Miller reviews PFI work after director leaves

It is understood that Robin Scowcroft, who was formerly director of PPP at Miller, left his post at the start of this year. The commercial director involved in education PFI, Ian Waterland, is also understood to have gone.

The departures are part of what is believed to be a reduction in the amount of PFI work undertaken by the firm, which until now has had a significant presence in the market.

In December it was appointed preferred bidder on a £325m Building Schools for the Future contract in Leicester.

A source close to the company said it was struggling to justify the expense of bidding for PFI contracts, which have come under heavy criticism over bid costs and the length of the bid process.

The source said: “Particularly in education the company was bidding for many more contracts than it was winning,” he said. When you look at it like that, it’s a costly process.”

In education, the company was bidding for many more contracts than it was winning

Source close to Miller Group

Alan Scott, the finance director, will now lead the PFI team.

The move follows a period of turmoil for family-owned Miller, the UK’s 14th largest contractor. Last year it was hit by a dispute among its owners, when former chairman James Miller, the cousin of chief executive Keith Miller, led a group of rebel shareholders attempting to sell the firm.

A Miller spokesperson said: “Miller Construction has an excellent track record in the PFI sector, and the company remains firmly committed to PFI.

“We have recently restructured our PFI division and appointed Alan Scott, our finance director, as head of the PFI team to give it more focus as we move forward.”