
Arthur McKay in Croydon win
The building support services company has been awarded a five-year hard services contract with Croydon Council.
ENGIE and Cheshire East in low-carbon district energy JV
ENGIE has teamed up with its facilities management client, Cheshire East Council, to create a new joint venture company to promote eco-efficient district heating networks.
LA JVs: insights into success
With local authorities under sustained funding pressures, joint venture companies have emerged as one possible route to service delivery. A new report looks at the critical success factors.
NOA aims to 'rid public sector of outsourcing failure'
The National Outsourcing Association is launching a campaign to drive improvements in public sector outsourcing at a time, it says, when an unprecedented number are choosing outsourcing to improve services and help deal with cuts to funding.
G4S extends reach across Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Civil Estate has awarded G4S FM a two-year contract to deliver FM services at more than 200 of its locations.
ISS plugs into Aberdeenshire deal
Aberdeenshire Council, one of Scotland's largest councils, has awarded a three-plus-two energy services contract to ISS.
Local government partner
Given the financial challenges facing local councils in our post-recession world, insights and advice from private sector partners should be more than welcome, especially when it comes to complex and technical areas like energy.
Grounds contractors challenge NLW impact
BALI-NCF, the National Contractors' Forum for grounds maintenance contractors, has written to government ministers and the Low Pay Commission highlighting the implications for local authorities of the introduction of the National Living Wage.
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Churchill extends Wiltshire service range
Wiltshire Council has added water hygiene monitoring to its existing cleaning services contract with Churchill.
Local government outsourcing up by a quarter
The local government outsourcing market saw substantial growth in 2015, with the total value of contracts signed by councils up 23% year-on-year.
Havant teams up with Norse on jv
In parallel with its five-council strategy for FM, Havant is now to form a joint venture company with Norse Commercial Services covering a range of supplementary areas.
Kier's Bournemouth services going back in-house
Bournemouth councillors are to look at a series of cost-saving moves next week, including the option of bringing services currently provided by Kier back in-house.
Vinci preferred for five-council FM contract
Vinci Facilities has been selected as the preferred bidder for a shared services contract that covers FM and property for five councils in the south of England.
Lorne Stewart extends Cornwall stay
Following the successful delivery of a three-year hard services contract, Cornwall County Council has awarded a one-year extension to Lorne Stewart Facilities.
Changing how government does outsourcing
Flexible contracts, greater innovation and collaborative risk management are among commercial behaviours the public sector should adopt, the CBI says.
Somerset pulls the plug on Southwest One
Somerset County Council has decided to exit the Southwest One outsourcing contract early, taking all its services back in-house.
One Public Estate programme expands
The One Public Estate programme, which enables local councils and other public sector organisations to share buildings and services and reduce running costs, has been promised a substantial injection of new funds.
Think tank launches public sector outsourcing support tools
The Institute for Government says research has highlighted a lack of practical information and support for management teams in central and local government tasked with designing and implementing outsourcing programmes. It has set out to fill that gap.
Imtech lands shared service framework deal
Imtech Inviron has been awarded preferred contractor status on a framework agreement for Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire County Councils.
Edinburgh says no to FM outsourcing
Edinburgh Council has agreed a range of actions to address a major budget shortfall, but it will not outsource facilities management. That idea has been rejected again.
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Edinburgh looks for the best way forward on service delivery
Having turned away from outsourcing in 2012, the prospect is back on the agenda again as Edinburgh City Council faces up to an urgent need for cost savings.
Burnley awards ten-year deal to Liberata
The BPO specialist will take on a range of support services, including facilities management, beginning next January.
Bristol Energy appoints managing director
Norfolk and Suffolk Councils have both launched support service businesses. Bristol City Council has gone down a different commercial route with the launch of an energy company.
EFMS launches jv with Suffolk councils
Eastern Facilities Management Solutions, the Ipswich-based services provider, has formed a new commercial facilities management business with Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
Havant considering Norse services jv
Havant Borough councillors have given the go-ahead to a formal analysis of the business case for setting up a joint venture services delivery company with the Norse group.
Thurrock exits Serco contract early
Thurrock Council is terminating a 15-year multi-service deal with Serco four years early.
Nviro wins Hounslow renewal
The London Borough of Hounslow has renewed its relationship with its cleaning services provider with the award of a new three-year contract.
Cofely lands Harrow Council deal
Cofely has been awarded a five-year contract by Harrow Council to deliver a range of facilities and energy efficiency services.
Amey preferred bidder for Isle of Wight waste deal
Amey's waste management business, AmeyCespa, has been named as the preferred bidder for a 25-year contract to provide waste collection and treatment services for the Isle of Wight.
Councils' shared services savings hit new milestone
More than £450m has been saved by councils sharing services, new research from the Local Government Association reveals.
Optimum deal for local Surrey council
Elmbridge Borough Council has awarded an M&E contract to Optimum Group Services.
Mears seals Gateshead extension
Gateshead Council has extended its home repairs and maintenance contract with Mears for a further two years.
Somerset names Skanska for hard FM
Somerset County Council has appointed Skanska to deliver hard FM services at 500 sites across the county.
Serco at leisure in Birmingham
The support services group has won a 15-year contract with Birmingham City Council to manage nine leisure centres.
Orbis lands Fife clean and clear contract
Vacant property expert Orbis has won a contract with Fife Council to provide clean and clear services for up to four years to void properties across the council's housing portfolio.
Is austerity good for waste management?
New research into the impact of austerity on local authority waste collection and cleansing services has found a range of innovative approaches being taken by councils across the UK and Ireland to deliver efficiency improvements and savings.
Havant consults on back-office plan
Havant Borough Council has launched a local consultation exercise focused on a plan to join forces with four other councils and outsource a range of services to a private sector supplier.
Northants plans 'biggest ever' transformation
Northamptonshire County Council has voted to adopt a 'next generation' model, stripping itself down to an expert core that will commission the services it needs to deliver.
Local government outsourcing values on the rise
New research focused on BPO and IT contracts shows that the local government outsourcing surged ahead in 2014 as organisations procured more sophisticated services.
Kier secures Barnsley housing deal
Kier Services' housing maintenance business has won a five-year extension to its existing repairs and maintenance contract with Barnsley Council.
Babcock in wide-ranging deal with Richmond Council
Babcock International has won a seven-year contract with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames to deliver an integrated property and estate management solution.
Norse boasts £32m increase in jv turnover
Norse Commercial Services, which might well be the market leader in local authority joint venture contracts, reports that 2014 was its most successful year to date for these deals.
Cofely in jv with Cheshire & Chester Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council has teamed up with Cofely to launch a joint venture company that will deliver both customer and integrated workplace management services.
Galliford Try closes on second Scotland deal
The group's Morrison Construction business has achieved financial close on the £48.5m Hub North Scotland Ltd contract with The Highland Council to deliver a community campus in Wick.
Lincs inks VinciMouchel deal
Lincolnshire County Council's new five-year property and facilities services contract with its joint venture providers has been signed by all parties.
Glasgow to challenge contractors on Living Wage
Glasgow City Council has adopted new procurement policies that mean companies bidding for contracts with the city will have to demonstrate their commitment to paying the Glasgow Living Wage.
Kier preferred for joint Staffs project
Kier Group has been selected as the preferred bidder for a new £400m, ten-year strategic property partnership with Staffordshire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire.
Kent awards TFM contract to Amey
Amey's new five-year contract with Kent County Council will span a range of services delivered to 120 buildings.
Burnley plans to outsource
Burnley Borough Council is looking for a partner to supply services ranging from IT to property and FM in a 10-year deal valued at about £118m.
Tri-borough deal gets early review
The three-way central London shared services contract looks set to benefit from an independent review that has produced some criticisms and a series of recommendations for improved operations and efficiency.
Norse and Great Yarmouth in new joint venture
Norse Commercial Services and Great Yarmouth Borough Council have formed a new joint venture company to manage and maintain the council's community housing stock.
Amey extends Tri-borough deal to fourth council
Amey has been awarded a £10m TFM contract with Camden Council in London.
Somerset recounts lessons learned from outsourcing
The multi-client, multi-service Southwest One outsourcing deal, first put in place in 2007, was perhaps ahead of its time and appears to have paid the price periodically ever since.
Nviro renews Brighton & Hove deal
The support services specialist has secured a new four-year contract with Brighton & Hove City Council to clean a wide range of its facilities, in a deal worth potentially in excess of £10m.
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Ian Williams in 4-year Exeter win
Exeter City Council has awarded a four-year, £3.7m maintenance contract to property services provider Ian Williams.
Councils plugging 'black hole' by cutting maintenance
Research from the Local Government Association indicates that councils are covering at least £1bn of funding for school places by abandoning building projects and cutting back on maintenance.
Interserve team in 27-year waste deal
A joint venture between Interserve and Shanks Group has entered into an agreement with Derby City and Derbyshire County Councils to build and operate a new waste treatment facility in the city.
Norse preferred for Norfolk waste services
Norse Waste Solutions has signed a four-year deal with Norfolk County Council to supply waste collection services to its entire estate.
One Public Estate programme expands
Twenty councils have been selected to take part in the second phase of a programme to release excess government land and property by encouraging greater collaboration between local and central government.
Public sector comes together on property
A new joint body put together by seven West Midlands authorities looks set to take on responsibility for the management and development of their property assets.
Financial close for Stoke PFI deal
The Stoke Extra Care Housing PFI project is set to get underway as contracts were signed between Sapphire Extra Care Limited and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Vinci homes in on Caerphilly win
Caerphilly County Borough Council has named Vinci Facilities as a part of the contractor team set to transform around 10,000 homes in an investment programme worth £200m.
VINCImouchel named for Lincs deal
Lincolnshire County Council has selected a new joint venture company established by Vinci Facilities and Mouchel Ltd as preferred supplier of property-related services.
Nviro enjoying Isle of Wight stay
Contract cleaning specialist Nviro has been retained by Isle of Wight Council to provide services at a wide range of facilities, in a deal worth in excess of £200,000 per annum.
LGA calls for move to 'unified estate' model
A new study by the Local Government Association argues that public sector organisations should consider sharing facilities where a single-use approach threatens to make buildings unaffordable.
Boxing match: Derwent and West Sussex
Derwent Records Management, the document storage division of Derwent FM, has been appointed by West Sussex County Council to help it bring all of its records into a single management structure.
Vinci, Lovell and Wates in major housing deal
Sandwell Council has formally launched a new partnership that will see a £50m package of repairs and improvements delivered to 6000 council homes over the next three years.
Norse unveils latest local government jv
Norse has added another to its growing portfolio of joint venture companies with the formation of Newport Norse.
Galliford Try closes on Kent deal
Galliford Try has reached financial close with Kent County Council on the 25-year, £100m Excellent Homes for All scheme.
OCS keeping an eye on Barnet
The London Borough of Barnet has appointed OCS to install and monitor a wireless CCTV system across the town centre.
Local government sitting on £2.5bn of surplus assets
The UK local government estate includes billions of pounds of 'surplus' property assets, according to the Audit Commission. A new report argues for strategic plans to ensure all this property is being managed for best value.
Chartwells in jv with Hounslow Council
Chartwells, Compass Group UK & Ireland's specialist provider of catering to schools, academies, colleges and universities, has launched a joint venture with the London Borough of Hounslow to provide food and caretaking services.
Councils see 'end of road' on efficiency savings
Local services are likely to bear the brunt of funding cuts over the next two years according to a review of councils' financial strategies from the Local Government Association.
Osborne survives to land £235m repairs deal
Following a two-year procurement process, Dacorum Borough Council has appointed Osborne Property Services to carry out repairs; maintenance and improvement work to its council homes.
Local sharing saves millions
More than £350m of taxpayers' money has been saved by local councils sharing services ranging from social care to back-office support, according to the Local Government Association.
Mitie homes in on Kingston deal
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has awarded Mitie a new property management contract under the borough's Better Homes programme.
Five in running for Wakefield deal
Wakefield Council has shortlisted five potential partners for a new contract covering delivery of property, buildings and facilities services, including cleaning and catering.
50 ways to save £50m
Having lost almost a third of its government funding over the past three years, Warrington Borough Council has compiled a list of the steps it has taken to cut costs. A sharp focus on support services and effective procurement are up there at the top.
Miller team in North Tyneside win
The Solutions 4 North Tyneside joint venture has reached financial close on a £78m construction project to deliver over 900 homes, followed by ongoing facilities management.
Vinci extends Welsh government deal
Vinci Facilities has secured a year's extension to its multi-service contract with the Welsh government.
Harrow Green wins two-year deal in Wakefield
Wakefield Council has appointed relocation specialist Harrow Green for a two-year term following a competitive tender process through the Pro 5 framework agreement.
Devon Norse adds more Devon
The Devon Norse services partnership has been awarded more business with Devon County Council.
Cumbria joins transparency movement
Cumbria has opened a public consultation on its draft sustainable procurement strategy, inviting views from individuals, businesses and organisations to help shape the way the county council buys goods and services.
Scape plans national FM framework
Scape, the public sector procurement body, has begun development of a new national framework for delivery of facilities management services with an anticipated value of between £1bn and £1.5bn.
Hot deal in Liverpool for Vivark
Vivark, the social enterprise FM business, has secured a gas and winter boiler contract with Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council.
Mitie secures £15m deal in Sutton
The London Borough of Sutton has awarded a seven-year multi-services contract to Mitie.
Lincolnshire shortlists six
Lincolnshire County Council has confirmed the bidders in the running for a new property and facilities management contract worth between £6m and £10m a year.
London boroughs launch e-procurement system
London’s tri-borough councils have signed up to capitalEsourcing, a new platform that hosts tender information and contract bidding.
Stoke names Eric Wright consortium
Stoke-on-Trent Council has selected Sapphire, an Eric Wright-led consortium, to build, finance and operate 390 extra-care apartments in the biggest scheme of its kind for the city.
Integral sticks with Barrow
Barrow Borough Council has re-appointed Integral UK to provide mechanical maintenance services for their corporate buildings across the Furness region.
Mears wins in Manchester
Manchester City Council has achieved financial close with the S4B consortium on a £100m regeneration scheme, to be implemented via a 25-year PPP contract.
Galliford Try closes on Edinburgh deal
The construction group has added another schools build and manage contract to its portfolio.
Galliford Try preferred for 25-year Kent deal
The construction group has been appointed preferred bidder by Kent County Council on a multi-site build and maintain housing contract.
Carillion to partner Sunderland
Carillion has been selected by Sunderland City Council as the preferred bidder for a strategic partnership to deliver a range of property services essential to the city's regeneration programme.
MITIE in Southampton ECO partnership
MITIE has been awarded a contract worth an initial £30m for energy efficiency improvements to over 2000 council properties in Southampton over the next 18 months.
Lincolnshire opens search for FM provider
Lincolnshire County Council has published an OJEU notice inviting FM service providers to compete for a wide-ranging contract valued at up to £100m.
Vivark grows
Vivark, the social enterprise FM services provider, has landed a contract with Knowsley Council worth in excess of £800,000 over two years.
Kier preferred in Sheffield
Kier Services has been selected as preferred bidder for a £100m repairs and maintenance contract to be awarded by Sheffield City Council.
London boroughs pioneer joint FM solution
The Tri-borough project brings together three local councils who are targeting coordinated action on the delivery and management of FM services across a huge and diverse area.
MITIE adds second in west London
The support services group has been awarded a 10-year £177m contract with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to carry out housing repairs and maintenance.
City in second LLW move
The City of London Corporation has agreed to supplement a series of existing cleaning and catering contracts to bring them in line with the London Living Wage.
Local councils: no time for innovation
A study of 80 local authorities around the UK found their drive to be innovative in management and service delivery hampered by lack of time and capacity.
Shared service boost
Eighteen local authorities are to share £6.9m in new funding for the development of 'cutting edge' shared service projects.
Mountjoy starts first London contract
The Portsmouth-based construction and maintenance services provider has secured a four-year deal with Ealing Borough Council.
Waste authority bins outsourcing plan
The North London Waste Authority has decided to end a procurement process for long-term waste management services.
Oldham/Mouchel deal gets makeover
The Unity Partnership, a joint venture between Oldham Council and infrastructure services specialist Mouchel, has been renewed with 'significant changes'.
GPS reports positive response to FM model
The Government Procurement Service says it is 'delighted' with the positive feedback from participants at its first supplier conference focused on a proposed new Facilities Management Contracting Model.
Norse extends Great Yarmouth stay
Norse Commercial Services has renewed its long-standing partnership with Great Yarmouth Borough Council for another ten years.
Welsh focus on asset management
Millions of pounds of public money could be saved if the Welsh Government tightened up its management of its own estate, according to a new report.
Kier preferred in Aberdeen
The construction and support services group has been named preferred partner by Aberdeenshire Council for a £1.25m contract to provide repairs and maintenance services for housing stock.
JLIS books second library deal
John Laing Integrated Services has signed a five-year contract to deliver library services on behalf of the London Boroughs of Ealing and Harrow.
Mersey councils look at merging
The Liverpool City Region has launched a consultation exercise looking at whether the local councils should merge their activities in a range of policy and operational areas.
More pain to come for local government
New research carried out for Interserve has uncovered a worrying picture for the local government and healthcare sectors.
Carillion named for 10-year jv
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council has selected Carillion, in partnership with CBRE, as the preferred bidder to form a joint venture company that will be responsible for the strategic management of all the council's property services.
Government FM outsourcing climbs
The central and local government outsourced FM market has been on a growth trend which looks set to continue, though at reduced levels, through to 2016.
EMCOR completes Woking data centre
The FM provider has completed a new state-of-the-art data centre for Woking Borough Council.
London councils find energy savings
Research commissioned by the West London Alliance and carried out by built environment scientists at BRE has highlighted energy saving opportunities of up to 25% of current use.
Whitehall backs 'one estate' move
Whitehall is backing a new pilot scheme designed to encourage local councils to work with central government and other public sector organisations to share buildings and re-use or release surplus property and land.
Ashford commercialises departments
Ashford Borough Council has taken a new step in combating the impacts of austerity by creating two companies that will offer services to the private sector for a fee.
John Laing tops list at Croydon libraries
John Laing Integrated Services has been confirmed as preferred bidder to run Croydon Council's library service.
Amey bags tri-borough deal
Three London councils aiming to redefine the way local authorities operate and deliver services have awarded a £150m FM contract to Amey.
Norse confirms Medway partnership
Norse Commercial Services has signed a 10-year agreement with Medway Council, forming a joint venture company to deliver FM services.
Norland in multi-site win
Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council has appointed Norland to provide facilities management for over 500 buildings including schools, children's centres, libraries, museums, offices, storage facilities and public conveniences.
Mouchel loses out in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire County Council has decided that its current provider of integrated back-office services will have no role beyond the 2015 contract end date.
Leeds launches vast Green Deal scheme
The 11 councils that make up the Leeds City Region have launched the country's largest Green Deal scheme, a £100 million initiative designed to help domestic and non-domestic properties reduce energy bills and cut carbon emissions.
Norse and Medway team up for jv
A new joint venture company set up between Norse Commercial Services and Medway Council is currently mobilising to deliver facilities management services across the authority's property portfolio.
Latest Norse jv is Norwich
Norse Commercial Services has established a joint venture company with Norwich City Council to deliver a range of environmental services across the city's portfolio.
Lincolnshire plans new approach
Lincolnshire County Council is to replace its wide-ranging integrated back office services contract with a series of smaller, more focused deals.
Another blow for Cornwall outsourcing
The seemingly ill-fated Cornwall Strategic Partnership has suffered another setback, this time the departure of a key participant.
Whitehall launches commissioning academy
Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has unveiled plans for a new academy designed to provide public sector organisations with 'commissioning skills for the future'.
G4S three-way is off
The on-again, off-again outsourcing deal bringing together police in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire with G4S is off; this time for good.
East Sussex and Medway team up
The two councils are working on a plan to develop a shared service centre that will handle public sector communications in their region.
March review for Barnet outsourcing
Barnet Council will be in court in mid-March for arguments over whether its 'One Barnet' outsourcing strategy should go forward for a full judicial review.
Amey on board for Bucks deal
Amey has won a three-year extension to its contract with Buckinghamshire County Council to operate school bus and adult transport services.
Skanska hat trick
Skanska has secured three contracts in Scotland, with a total value of about £2 million.
Serco's Canterbury tale
Canterbury Council has renewed its landscaping and grounds contract with Serco following a competitive tender.
Norse signs Suffolk jv
Norse Commercial Services has formed a new joint venture to take over the management of the fleet of school coaches and minibuses currently run by Suffolk County Council.
Housing group buys leisure manager
Places for People, the not for profit housing development group, has acquired the local authority management specialist DC Leisure.
MITIE set to paint the town
The outsourcing specialist has landed a £30m painting contract with Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Europa seals Brent deal
The London Borough of Brent has appointed Europa on a new TFM contract worth more than £15 million.
Mears and Galliford Try share win
The S4B partnership has been appointed preferred bidder for the £100 million Brunswick regeneration scheme in Manchester.
13 for RE:FIT framework
RE:FIT, the Mayor of London's scheme encouraging public bodies to cut operational costs and energy consumption by upgrading their buildings, has named 13 contractors to its framework deal.
Shared services saving £250m
New figures from the Local Government Association show that more than 335 local authorities in England are engaged in sharing at least one service, resulting in a collective savings of almost £250m.
Kier in Lincoln win
Lincoln City Council has awarded a five-year housing maintenance contract covering 8000 homes to Kier.
Cornwall confirms 'slim' deal with BT
Cornwall Council has brought to an end, at least for now, the controversy surrounding its outsourcing strategy by voting to enter into a reduced scope partnership.
Judicial review challenge for Barnet
Specialist law firm Public Interest Lawyers has formally notified Barnet Council of the intention to seek judicial review of the One Barnet programme.
Councils need new approach to procurement
Local councils need new ways to access the innovative partnerships increasingly essential to balancing growing demand for services and changing social needs with the reality of spending cuts.
Capita wins in Barnet
The outsourcing specialist closed last week with confirmation of its second major local government contract win.
Kier in £120m Sussex win
The company has signed a 10-year environmental services deal with four East Sussex councils.
Capita seals massive Staffordshire deal
Staffordshire County Council cabinet members have voted to approve what looks set to be the outsourcing group's biggest ever contract win.
Carillion signs Birmingham green deal
The company will work with Birmingham City Council as its exclusive delivery partner to improve the energy and carbon efficiency of up to 60,000 households across the city, together with schools and other council properties.
Councils coping, but stress starting to show
Local councils successfully delivered their budgets in the last financial year, despite continued reductions in government funding. But there may be trouble on the horizon, according to the Audit Commission.
Norse in 10 year deal with Norwich
Norse Commercial Services has established a joint venture company with Norwich City Council to deliver frontline support.
Barnet decides outsourcing is the future
The London borough of Barnet is one step away from appointing Capita on a 10-year back-office services outsourcing deal, despite considerable local opposition to the concept.
Southwest hub deal closes
Alliance Community Partnerships has reached financial close on the South West Scotland hub initiative to deliver £600m of public sector infrastructure projects over the next ten years.
Glasgow's service business beats targets
Cordia, the service business owned by the City of Glasgow, has beaten its profit target by 50% despite the tough economic picture in the public sector.
BRE to advise London boroughs on carbon
The built environment group's Sustainable Communities team has been commissioned by the West London Alliance to research carbon reduction opportunities across six West London councils.
Shropshire moves ahead with 'privatisation'
Shropshire Council has confirmed that its new fully owned company will be building up its staff resources by the end of the year.
Cornwall delays outsourcing plans
An overwhelming majority of council members present voted on Tuesday to delay a proposed £300m Strategic Partnership plan.
Another twist in the Cornwall tale
The County Council, which is struggling with a decision to launch a £300m outsourcing programme, has a new leader: the same man who resigned over the issue last week.
Norse renews with Suffolk
Norse Commercial Services has renewed its joint venture agreement with Suffolk Coastal District Council for the period through to 2023.
Deputy leader resigns over outsourcing
Making the decision to outsource isn't always easy in the public sector. In Cornwall, the deputy leader of the council has resigned over the issue.
Carillion selected for Birmingham Green Deal
The support services company has been named as the preferred bidder for the Birmingham Energy Savers scheme.
LGA rejects CBI report
Responding to the CBI report calling for more public services to be opened up to competition, the Local Government Association has described the estimated savings figures as 'pie in the sky'.
Kier lands multi-site Hants contract
The company has been awarded a five-year contract to provide planned preventative maintenance and reactive facilities management services to 380 council buildings across east Hampshire.
Town Hall revolution coming
That's the prediction from local government think-tank Localis, which foresees a 'patchwork' of organisations delivering services in the future with councils managing from the centre.
Cornwall says yes to strategic partnership plan
Cornwall Council has confirmed its intention to issue formal invitations to tender for a £300m contract spanning a range of support services.
Surrey drops partnering idea
Surrey Police Authority has confirmed that it will not be going ahead with a proposed business partnering arrangement with West Midlands Police.
More trouble for Southwest One
The pioneering outsourcing contract that serves a number of public sector clients in Somerset, including the county council, is the subject of a legal dispute.
Suffolk water works deal for Vinci
Vinci Facilities has won a key contract for water hygiene works with Mid Suffolk District Council.
Government property: could do better
The Government Property Unit, established in 2010 to drive efficiency savings from the vast public sector estate, is not up to the job in its current form, according to the Public Accounts Committee.
MK to take Mouchel contract in-house
Milton Keynes Council is proposing to radically restructure a 12-year outsourcing deal in order to cut costs.
North Tyneside names two bidders
North Tyneside Council has named the preferred bidders on two packages of corporate services.
Thinking again on public sector outsourcing
In recent days Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt have both questioned the success of the private sector in supporting public sector service delivery.
Councils count shared services savings
A major new report into local authorities sharing services has quantified the benefits and feasibility of joining forces to save money.
Serco gets leisurely in Shropshire
The public sector specialist has won a 10-year deal to manage five leisure centres across the county.
Kier extends stay in Surrey
The construction to services group has won a five-year contract to provide planned preventative maintenance and reactive services to 400 council buildings across West Surrey.
LA outsourcing set to continue rising
Local authorities plan to outsource 32% of all services by 2014/15, according to research sponsored by Interserve and carried out by YouGov.
Shropshire catering goes 'sans frontières'
Shropshire Council's schools catering operation has landed 10 contracts to service schools in Walsall and Worcestershire.
Surrey quits Midlands tie-up
Surrey Police Authority has suspended its involvement in the joint Business Partnering for Police programme and says it is minded to withdraw altogether.
Public sector outsourcing set to boom
That's according to the Financial Times, which says market analysts are looking forward to 'the biggest wave of outsourcing since the 1980s'.
Southwark pulls the plug on two contracts
The London Borough of Southwark has terminated its second support services contract in as many months.
ISS scores with big grass deal
ISS Facility Services Landscaping has won a big extension to its million pound grass cutting contract with Highland Council.
Amey lands East Sussex TFM deal
Amey has signed a £7.5m total facilities management contract with East Sussex County Council.
Shropshire plans to 'privatise'
Shropshire Council has taken the decision to set up a company to take charge of the management and delivery of its support services.
Councils coping; but next year?
Fears are rising among local government Chief Executives and Leaders that one or more councils across the UK could get into serious financial difficulty or fail to deliver essential services by 2015.
Vinci lands housing deal with Harrow
Vinci Facilities has been awarded a three-month Decent Homes contract in the London Borough of Harrow.
CCC turns green spotlight on local government
The Committee on Climate Change has declared that if national carbon reduction targets are to be met, local authorities must take tougher actions in key areas, including commercial buildings.
Public sector: look harder at property
Public sector budget cuts are driving fundamental changes in the size and shape of governments around the world. As a result, a much clearer focus on property resources is required.
Hampshire agencies look at sharing
The county's council, constabulary and fire and rescue service are moving towards setting up an extensive back-office sharing operation.
Public sector growth market
It's a sure bet that the outsourcing market across central and local government bodies will grow strongly over the next several years. Is FM ready for that?
Small firms get a look at tri-borough deal
More than 130 delegates from 60 small and medium-sized businesses packed Kensington Town Hall at the end of April to explore the business opportunities that could flow from back office change at three London councils.
10 year Oxfordshire win for Carillion
Oxfordshire County Council has awarded a 10-year contract to Carillion for the provision of property and facilities management services. The move is a first in the local authority sector.
Morrison boasts £130m in new business
The public sector specialist has started its new financial year with the mobilisation of three new contracts worth in excess of £130m.
Norfolk to use Twitter for tenders
Norfolk County Council says it plans 'to tear up procurement red tape' and promote business opportunities via Twitter.
Europa arrives in Lambeth
The support services group has kicked off a one-year contract to provide technical services for Lambeth Council.
Norse signs £50m LA venture
Norse Commercial Services has added to its portfolio of local authority partnerships with the establishment of a £50m joint venture company with Wellingborough.
Sodexo lands green deal in Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council have awarded a five-year contract to Sodexo for delivery of horticultural services.
IBM props up 'failing' Somerset contract
The Southwest One multi client, multi service outsourcing deal is failing according to the leader of Somerset County Council.
Oxfordshire to outsource catering
Oxfordshire County Council is to abandon its own schools catering operation and wind the service into a property and facilities deal currently being tendered.
2012 advice for local government
The latest organisation to identify a need for pre-Olympics guidance is the Local Government Association.
SitexOrbis in security and clearing wins
The vacant property management group has won nearly £1.5m worth of contracts to secure properties and deliver specialised clearing services.
Tri-borough deal moves ahead
The three-way shared services deal taking shape in central London is set to move on another big step.
LAs turn to IT in cost battle
Local authorities across the UK are demanding more from existing and proposed IT systems as technology is increasingly seen as a key factor in managing service quality and costs against the backdrop of budget cuts.
MITIE loses out on Edinburgh deal
The group is the latest victim of a rethink on outsourcing policies, as Edinburgh councillors vote to terminate the procurement process for integrated FM with no award of a contract.
MITIE scoops Edinburgh FM deal
The outsourcing group has been named preferred bidder by Edinburgh City Council for a seven-year integrated facilities management contract.
Vote of confidence for Mouchel
Bournemouth City Council has confirmed that it will be extending its contract with the struggling support services group following an independent risk assessment.
ISS ties up Camden services deal
London's Camden Council has awarded a three-year contract to ISS Facility Services, unifying a range of services currently delivered by a variety of suppliers.
MITIE big change for Essex
Essex County Council has awarded a 10-year contract to MITIE, a deal that the company says will 'revolutionise' local authority outsourcing.
Public sector fears private sector collaboration
Public sector leaders predict a significant increase in public-private sector collaboration over the next few years, but have doubts over its likely success.
Norse in 15-year deal with Barnsley
Norse Commercial Services has completed the formation of a £45m partnership company with Barnsley Council, its second in the last 12 months.
Edinburgh pulls the plug on Enterprise deal
Edinburgh City Council has reversed its move towards an outsourced waste management strategy, saying that it has decided instead to implement an 'internal improvement plan'.
Councils coping, for now
A new report from the Audit Commission finds that most local councils are managing in the face of unprecedented reductions to their income, but warns that there is much more to come.
Hochtief appointed on Salford phase 2
Salford has awarded a Hochtief consortium the contract to plan, finance, build and operate the second phase of its Building Schools for the Future programme.
Edinburgh thinks again on outsourcing
Edinburgh city council has delayed a decision on an integrated FM outsourcing strategy in order to give more time for the development of an in-house alternative.
Vinci in 4-year social housing win
Vinci Facilities has sealed a £7.2m deal with Barrow-in-Furness for repairs and maintenance services.
Interserve extends stay in Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon has renewed its total facilities management contract with Interserve, a deal that has been in place since 2006.
Bournemouth to look hard at Mouchel
Bournemouth City Council, which already has a 10-year deal in place with the troubled service provider, is considering extending the service scope subject to a new risk assessment.
Serco extends partnership with Peterborough
Serco is set to take on a wide range of services for Peterborough City Council in a £100m, 10-year deal that adds to a £44m deal already in place.
Hampshire looks at sharing
Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire Constabulary are to investigate the potential to combine support services with the goal of saving money and protecting frontline service delivery.
ISS to keep Windsor green
ISS Facility Services Landscaping has won a four-year extension to its established partnership with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Laing O'Rourke & Atkins launch standardised school concept
In line with the government's call for better buildings and better value, the team has developed a solution using standardised building components manufactured and assembled offsite.
Essex makes MITIE preferred partner
Essex County Council has named MITIE as its preferred partner for delivering a transformational contract that includes facilities and property management as well as energy services.
Mercury lands £28m deal in Somerset
Mercury Alliance has secured a contract to provide soft FM services to Somerset County Council for up to seven years in a deal worth around £28m.
Scottish council considers the alternatives
East Lothian Council is considering transferring the delivery of a whole range of support services to a charitable trust.
Lincolnshire Police Authority shortlists two
Two bidders are set to battle it out for what is described as 'the widest range of services ever offered in a single contract by any UK Police Authority'.
MITIE signs London housing deal
Lewisham Homes has appointed the support services group to deliver £40m in home improvement works to over 13,000 social housing tenants as part of a five-year major works programme.
Ealing appoints two on housing deal
The west London borough has named Kier Support Services and Morrison Facilities Services on two five-year contracts.
Councils in joint FM deal
Cambridgeshire County Council has transferred its facilities management and IT services into LGSS, the shared service venture it operates with Northamptonshire County Council.
Cambridgeshire moves into Northamptonshire
Cambridgeshire Catering Services, a county council–owned business, has won a four-year contract to supply meals to pupils in Northamptonshire.
Shropshire plans drastic action
Shropshire County Council, in common with most other local government bodies, is looking for ways to cut costs. Big changes are on the way.
Sodexo sows seeds of success in Gosport
The foodservices and facilities management group has won a ten-year deal to provide all horticultural services for Gosport Borough Council in Hampshire.
Interserve seals 5-year Lewisham building deal
The support services and construction group has been awarded a £6.5m contract to carry out building and maintenance services for the London Borough of Lewisham.
Who's in charge here?
That appears to be a fair question when it comes to running facilities services in the City of York.
Somerset delivers verdict on outsourcing deal
Somerset County Council has published its report into the 10-year Southwest One public-private partnership deal, a year after the review was completed.
LA strategy lags behind need
Local authorities are getting to grips with the scale of the efficiency savings they need to make, but a surprising 40% do not yet have strategies in place to achieve the spending cuts required.
Norse kicks off Devon partnership
Devon Norse, the 10-year joint venture between Devon County Council and Norse Commercial Services, took over cleaning and catering at the county's schools and civic buildings from 1 June.
Byles bails
Tim Byles, CEO of Partnerships for Schools, the government agency charged with implementing the Building Schools for the Future programme, is to leave at the end of May.
Mears shows strength still in social housing
In its latest Interim Management Statement, the social housing specialist has demonstrated that the market remains comparatively strong despite occasional evidence pointing the other direction.
Outsourcing proves to be a touchy subject
Hopes of a public sector 'rush to outsource' may be misplaced according to recent reports, as the decisions required prove politically sensitive.
New briefing highlights outsourcing risks
A new report, focusing on the outsourcing of ICT services by local authorities, warns that the move comes with risks that could lead to both higher costs and loss of flexibility.
Halton to go ahead with BSF deal
The Building Schools for the Future programme may be dead, but there are still flickers of life in the contracts landscape.
Government outsourcing past its peak
Multi-service outsourcing in central and local government peaked in 2010 at a total market value of about £4.26bn, following several years of solid growth.
Westminster plans its next move
Westminster City Council is considering moving in with Big Brother; in this case, the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Compass calls for more public sector outsourcing
Group Chief Executive Richard Cousins argues that billions could be cut from public sector expenditure through more outsourcing.
Norfolk moves to Devon
Norfolk County Council's commercial support services operation is on target to launch a new joint venture company that will deliver services to Devon County Council.
Carillion closes in Nottingham
Inspiredspaces, the Carillion schools delivery group, has reached financial close with Nottingham City Council on a £12.1m PPP project.
Councils could save millions via shared services
Sharing chief executives, merging back offices and joining forces to procure goods and services will save councils hundreds of millions of pounds over the next ten years, according to the Local Government Association.
Kier confirms code blue
The construction and services group has confirmed the financial close of a £40m deal to build a series of fire stations for Gloucestershire County Council.
Bilfinger lands NI schools deal
A consortium led by the construction and engineering group Bilfinger Berger has won a £31m PPP contract to deliver two new schools in Northern Ireland.
Bury thinks the unthinkable
Bury Council has declared itself ready to question every standard local government assumption, including whether it should be directly delivering any services at all.
City plans procurement makeover
The City of London Corporation has awarded business consultants Accenture a five-year contract to help it reduce its procurement costs by creating and implementing a new system.
Shared services offer little savings
A new report from a local government think-tank argues that shared services initiatives will need to be much more innovative than they are now if they are to deliver any significant savings.
Southwest One deal to be renegotiated
The pioneering joint venture between IBM, Somerset County Council and partners is up for review as the council looks for ways to cut costs.
SitexOrbis secures NI contract renewal
The services group has retained a £3m contract to secure empty properties for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Province's largest landlord.
Balfour Beatty in £48m rescue deal
The infrastructure group has reached financial close for the North West Fire and Rescue Services PPP scheme.
Green light for Gloucestershire fire stations
Gloucestershire County Council has been given the all-clear for a PFI-funded project that will see four new community fire stations built.
Government loses BSF challenge
A High Court judge has declared that Education Secretary Michael Gove was wrong to summarily cancel the multi-billion pound Building Schools for the Future programme last summer.
Schools: need for action on energy efficiency
LessEn, the not-for-profit initiative campaigning for better energy efficiency in non-domestic buildings, has published league tables ranking schools on their performance.
Pickles presses for leaner local government
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles has called on local authorities to reduce running costs, cut carbon emissions and improve services, all through better management of their property assets.
NPS in property jv with Barnsley
Norse company the NPS Group has launched a new joint venture with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to provide property and building maintenance services to the authority and other clients in South Yorkshire.
Peterborough signs 23-year outsourcing deal
Peterborough City Council has signed up infrastructure services group Enterprise on a long-term contract covering a range of front and back office services.
Mears wins damages in Leeds dispute
Leeds Council will be ordered to pay damages to the social housing group after it was found to have breached tendering regulations.
Vinci awarded phase 2 of homes contract
Sandwell Homes has appointed Vinci Facilities on a £28m contract to provide decent homes works.
Schools challenge set for court
The legal challenge to the Government's decision to terminate the Building Schools for the Future programme gets underway in earnest this week.
Mears goes legal over Leeds tender
The social housing specialist is suing Leeds Council arguing that a lack of transparency in a tender process resulted in the group being excluded from the shortlist.
Vinci secures second schools deal
Just days after announcing completion of a long-term PFI schools deal in Wales, Vinci Facilities has signed on a similar contract in England.
Balfour Beatty closes on Herts schools
The infrastructure group has reached financial close on the £80m Hertfordshire Schools scheme.
Bucks launches efficiency review
Buckinghamshire County Council has embarked on a major review of support services, including property, facilities management and maintenance, as a part of a drive for greater efficiency and lower costs.
Caterlink confirmed for joint council contract
State education catering specialist Caterlink has been appointed to provide services to two London boroughs, following an innovative joint tender.
Galliford Try takes Orkney schools deal
Morrison, the construction group's Scottish business, has been selected as preferred bidder for Orkney Islands Council's £57m schools investment programme.
BAM closes on Camden schools deal
The BAM group has reached financial close on a £75m Building Schools for the Future programme with the London Borough of Camden.
Balfour Beatty closes on pair of schools deals
The infrastructure group says it has reached financial close on the Ealing and Oldham schools contracts, each worth £53m.
Councils told to share more services and outsource more
Confirming the obvious, that councils will have less money to spend next year, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has called for more sharing of services and more outsourcing in order to deliver savings.
Second Hackney schools deal closed
A joint venture between public sector specialist Mouchel and infrastructure group Babcock has reached financial close on Phase 2 of the Hackney Building Schools for the Future programme.
Councils to share catering but not chief execs
Two London councils have made substantial savings by jointly tendering their catering services, but a previously announced plan to merge their operations at senior level is now off the menu.
Interserve closes on St Helens BSF
The Interserve-led consortium Environments for Learning has reached financial close on a £63m schools project for St Helens Council.
BSF councils get court date
Six local councils are now challenging the Government's July decision to halt the Building Schools for the Future programme.
Carbon Trust targets public sector
Not for profit energy advisor the Carbon Trust has identified 'immediate opportunities' for the public sector to achieve net savings of £1bn through energy efficiency projects.
Serco signs with Herts
The support services group has sealed a wide ranging eight-year contract with Hertfordshire County Council in what it calls 'a ground-breaking strategic partnership'.
Bournemouth signs 10 year deal with Mouchel
More than a year after four bidders were shortlisted for a long-term 'transformation' contract, Bournemouth City Council has confirmed Mouchel as the winner.
Last one out please turn off the lights
Arguing that there are real environmental and financial consequences of lighting up workplaces throughout the night, the London Assembly's Environment Committee has launched an investigation into why lights are left on.
Barnsley BSF gets go ahead
Amidst all the cancellations and the budget cuts some good news still occasionally emerges from the previous government's flagship schools spending programme.
Agilisys partners with London borough
Barking and Dagenham Council has teamed up with the service provider on a wide-ranging seven-year contract.
Second hit for BSF
When the Building Schools for the Future programme was cancelled last July, amid considerable controversy, a series of schemes that had already been given the green light were allowed to proceed. But now they all face budget cuts.
Shared services on the agenda for three London councils
Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea have launched a project to merge key services in a bid to achieve the efficiencies demanded by a post-recessionary world.
Kier team lands 10 year deal in Chesterfield
The construction to services group has joined forces with Arvato Government Services in a partnership that will see the borough benefit from a range of financial, customer, information and property services.
Serco scoops Herts deal
Serco has been named preferred bidder for a wide-ranging contract that will deliver front and back office services for Hertfordshire County Council, and could grow from there.
Fourth council to contest BSF decision
Following hard on legal moves by Nottingham, Luton and Waltham Forest councils aimed at reversing the cancellation of their school redevelopment programmes, comes the news that Sandwell Council is moving down the same route.
LAs miss out on savings by failing to collaborate
Over two-fifths of local government organisations are missing out on millions of pounds in potential savings by not collaborating to use assets efficiently.
Sign of the times: bailing out of BSF
It's not just construction and FM companies that have been hit by termination of the Building Schools for the Future programme. Technology companies have also been hurt as investment suddenly stopped.
Pickles discovers facilities cost savings
Following an internal consultation, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has set out to cut down and cut back, making his own Whitehall department a model for others and for local government.
Nottingham goes to court over BSF cancellation
Nottingham City Council has lodged papers at Leeds Administrative Court requesting a judicial review of the Secretary of State for Education's decision to stop funding for two schools.
Southwest One unfazed by loss
The IBM-led Somerset venture, which could serve as a model for the future of service delivery to local government, has reported a year-end pre-tax loss of £16.5m.
Agilisys adds FM to Somerset services deal
IT support group Agilisys has won a 10-year contract with North Somerset Council covering a range of services including facilities management.
Still some life in schools programme
One of the few schemes to survive when the axe fell on Building Schools for the Future has reached financial close.
London council plans some changes
In yet another sign of local government's need to find new ways of doing things, Islington Council in London has confirmed that it is planning changes for both its senior staff and its cleaners.
Sign of the times: Suffolk turns to outsourcing
Suffolk County Council has adopted new policies that will see expenditure slashed by a third, coupled with a big increase in outsourcing over the next several years.
Groups weigh in on spending review
As October's Spending Review edges closer, a range of business and professional groups has started to stake out the lines they hope the government will follow.
Think creatively and think fast, LAs told
Local authorities can substantially reduce the impact of the upcoming Spending Review on their services by rethinking procurement, sharing services, being more transparent and getting maximum value for money.
Sign of the times: Somerset unveils string of cuts
Somerset, the county council that blazed new territory with its wide-ranging outsourcing strategy, has declared that its debt level is so high drastic action is needed.
Balfour Beatty takes Herts schools deal
The Building Schools for the Future programme may be all but dead, but contracts for key projects are still being awarded.
Edinburgh airs savings options
Edinburgh Council has announced that it will be considering at its next meeting, due in September, options for reducing management costs and increasing efficiencies ahead of anticipated central government funding cuts.
Morrison preferred for 10 year deal
The public sector specialist has been selected as preferred bidder by North Lanarkshire Council for the provision of housing and property maintenance services.
Willmott Dixon confirms Rotherham win
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has appointed Willmott Dixon Partnerships on a five and a half year contract covering responsive repairs to nearly 12,000 properties.
Morrison secures Rotherham housing deal
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and its ALMO, 2010 Rotherham, have awarded Morrison a repairs and maintenance contract covering over 13,000 properties.
Cofely named for Liverpool library
With the contract now signed, the redevelopment of Liverpool Central Library is finally set to get underway in one of the largest such projects in the UK.
Councils merge services
County Councillors in Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire have approved the business case and constitutional changes needed for the creation of a new shared services back office strategy.
Sign of the times: Stoke discovers catering cost
Following the appointment of a new head of procurement earlier this year, Stoke-on-Trent City Council has learned for the first time how much it actually spends on catering each year.
Sign of the times: public sector tightens up
The changing climate in public sector procurement, spending and contract management is beginning to make itself felt, as recent news reports show.
Public Accounts Committee to examine BSF
The Building Schools for the Future programme just refuses to go gently into the night.
BSF cuts bring string of problems
Education Secretary Michael Gove has faced a barrage of criticism since calling a halt to the Building Schools for the Future programme last week. Now, a leading law firm has warned of a 'mire of legal uncertainties'.
LAs start to think seriously about accommodation
With the Chancellor recently telling government departments 'to examine their assets and consider how they can be managed more effectively', it hasn't taken long for the message to trickle down to local authorities.
Sign of the times: council asks for more cost information
Bournemouth Council has reportedly put a major outsourcing programme on ice, pending receipt of more cost information as well as clarification of its own budgetary position.
BSF gets the chop
Big sections of the construction industry and somewhat smaller sections of the FM industry, along with a variety of other built environment professionals, have got the news they feared would come.
Stockton shortlists two
Stockton Council has confirmed the two contenders for its planned Building Schools for the Future deal.
Balfour Beatty confirms Oldham deal
The infrastructure group is preferred bidder for Oldham Council's ten-site Building Schools for the Future contract.
Watchdog fires a shot at PFI in housing
Having recently sounded a warning about the future management of healthcare PFI contracts, the National Audit Office is back with concerns about long-term deals on housing schemes.
Kier home and dry with two wins
Kier has won two multi-million pound contracts for housing repairs and maintenance services in central London.
Latest BSF deal to Laing O'Rourke
Local councils continue to make decisions on big schools contracts despite the shadow of doubt hanging over central government funding for the programme.
Derby confirms Balfour Beatty for schools
Balfour Beatty has been confirmed as the preferred bidder for a Derby City Council 14-site Building Schools for the Future programme.
Balfour Beatty named for Oldham schools
Amidst news that the Treasury is reviewing spending on Building Schools for the Future projects and that some contractors are thinking about disbanding their bidding teams comes another decision on a preferred supplier.
School deal confirmed
Interserve has confirmed that its Environments for Learning consortium has been named preferred bidder by St Helens Council, as reported on i-FM yesterday.
Schools decisions continue, against worrying background
Local councils are continuing to select contractors for long-term schools deals despite continued uncertainty over the future funding of the programme. There is also worrying news on the sector as a whole.
Worcestershire shortlists three for schools
There is still plenty of speculation in the marketplace about the future of the Building Schools for the Future programme but that hasn't stopped one local council's plans.
First preferred bidder named for new Scotland model
The Scottish government’s alternative approach to PFI/PPP programmes has seen its first preferred bidder named, for a project that will encompass a range of public facilities.
VT lands Surrey extension
The support services group has signed an agreement with Surrey County Council to renew a PPP contract for the provision of support services to over 400 schools.
Axe falls in Whitehall
Monday's announcement of the wide-ranging cost cutting planned by the new coalition government has been described as 'only the first step'.
London borough shortlists two for schools
Against a background of broad uncertainty over the future of central government funding, Hammersmith and Fulham Council has moved ahead with the shortlisting of two teams for a multi-school redevelopment contract.
There is still life in BSF
The new government may be looking hard at all plans for investment, but some schools deals already well advanced are continuing to go ahead.
CBI backs call for public sector outsourcing
The employers group has urged the new government to take a series of steps to re-engineer the public sector, including greater involvement of the private and third sectors.
Harrow Green books library move
With a major refurbishment project at Manchester’s Town Hall complex about to begin, Harrow Green has won the contract for decant and relocation services for the Central Library.
BAM lands Camden schools deal
BAM PPP has emerged as the winner in the two-way race to secure the London Borough of Camden's Building Schools for the Future contract.
Carillion closes on Wolverhampton schools project
Carillion has achieved financial close on the 26-site Wolverhampton Building Schools for the Future programme.
Skanska closes on Essex schools
The construction to services group has signed an agreement for the financing, design, construction and operation of three schools as part of a PFI deal with Essex County Council.
Where next for public sector outsourcing
It must have seemed like a really good idea six or eight months ago. In the run-up to a general election, the outsourcing of public services should be a hot topic for a conference.
Kier team scoops fire station project
Blue 3, a Kier-led consortium, has been named preferred bidder to design, build and maintain four new community fire stations and a life skills centre in Gloucestershire.
BB confirms Ealing win
Balfour Beatty has confirmed that it has been appointed as preferred bidder on Ealing Council's Building Schools for the Future contract, as reported on i-FM last week.
Public sector job cuts could reach 500,000
Half a million public sector jobs could be shed over the next five years as the new government begins to tackle the budget deficit.
Laing team moves ahead with Barnsley schools deal
Barnsley Council's Building Schools for the Future programme, one of the biggest in the country, has entered its second phase.
Councils think savings targets are optimistic
The efficiency target set for local authorities will require radical changes within local government, according to a recent survey of frontline decision-makers.
Balfour Beatty lands two BSF deals
Hartlepool Council has appointed the construction to services group to deliver the initial project in its Building Schools for the Future programme.
Outsourcing the delivery of public services
Post-election cuts in public sector budgets seem certain to necessitate a radical rethink about the way that government services are delivered.
Norwich contract dispute settled
Connaught has started work on a five-year integrated services contract with Norwich County Council following the resolution of a dispute about pricing and procedure.
Morrison confirmed for Thurrock deal
Thurrock Council has formally awarded a five-year housing repairs contract to Morrison Facilities Services.
Balfour Beatty takes NE Lincs deal
North East Lincolnshire Council has selected the infrastructure group as its strategic partner for regeneration, property, professional and technical services work.
Coventry shortlist down to two
Teams led by BAM PPP and Laing O'Rourke have survived the latest cut in the battle to be named preferred bidder for Coventry City Council's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Regenter takes Kirklees housing PFI
Kirklees Council has named a Regenter consortium as preferred bidder for a 30-site PFI housing contract.
Lambeth names May Gurney for BSF deal
A joint venture led by Norfolk-based construction to services group May Gurney has been appointed as the preferred bidder for the London Borough of Lambeth's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Public sector squanders money on procurement and outsourcing
That's the conclusion of a new report from the Institute of Directors, which argues that billions of pounds could be saved annually through fundamental change.
BSF schools work, study concludes
There may be some doubt about future funding for the government's flagship schools programme, but a new independent evaluation of operating facilities finds clear evidence of success as measured in raising pupil aspirations and improving behaviour.
Herts BSF contest down to two
Hertfordshire County Council has cut its Building Schools for the Future shortlist down to the final two contenders.
Doubts grow about the future of Building Schools for the Future
The government's flagship investment programme for schools has become an important business stream for a number of FM providers; but whether BSF should stay on the new-business agenda is increasingly open to challenge.
Six more BSF projects get green light
There may be some doubt about post-election prospects for the Building Schools for the Future programme, but in the meantime money continues to be allocated for new contracts.
Financial close for Hull BSF
The Hull Esteem Consortium has achieved financial close on the first phase of Hull City Council's Building Schools for the Future programme, three months after being named preferred bidder.
Court blocks Norwich contract
The High Court has issued an injunction blocking a multi-million pound maintenance contract following a dispute over the winning bid.
BAM, says Somerset
Somerset County Council has named a BAM consortium to design, build and maintain six facilities in the first phase of its Building Schools for the Future programme.
Public sector needs 'strategic transformation'
One indication of the scale of the storm expected to blow through central and local government in the coming months is the recent flurry of reports from big-name consultants defining problems and offering recommendations.
BCC alarmed by planned job cuts
Reports that councils across the UK are planning redundancies in response to the growing crisis in local government spending have been met with apprehension by the British Cleaning Council.
Two shortlisted for schools deal
Halton and Warrington Councils have named the two bidders in the running for their joint Building Schools for the Future contract.
Stockton shortlists three for schools
Stockton Council has named the three contenders for its 12-school design, build and maintain contract.
Mears gets backing for buy
Social housing specialist Mears Group has received backing for its proposed acquisition of Supporta, the home healthcare business, from virtually all shareholders.
Skanska lands Essex schools contract
Essex County Council has named Skanska as preferred bidder on the first phase of its massive Building Schools for the Future project.
MITIE secures Crawley housing deal
Crawley Borough Council has appointed MITIE to deliver reactive maintenance and void refurbishments to half of its housing stock.
Book closed at Worcester Library
The Worcester Library and History Centre PFI project, where SGP is the facilities management partner, has reached financial close.
Carillion beats Interserve to Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton City Council has named the Carillion venture inspiredspaces as preferred bidder for its 26-site Building Schools for the Future programme.
'Public sector recession' looms
Hot on the heels of this week's news that the UK has officially limped out of recession comes the warning that public sector organisations are set to face their own unique serious problems for the next several years.
Wandsworth names two BSF contenders
The London Borough of Wandsworth has narrowed its shortlist of possible partners for a 16-site Building Schools for the Future contract down to two.
Carillion in Rochdale BSF close
A Carillion team has reached financial close on the 13-school Rochdale Building Schools for the Future programme.
Balfour Beatty reaches Blackburn BSF close
The construction to services group reports that it has reached financial close on the multi-facility, multi-phase Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Councils Building Schools for the Future programme.
G4S confirms role in Greenwich FM
G4S Integrated Services will deliver facilities management and lifecycle support for phase one of the Greenwich Building Schools for the Future initiative.
Leicester commits to multi-service future
Leicester County Council, one of the largest local authorities in the UK, has concluded that the best service contracts are multi-service contracts.
MITIE team takes Cambridgeshire BSF
Following a 15-month procurement and selection process, a consortium led by specialist investor Equitix has been appointed preferred bidder on Cambridgeshire’s Building Schools for the Future programme.
Sign of the times: Essex signs eight-year deal with IBM
Essex County Council has signed up Big Blue as its strategic partner to advise on and implement big changes in both frontline and back office services.
Edinburgh confirms decision to outsource
Faced with the 'worst financial crisis in a century', Edinburgh is now expected to go out to tender for more than a dozen services early in 2010.
John Laing team takes Lambeth deal
Regenter, the John Laing/Pinnacle consortium, has been named preferred bidder for a major housing PFI project in south London.
Report calls for public sector restructuring as 'age of austerity' arrives
A new report from business advisors Deloitte argues that changing the public sector’s organisational shape and approach to service delivery is essential. Without that, pursuit of savings could lead to ineffectiveness and plummeting staff morale.
Sign of the times: Edinburgh declares the future is outsourcing
Edinburgh City Council has published a report focusing on options for better and more cost-effective ways of delivering services.
Social housing market still going strong
Two of the leading players in the UK market have reported big wins and continued confidence in future demand.
Kier scoops Barnsley housing deal
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has appointed Kier on a five-year repair and maintenance contract, replacing previous holder Inspace after a competitive pitch.
Morrison lands 10 year Kent deal
Shepway District Council has awarded a long-term multi-million pound contract to repairs and maintenance provider Morrison Facilities.
Hochtief team seals Salford and Wigan schools deal
The first phase of a unique 'cross-border' Building Schools for the Future deal has reached financial close.
Birmingham signs housing deals
Birmingham City Council has sealed a series of deals that point to the continued strength of the public sector housing maintenance market.
VT reaches close on Greenwich schools deal
The support services company has reached financial close with the London Borough of Greenwich on the initial phase of the council's Building Schools for the Future programme.
12 schools contracts get green light
Twelve local authorities across England have been given the go-ahead to rebuild or refurbish secondary schools in their area as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.
Operon extends schools deal to fit out
The Furniture, Fittings and Equipment division at the FM provider has now completed the fit-out of the first four schools in the Aberdeen Building Schools for the Future project.
BFS procurement review confirmed
Partnerships for Schools has unveiled four main areas of inquiry that will be explored as part of a procurement review designed to reduce both timescales and costs in the Building Schools for the Future programme.
Carillion scoops Rochdale schools contract
Inspiredspaces, the Carillion-led consortium, has been named preferred bidder for the Rochdale Building Schools for the Future programme.
G4S helping police again
The Forensic and Medical Services division of security to FM group G4S has landed a five-year contract with Lincolnshire Police.
Shepherd team lands Liverpool library contract
Construction, engineering and management group Shepherd has teamed up with PFI investment group Amber Infrastructure to win one of the biggest library redevelopment projects in the UK.
Back from the dead: flexible working group lives again
Nomad, the mobile and flexible working support group for public authorities and agencies, has been saved from extinction.
Serco signs Bexley environmental services deal
The London Borough of Bexley has appointed Serco to provide a range of environmental services, including refuse and recycling collection, commercial waste and street cleaning.
Morgan Sindall team takes Hull BSF
Hull City Council has selected a Morgan Sindall led consortium as preferred bidder for its Building Schools for the Future contract.
Derby shortlists two for schools contract
Balfour Beatty and Vinci Education have emerged as the final two contenders for Derby City's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Rok scoops Oldham housing deal
A Rok-led consortium has emerged as preferred bidder for an extensive PFI social housing contract in Oldham.
Morrison bags London housing deal
Morrison has won a five-year contract to provide services to a central London housing portfolio of over 9750 properties.
Housing sector outsourcing set to grow
Two new reports predict that the level of demand for bundled services and TFM contracts in the social housing sector will grow, but only in the medium to long-term.
Five chase Birmingham housing deal
Birmingham City Council is reported to have shortlisted five contenders for a major housing repair and maintenance contract.
Perfect storm lashes Transport for London
Travelling in London is certainly not going to get any better next year, and probably worse as TfL struggles to cope with 'huge financial pressures'.
Two make Ealing schools shortlist
Ealing Council has reduced the shortlist for its 20-site Building Schools for the Future programme to two.
Two make Blackpool schools shortlist
Blackpool Council has named two contenders to the shortlist for its Building Schools for the Future contract.
Blackburn schools deal goes to Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty has been appointed as preferred bidder for the Blackburn with Darwen and Bolton Councils Building Schools for the Future contract.
Wandsworth reveals BSF shortlist
The London Borough of Wandsworth has named three private sector bidders to go through to the next stage of tendering for its 16-school Building Schools for the Future programme.
Sign of the times: local government plans
Brent Council has gone public with its strategy for coping with the future. The message for service providers working in the public sector is fairly grim, but there may be some opportunities, too.
Schools programmes consolidated
October marks the transfer of responsibility for the management and delivery of all schools capital programmes to Partnerships for Schools, the body already in charge of Building Schools for the Future delivery.
BSF funding is safe: Balls
Education Minister Ed Balls has declared that the government's commitment to its flagship spending programme, Building Schools for the Future, is as solid as ever.
Norwich appoints Norse for cleaning
Norse Commercial Services has won a four-year contract with Norwich City Council for the cleaning of civic buildings.
New London cleaning jv for Norse
Norse Commercial Services, a part of the expanding support services group owned by Norfolk County Council, has launched a 10-year joint venture with the London Borough of Enfield.
Flexible working advocate folds up its tent
Project Nomad, which has spent the past six years advocating flexible working programmes to central and local government departments, has revealed that it will close down in November due to funding problems.
Only a matter of time before public sector axe falls
Business advisers KPMG say that public sector bodies, and by implication their private sector service providers, should start now to make plans for cuts in public expenditure.
Schools, health and housing deals could be combined
Tim Byles, Chief Executive of Partnerships for Schools, is talking to other funding bodies with a view to bringing health and housing procurement into the PfS domain.
Kier takes stake in Kent schools deal
Kier Group has bought Telereal Trillium's investment in Kent's Building Schools for the Future programme, extending its existing role as construction and FM supply partner.
Coventry schools shortlist confirmed
Three consortia have been shortlisted to deliver Coventry City Council's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Big guns line up for Norfolk waste PFI
Norfolk County Council has shortlisted four contenders for a new PFI waste treatment contract, drawing some familiar names into the running.
School contracts attract fire
Schools Secretary Ed Balls has been thrown on the defensive following criticism about the pace and cost of the government's Building Schools for the Future programme levelled by Shadow Secretary Michael Gove.
Kier lands North Tyneside deal
North Tyneside Council has appointed Kier on a 10-year repair and maintenance deal for its social housing stock and other council-owned property.
Regulators should push sustainability agenda, commission says
The government's independent sustainability watchdog has declared that public service regulators for schools, hospitals, primary care trusts and local councils have a vital role to play in creating a sustainable future.
Costain team closes on Bradford schools contract
A Costain-led consortium has reached financial close on phase 2 of the Bradford Building Schools for the Future programme.
Oldham reveals schools shortlist
Oldham Council has confirmed the names of the two bidders for its Building Schools for the Future programme.
Financial close for Birmingham schools deal
Catalyst Lend Lease has reached financial close on its Building Schools for the Future contract with Birmingham City Council.
Boots may walk over parking charge
Nottingham Council's plan to introduce a charge on workplace parking spaces has drawn fire from one of the city's largest employers.
Herts BSF list down to three
Hertfordshire County Council is reported to have narrowed its list of contenders for a massive schools deal to three.
Carillion and Robertson get good news on schools
Rochdale took time out today from erecting its Christmas lights (apparently it's cheaper to put them up now than it will be later) to confirm that Carillion has won its Building Schools for the Future contract.
New local government adviser sets up shop
The Local Government Association and Partnerships UK have launched a new joint venture that will advise local public bodies on the delivery of improved services and infrastructure.
Back to the drawing board for Portsmouth BSF deal
Portsmouth City Council, not satisfied with the pitches it was receiving for its proposed Building Schools for the Future contract, has decided to take a different approach.
Carillion signs on Durham schools deal
Inspired Spaces, the Carillion-led consortium, has signed contracts with Durham County Council establishing a 10-year partnership that will ultimately take in work on 44 secondary and special schools.
Stoke names two for schools contract
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has named two bidders to deliver its £250m Building Schools for the Future programme.
Recession: good or bad for council outsourcing?
New figures show that town halls have been hit by a huge fall in income over the past two years. The scale of the decline may also hit the prospects of outsourcing partners hoping to do more business in the public sector.
Schools market shows signs of strain
Are contractors and service suppliers losing interest in the flagship government investment programme Building Schools for the Future?
Council calls in NPS for asset management
Waveney District Council has teamed up with the NPS Group to form a partnership aimed at transforming local asset management operations.
Local authorities unprepared for outsourcing risk
UK local authorities are turning to outsourcing and partnership activity at an unprecedented rate, despite the fact that senior managers and even risk officers often feel ill-equipped to manage the resulting risks.
First workplace parking levy scheme to be introduced
The highly controversial workplace parking scheme, first pitched by Nottingham City Council in September 2007, has now been approved.
Interserve consortium seals Sandwell deal
The Interserve-led consortium Environments for Learning has achieved financial close on the Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Building Schools for the Future contract.
Western Isles looking for schools team
Western Isles Council is seeking expressions of interest from prospective construction and FM contractors for its planned schools redevelopment project.
Wandsworth gets the green light for major schools plan
Following confirmation of government funding approval, the London Borough of Wandsworth is to move ahead with its multi-million pound Building Schools for the Future programme.
Derbyshire signs BSF deal
Investment group Equitix is set to move ahead with the first phase of Derbyshire County Council's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Chartwells renews £6.5m Lewisham deal
Compass Group's education division, Chartwells, has secured a new contract for schools catering in the London Borough of Lewisham.
Derby names three to shortlist
Derby Council has revealed the three names on its shortlist for a £220m Building Schools for the Future contract.
Government wants local authorities to get into the services business
The Communities Department has kicked off a consultation exercise aimed at extending the power to all local authorities to set up in business, selling services on a commercial basis. The result could bring more competition to the facilities marketplace.
Bradford looks for better use of its buildings
Bradford City Council has launched a new strategy to improve the use of its accommodation portfolio through moves, flexible working and enhanced facilities management.
Wigan confirms start on Hochtief project
Work on Wigan's new showpiece library and swimming pool is on course to start in January, the council says.
Councils count cost of old building stock
Real estate adviser DTZ has surveyed local authorities across the UK about their property portfolios and found that, despite the pace of change accelerating, the state of ageing buildings is impacting on costs and productivity.
Local government feels the pinch
The economic slowdown has left town halls having to find more than a billion pounds of savings over the next three years to safeguard local services and keep council tax down, according to the Local Government Association.
215 local authorities working to cut energy bills
The Carbon Trust is working with almost half of the UK's 468 local authorities to assess the risks and opportunities posed by climate change and develop robust strategy to reduce carbon footprints over a five to ten year period.
Scotland leads on shared services
The future for FM and other key support functions within the Scottish public sector looks like sharing of resources across a number of client organisations.
Where's the joined up thinking on green schools?
A local council leader has warned the environmental criteria being applied in the multi-billion pound Building Schools for the Future programme doesn't square with the government's ambition to see all new schools achieve zero carbon status by 2016.
Sustainable procurement kit launched
A new toolkit designed to help public sector spenders make more sustainable purchasing decisions has been launched by Forum for the Future.
Manchester: perhaps you'd like an FM academy instead?
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has tried to soften the bad news with some good. But it doesn't appear to have gone down too well.
Public sector gets corporate services benchmarking
A new benchmarking service has been launched for public and independent sector organisations targeting regular assessment of corporate services performance.
Exeter to test contractors' green credentials
Exeter City Council has launched 'The Green Accord', a self-assessment test requiring suppliers of services or products to the council to commit to eco-friendly practices.
Panel backs London renewables plan
An independent panel appointed to examine proposed alterations to the London Plan has endorsed plans by the Mayor to double the onsite renewable energy requirements for new buildings from the 10% target in the current Plan.
Leeds sets out green development requirements
All major developments in Leeds could soon have to be more sustainable and eco-friendly if proposals drawn-up by Leeds City Council are given the go-ahead.
London to get tough on climate change
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has set out a comprehensive plan to cut the capital's carbon emissions. Public and private sector employers, responsible for a third of the total emissions, are a key focus of actions designed to deliver change.
Public sector gets serious about risk management
Risk management continues to grow in importance within local authorities according to a new survey from ALARM, the National Forum for Risk Management in the Public Sector.
LDA moves to enhance recycling
The London Development Agency is investing £3m into the recycling sector in London, through its 'enhance' business support programme.
LGA declares war on dustbins
The Local Government Association, which represents more than 400 councils in England and Wales, has launched a 'war on waste' campaign, as new figures are show that Britain dumps more waste into landfills than any other country in the European Union.
Local councils on front line of climate change fight
Local authorities are at the forefront of the UK's efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions, according to Climate Change Minister Ian Pearson.
Bring Tube work back in-house, union says
London Underground infrastructure work should be brought back in-house, the biggest union involved, the RMT, says.
CABE offers advice on public sector buildings
CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, has published new guidance designed to help public sector organisations secure better buildings and get the most from them.
This story takes the biscuit
It's one challenge after another for most FMs - and when the issue is tea and biscuits, things can get messy.
Norwich joins wireless movement
The largest community wireless broadband network in the UK goes live in Norwich today, offering free mobile internet access for public sector employees, the business community and the general public.
Embrace flexible working, local authorities told
The director of a government-backed project on mobile working has called on local councils to change their cultures and trust staff to work remotely.
Audit Commission labels Bradford procurement process 'weak'
The district auditor has unveiled a public interest report commissioned to examine allegations of 'significant weakness' during the procurement of a £1.2bn asset management project by Bradford Council.
Morrison/Capita Symonds joint venture praised
The Urban Vision joint venture partnership between support services company Morrison and multi disciplinary consultancy Capita Symonds has been praised by government inspectors.
Report finds overwhelming support for shared services in local government
A report looking at over a quarter of the local authorities in the UK has revealed that more than half plan to implement a shared services strategy in the next year.
Morrison providing emergency support in Birmingham
Morrison Facilities Services is working with Birmingham City Council to support disaster teams in the aftermath of the freak tornado that devastated part of the city last Thursday.
Swansea caught in outsourcing battle
Swansea Council is locked in a dispute with its IT staff over a £100m outsourcing project. The union involved is threatening the prospect of a strike across other services.
Kier wins praise for local government work
Kier Sheffield LLP and Kier Building Maintenance have been acknowledged in the run up to this year's Municipal Journal Government Achievement Awards 2004, in the Public Private Partnerships 'Achievement of the Year' category.
Interserve transfers Liverpool housing contract
Interserve has transferred its housing maintenance contract with Liverpool City Council to Enterprise, taking a £5.5m hit on its 2003 operating profit.
Sovereign Capital acquires outsourced leisure centre operator
In its fifth deal this year, Sovereign has completed the £14m acquisition of DC Leisure Management - the second largest operator of UK local authority leisure centres. DC Leisure is also a leading contractor in the emerging leisure PFI market.
New procurement strategy for local government
Local government, which collectively spends £40bn a year on goods and services, has been given a new route-map intended to deliver real improvements within the next three years.
Local authorities set to outsource property portfolios
Government pressure on UK local authorities to increasingly manage their property assets more efficiently could see a tidal wave of outsourcing opportunities flood the market claims DTZ.
Livingstone's London plan passes penultimate test
The Mayor of London's draft London Plan has been endorsed by an independent panel. It will now go to the Secretary of State for final approval.
Carillion preferred for £80m LIFT
Carillion has been appointed preferred bidder for the development, construction, facilities management and financial backing for doctors' surgeries and other primary care facilities across Birmingham and Solihull.
Islington sells commercial property to developer for £38m
The London Borough of Islington has sold a portfolio of 43 commercial properties to property investment and development group Derwent Valley Holdings for a total consideration of £37.8m, before costs.
Private sector investment plan for Rotherham
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council has struck a 12-year £150m deal with BT to revolutionise its operations.
Two-tier workforce policy criticised
The government has taken steps to end the so-called two-tier workforce that can be a side-effect of PPP contracts. But the CBI is not happy about it.
City floats business rate rise for security
The Corporation of London is proposing a 1% premium on business rates in the Square Mile to fund extra security measures.
Sandwell council selects Atkins for school transport plans
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has appointed Atkins as preferred consultant for school PFI transport assessments and travel plans.
Amey loses preferred bidder status on outsourcing deal
A local authority has rescinded Amey's preferred bidder status for an outsourcing deal worth up to £375m because it cannot deliver key elements of its original bid.
Interserve signs maintenance contract with Slough
Interserve has finalised its contract with Slough Borough Council for the management and delivery of maintenance and repair services, worth around £130m.
Byers to review Best Value regime
Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has announced a three month review of the Best Value regime for local authorities aimed at improving the quality of services.
FMGC launches local government FM research
The Facilities Management Graduate Centre (FMGC) at Sheffield Hallam University is seeking participation from local government staff to understand what customers of FM services really want.
Stage one of London Plan launched
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has launched the policy directions for the London Plan, which is set to shape the city over the next 20 years. This is the first stage of three towards the creation of the London Plan.
Report slams Welsh Assembly costs
The spiralling construction costs of the Welsh National Assembly in Cardiff Bay have been heavily criticised in a report as grossly under-estimated".
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Case study: Castleview Low Carbon Transport Hub
Delivering sustainable transport infrastructure for a net zero future – OCS reports.
Government FM deals fall again in Q4 2023
UK government awarded 183 contracts relating to facilities management in Q4 2023, worth a total of £184m.
Q3 sees over £1bn in FM contracts
The UK government awarded 274 contracts relating to facilities management in Q3 2023, worth a total of £1.1b.
Market insight: public sector contracts climb
Across the public sector 263 contracts relating to facilities management were awarded in Q2 2023, worth a total of £2.5b.
Market insight: public sector contract values down
The UK Government awarded 419 contracts relating to facilities management in Q1 2023, worth a total of £418mn.
Market insight: public sector procurement falls again
The UK government awarded 357 contracts relating to facilities management in Q4 2022, worth a total of £312mn.
Market insight: public procurement up in second quarter
The UK Government awarded 321 contracts relating to facilities management in Q2 2022, worth a total of £872m.
Market insight: FM procurement falls in Q1 2022
The UK government awarded 264 contracts relating to facilities management in Q1 2022, worth a total of £360 million.
Market insight: Public FM procurement hits £5bn in 2021
The UK government awarded 252 contracts relating to facilities management in the fourth quarter of 2021, worth a total of £445m.
Market insight: 292 public sector contracts in Q3
This is the third in a quarterly series of updates exclusively for i-FM from Tussell, the public sector procurement experts.
Enhancing the value of facilities management
Baskar Sundaram looks at the changing face of public sector FM procurement, as evident in the upcoming Crown Commercial Service framework.
UK government facilities management contracts: Q2 2021
This is the second in a quarterly series of updates exclusively for i-FM from Tussell, the public sector procurement experts.
UK government facilities management contracts: Q1 2021
This is the first in a quarterly series of updates exclusively for i-FM from Tussell, the public sector procurement experts.
Councils are doing it for themselves
Cornwall Council was an early adopter in setting up a wholly-owned FM operation; and Cormac is now winning third-party business. Fiona Perrin reports on the model.
Next Gen CCS Framework: an FM opportunity
As the market prepares itself for the government's next-gen FM CCS framework, Baskar Sundaram helps providers ascertain if the framework is the way forward for them.
Bidding in the public sector
Looking for public sector contracts? Nicola Bramwell explores some of the common pitfalls for bidders and offers advice on ways to avoid them.
The energy pay-off
How can local authorities use energy performance efficiency improvements to create savings at a time of public sector austerity? Bouygues Energies & Services' Michael Still and Miles Messenger discuss the initiatives that can make this happen.
A Tri-borough Transformation
Last month, the architects of the Tri-borough deal, a new TFM contract that will service three London boroughs, were presented with the BIFM Board Social and Economic Impact Award. Simon Iatrou sat down with them before their win to find out more.
Public Perceptions
At a time when government cuts make front-page headlines, it is easy to forget that facilities managers are on the frontline making the difficult decisions.
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Rethinking FM: a strategic asset for local authorities
As local authorities navigate an increasingly complex landscape, from decarbonisation and digital transformation to shifting public expectations, the way public estates are managed is becoming a critical part of the conversation.
The people factor
The UK public sector faces growing skills shortages, putting critical services, infrastructure and sustainability goals at risk.
Perfect timing for a LATCO?
Maria Warner highlights how the waste sector has benefitted from a new hybrid business model in Oxford. Are there lessons here for FM more generally?
Outsourcing in the public sector: a social commitment
The Public Service Act (Social Value) 2012 puts social value at the heart of commissioning, ensuring that authorities consider the wider economic and environmental benefit that they can achieve when buying goods and services. The Act became law in 2013.
Public sector panacea
In our post-recessionary climate the general market wisdom has often seemed to be that the public sector would provide significant growth prospects for the outsourcing community.
No sector can afford to think it's better than another
As the post-Olympics row about public sector outsourcing simmers on, Sodexo's Phil Hooper calls for balanced thinking.
Public sector challenge
In the 10 seconds or so that it takes you to read this sentence, it is a fact that the public sector will be spending in the region of £100,000 on outsourcing.
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