Boots man lands schools capital role

A senior figure from the property arm of retailer Boots has been chosen to head up the government’s schools capital programme, Building has learnt.

Mike Green, head of storecare at Alliance Boots Property, has been appointed director of capital at the Education Funding Agency (EFA) - the new executive agency of the Department for Education, the EFA has confirmed, with the appointment expected to be announced later today.

The Capital Directorate, one of four directorates within the EFA, will be responsible for managing the delivery of capital programmes, including the flagship Priority School Building Programme, which has been hit by delays and the academies programme.

The EFA, which launches in April, replaces Partnerships for Schools and the Young People’s Learning Agency

The role will be part of the senior team of the EFA under the leadership of Peter Lauener, the EFA’s chief executive designate.

In his role at Boots, Green was responsible for all aspects of maintaining the company’s estate of more than 3,000 buildings nationwide.

He has over 10 years of experience of leading and delivering large multi-site construction, with his role covering areas including design, funding, procurement, development as well as the aftercare phases of building programmes, the EFA said.

The EFA said Green had managed a major property transformation of the Boots estate following the firms merger with Alliance, with the project delivered ahead of schedule and significantly under budget.

This involved leading a team drawn from across the two businesses to oversee a programme of re-branding existing premises and opening 1,000 new stores. At the peak of activity around 25 new stores opened each week, the EFA said.

Green was also involved in the delivery of the company’s flagship £15m Oxford Street store and has also developed and implemented a new maintenance service for the Boots estate.

Peter Lauener, EFA chief executive designate, said: “The EFA’s director of capital will need the drive, innovation and enterprise necessary to lead a team delivering the capital aspects of the government’s ambitious education reforms and ensure value for the taxpayers’ money.

“With a background in civil engineering, experience of leading a major transformation programme, and first-hand knowledge of many areas of significance for EFA business, the appointment panel was unanimous that Mike will be an excellent member of the EFA senior leadership team.”

Green said: “I am very excited about joining the capital team within a new organisation which is directly contributing to improving the lives and futures of young people across the country.”

Before joining Boots in 2000, Mike worked for various civil engineering contractors including Mowlem, AF Budge and Thyssen.

Simon Lucas, head of education at EC Harris, said Green’s appointment, from a retail background, was “very interesting”.

“It displays a degree of innovative thinking and I’m pleased to see they are involving a broader church of people,” he said.

He said he expected Green’s background in retail, with experience of economies of scale and rolling out major programmes, would help with the government’s “better, faster and cheaper” agenda.

“The fact is there are few people in the public sector actually able to do that,” he said.