Scottish Borders Council today announced the Amey consortium Scottish Borders Education Partnership as preferred bidder for its schools regeneration programme.
The 30-year contract, worth £58m to Amey, will commence in August 2008. Amey’s partners in the consortium include Bilfinger Berger BOT, the lead sponsor and promoter and Graham Construction which will undertake the design and build element of the project, which is due to start later this year.
Amey has also recently been awarded Bradford’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme, the £250m PFI contract by Northamptonshire County Council and the recently announced Clackmannanshire Education Partnership consortium.
The Scottish Borders project will involve the design, build, finance, and operation/life cycle in three new secondary schools. Amey will be responsible for the facilities management of the new schools, providing services including; building and grounds maintenance, security, caretaking and cleaning.
Mel Ewell, Chief Executive of Amey said: “This Scottish Borders project is an exciting one for Amey and an important part of our commitment to the education sector. To be confirmed as the Preferred Bidder for our fifth schools regeneration programme in Scotland, our second in 2006 so far, is a great achievement. Amey is delighted to be contributing to the transformation of education facilities and the benefits this will bring to pupils and teachers.”
The project, which involves the TUPE transfer of approximately 45 staff will see the handover of the schools on a phased basis from January to July 2008 during which operational services will commence at each school.
Notes to the Editor
Amey
Amey is a leading provider of integrated business and infrastructure services to the public and private sector and is working closely with central and local government to develop major projects, including PFI and PPP projects, in the education, health, transport and defence sectors. Services range from the management of large scale transportation infrastructure to the delivery of professional and back office services, all of which are underpinned by leading-edge technology and a genuine partnering philosophy. Since 2003, Amey has been part of Grupo Ferrovial, one of the largest services and construction groups in Europe.
Schools
The names of the three schools involved in the initiative are; Berwickshire, Earlston and Eyemouth High Schools.
In February, Amey was named as Preferred Bidder as part of the Clackmannanshire Education Partnership consortium. A 30-year contract worth £60m, the Clackmannanshire contract will also involve the rebuild of three secondary schools; Alva Academy, Alloa Academy and Lornshill Academy.