Bristol-based MITIE, the strategic outsourcing and energy services group, is to partner the Prison Service to bid for the management of all nine jails involved in a competition announced by Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke last July.
MITIE was chosen following a competition between a number of providers. The partnership arrangement, which starts immediately, signals a new approach to competition for the Prison Service who will harness the expertise and experience of both organisations to enable the public sector to submit competitive proposals for the 15-year contracts.
Public Sector Prisons director Steve Wagstaffe said: “The partnership with MITIE will allow us to combine our respective strengths, skills and experience to help produce compelling bids for each of the establishments we are bidding for. Public servants will be responsible for the core operational work involved in running prisons and a number of key services will be delivered by MITIE under the contract.
“I very much look forward to working with MITIE in the coming months.”
MITIE chief executive Ruby McGregor-Smith added: “We are delighted to have formed this partnership with the Prison Service. MITIE has invested significantly in the justice sector and this new agreement is really important for us. We are committed to improving services, introducing innovation and creating efficiency in every contract we operate.
“The partnership of our organisations and the experience, commitment and skills of our teams will create a really compelling and competitive proposition for prisons management in the years ahead.”
Meanwhile MITIE is also being recommended as the preferred bidder by Edinburgh City Council for its integrated facilities management contract. The recommendation is for MITIE to enter into a partnership contract with the council for the next 7 years.
As prime contractor, MITIE is proposing to establish Vital Edinburgh as a wholly-owned subsidiary of MITIE. This potential strategic partnership, which will be supported by partners Atkins and Lambert Smith Hampton, is due to be considered by Edinburgh City councillors at a meeting today.
