Wakefield Council has welcomed two new specialist providers for some of its property and facilities functions.
Robertson has been awarded the contract for the Council’s facilities management function. It is one of the largest family-owned construction, infrastructure and support services business in the UK.
Gleeds will be handling the Council’s Professional Services functions. Gleeds is an international property and construction consultancy, with significant local government experience.
The new approach began on 31st October, when the contract with Equans came to an end after seven years.
Cllr Les Shaw, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources and Property, said: “We are pleased to confirm our new partnerships with Robertson and Gleeds. We welcome their expertise to help us deliver the transformation of our property and facilities management services.
“This new approach will give us the control and flexibility we need, whilst also benefitting from the knowledge and expertise of specialists in these areas.”
The Facilities Management contract awarded to Robertson refers to the physical structures and covers the building services for the Council’s estate, as well as providing a 24-hour facilities management Help Desk. This contract provides these services to schools, if they choose to buy them.
Adrian Mole, Managing Director at Robertson Facilities Management, said: “As the selected delivery partner for all hard services, our focus will be on ensuring that Wakefield Council has an excellently maintained estate that will provide occupants with high-quality environments.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the new employees, who will bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge of the council’s estate. This previous knowledge will be a huge benefit to Team Robertson as we deliver best in class, transformation services.”
The Professional Services contract awarded to Gleeds provides the resources needed to deliver big infrastructure projects, like the ones in the Council’s capital programme. This contract provides the specialist services needed for this type of project: architectural design, project procurement, contract management. It can also be used for bigger building services jobs, but it is in the Council’s control to make this decision on a project-by-project basis which provides flexibility and value for money.
Paul Mann, North England Regional Director for Gleeds, said: “Gleeds’ work in partnership with central and local government agencies such as DfE, Homes England, and locally, West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and North England will stand us in good stead to take on Wakefield Council’s Professional Services functions over the next three years.
“Our focus will be on delivering value for money property solutions, with a significant commitment to social value for the local community.
“Welcoming new employees means we can combine vital local knowledge and experience with Gleeds’ own expertise and strength in depth. We have embedded a PMO team into Wakefield One Council offices, and we look forward to getting started on delivering the first of the Capital Delivery Programme priority projects in the months ahead.”
The services that have come back inhouse includes the soft facilities management services, which deal with the day to day running of buildings. This team also works on logistics, the delivery of planned projects and looks after the sale, leasing and tenancy of Council buildings and any acquisitions the Council makes.
