Member Article

JDP sets its sight on healthcare boom after NHS Framework success

A Bridgnorth architect’s growing reputation in the healthcare sector has helped beat off competition from larger rivals to take its place on a NHS Framework.

Johnson Design Partnership (JDP), which employs eight people at its offices in Station Lane, is one of just eight practices to be approved by the Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Hospitals Trust.

This agreement allows JDP to be selected for a range of projects every year, including hospitals and medical centres across Birmingham, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire.

It caps a remarkable year of growth in the healthcare sector, with the firm currently involved in contracts worth more than £2.1m and involving the design of a simulation suite, tuberculosis clinic and a groundbreaking transport and discharge suite.

The practice is also leading the way in a number of ongoing maternity refurbishments and feasibility studies on patient circulation routes.

Vic Johnson, Founder of Johnson Design Partnership, explained: “This is the second time we have been awarded on to a significant NHS Trust Framework tender and, with 180 companies taking part, the competition was fierce.”

He continued: “I’m delighted to say we were chosen as one of the eight architects and we believe we may be the only one in Shropshire. This puts us in an ideal position to win future projects that will be awarded between June 2013 and May 2015.”

Johnson Design Partnership’s technical expertise and its ability to use uplifting design to create stunning new environments, retail spaces and in developing practical solutions to boost treatment and wellbeing were well received by the panel.

To date, several prestigious hospitals in London and the Midlands have all been recent beneficiaries of the JDP approach.

Andy Brierley, Contracts Manager at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, commented:

“The Framework currently covers eight Trusts, including Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Hospitals, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Hospital.

“All member organisations can directly award a contract or carry out a mini competition between the approved companies, which basically ensures a high quality and faster response to critical design and build projects.”

He concluded: “The Framework is available for other NHS bodies across the Midlands area to access for a small fee.”

Vic concluded: “Securing such a tremendous endorsement will hopefully raise our brand in the Midlands and lead to other high profile opportunities.

“If we continue to win projects, there will definitely be the need to take on new skilled people to cope with the additional demand.”

Johnson Design Partnership, which is ISO9000:2000 and ISO14001 accredited, offers a complete project management service from feasibility work and planning to detail design, project monitoring and contract administration.

In addition to work in healthcare, it also boasts a proven track record in ‘grand designs’, commercial and industrial, education, retail and landmark infrastructure projects.

For further information, please visit www.johnsonltd.co.uk or contact 01746 768191. You can also follow @jdpltd on twitter.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .