Mitie, the FTSE 250 strategic outsourcing company, has been recognised at this year’s PFM Awards for its facilities management partnership with Essex County Council.
Essex County Council has experienced much-publicised pressures on public sector expenditure, resulting from the economic downturn. The authority has embarked on a transformational programme that has already saved more than £340m across the entire council and estimates to deliver a further £215m over the next three years. The innovative property and FM partnership with Mitie is a key element in this strategy, having already delivered a sustainable £3.1m revenue to date.
The ten-year contract with Mitie employs over 500 people across 350 sites, self-delivering a range of services including building maintenance, estates management, cleaning, security, catering, waste management and mail & distribution services.
As part of the relationship, Mitie has supported a strong community engagement programme, including launching a fully accredited apprenticeship scheme, hosting World of Work days for over 300 Essex pupils, and creating “Essex Unite” in partnership with Jobcentre Plus and the Essex Coalition for Disabled People to provide 15 new work placements for adults with disabilities.
The PFM judging panel recognised the strong working partnership between Mitie and Essex County Council, as well as partners, Lambert Smith Hampton and Atkins.
Sam Greenwood, Business Innovations and Change Manager for Mitie’s Essex County Council contract, was also recognised as a finalist for the FMA Young Manager Award.
Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive of Mitie, said:
“I’m delighted that our successful partnership with Essex County Council has been recognised as industry leading. This contract marks a transformation in local authority outsourcing, and we look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional service over the long-term.”
Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transformation and Corporate Services, Cllr Derrick Louis, said:
“We are delighted to see that the first two years of the ECC and Mitie partnership have been recognised with such a prestigious award. We always envisaged that this would be the first of a new breed of contract arrangement whereby partnership, transparency and shared aims and values would be at the heart of the working relationship.
“We have challenged the ‘old’ view of ‘contractor/client’ and created a partnership where trust, openness and joint working are central to success.”
Mitie was also shortlisted in the ‘Partners in Secure Facilities’ category for its partnership with Sellafield.
For further information, please contact:
Mitie
Erica Lockhart, Head of Corporate Affairs, Mitie Group PLC
T: 0203 123 8179
E: erica.lockhart@mitie.com
Francesca Litchfield, Corporate Affairs Manager
T: +44(0)20 3123 8677
E: francesca.litchfield@mitie.com
