Kier scoops £1bn local authority framework role

Kier has has secured the sole contractor role to deliver the local authority-controlled Scape National Minor Works framework, valued at up to £1bn over the next four years.

Despite the firm’s falling public sector workload - from around three-quarters of its construction activity to around half in the space of a year according to its latest results - it said it expected to maintain a “good proportion” of work funded by the taxpayer thanks to the appointment.

Scape is a local authority controlled company focused on new build and refurbishment and employing standard designs.

From the end of this year, Kier will be carrying out an estimated 2,500 projects valued under £500,000 and more than 350 projects valued between £500,000 and £2m with projects including work on schools, town halls, leisure and community buildings, police and fire stations.

Kier Group chief executive Paul Sheffield said: “We are delighted to have been selected as Scape’s delivery partner for our unique approach. Delivering through our nationwide network of local offices means we can create work for local SMEs who in turn can offer local employment and apprenticeship opportunities. This, coupled with our national buying power and resources, will ensure that our local authority clients get value for money on all our Scape Minor Works projects, invigorating local economies, benefitting the SME supply chain and the local communities where we work.”

Mark Robinson, chief executive at Scape added: “This is Scape’s first £1bn framework and the only one in the UK to deliver a national offering for projects up to £2m. At a very challenging time for public sector budgets this framework has been created to help drive down building procurement costs to help maximise savings.”