WS Atkins awarded £120m FM contract

WS Atkins has been awarded a £120 million four-year facilities management contract by the Employment Services. The award is one of the largest facilities management contracts ever let by a Government department. The contract will involve the management of nearly 1,000 Employment Service properties, including all the Job Centres in the south west, Midlands, north of England, Scotland and Wales and all headquarters' offices in Sheffield.

The management contract will be a major public/private sector partnership initiative through to 2002. The contract may be extended for a further four years.

The scope of services includes: provision of a central help desk service, staffed 24-hours a day; design of all modifications, extensions and management of all new building projects; and improving the efficiency of outside contractor services to the Employment Service.