Contractors go back to school

Partnerships for Schools has just advertised the new £4bn, four year framework for academy schools, amid hopes the SME and regional contractors will benefit.

The original four-year framework deal expires in 2010 and is made up of contractors Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Skanska and Willmott Dixon.

This time, Construction News reports on its website that the framework will be split into two geographical areas: The North and Midlands, and the East of England and South. PfS is looking for up to 12 contractors for each region.

Contract Journal writes that the new framework opens up work opportunities fro SMEs and regional contractors., following hard lobbying by the regionals.

Duncan Rarity, head of national frameworks at Shepherd, told Contract Journal that non-national contractors had a lot to offer. “Medium-sized contractors can work more efficiently with a local authority than bigger operators. This will help deliver best practice and best value for the framework.”

Schools minister Jim Knight has announced that £499m due to be spent on school modernisation projects in 2010/11 has now been brought forward to this financial year, as reported in Construction News.

In addition, the headteachers of every school in England will share another £390m of capital funding for use on small projects such as fitting out school halls.

Laing O’Rourke plans to take on an extra 200 apprentices this year with plans for 800 more places across its supply chain, in a move that responds to the government’s plans to make local authorities and BSF contractors take on additional trainees.

Speaking to Contract Journal, an O’Rourke insider said: “We have seized the initiative on this one, and it must be an advantage in the light of the government’s statement on apprentices for education jobs.”