Member Article

Sheffield maintenance firm Kier wins £102 million contract

A Sheffield-based company has won a major contract worth around £102 million.

Kier Services has been appointed to provide the repairs and maintenance service to Sheffield City Council tenants and around 2,200 leaseholders for the next three years, with an option to extend this term by a further two years.

The contract is currently delivered by Kier Sheffield LLP, a joint venture formed in 2003 between Sheffield City Council and Kier, but it is due to expire at the end of March.

The new contract with Kier Services covers emergency repairs and general maintenance as well as repairs to gas and electrics, heating, lifts and stair lifts to council housing as well as the maintenance of un-adopted highways, footpaths and car parks.

Although a short term contract, the new arrangement is based on a partnership to support the Council’s longer term aim to transfer the service into a wider integrated housing management service.

The Kier call centre staff will be transferred into the Council by 1 April 2014 and this is intended to be part of a seamless handover, with no changes in the way tenants can report or enquire about repairs.

Kier intends to make further improvements to the repairs and maintenance service in a number of areas, including better use of technology for community technicians, and move to a community-based delivery model to offer improvements through smarter working, lower transport costs and reduced carbon emissions.

Councillor Harry Harpham, the Council’s cabinet member for homes and neighbourhoods said: “We went through a thorough tendering process and Kier was chosen as the preferred bidder against three other major companies.

“Discussions have taken place to agree all the details of the contract before we were in a position to sign the new contract. This will provide welcome continuity for Council house tenants who have been used to the service provided by Kier in the last few years.

“This will also retain much-needed local employment and new training opportunities for young people in the city.”

Kier regional operations director, Phil Oades added: “We are delighted to continue working alongside Sheffield City Council, helping to achieve the objectives and aspirations for the city, its tenants and residents, and contributing to the local economy.

“Our intention is to combine the best skills, practices and innovations from our 11-year partnership and develop a fresh, more efficient service with greater benefits for tenants and the wider communities.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .