New £12m NE School Contracts First Of Its Kind -

BISHOP WILKINSON Catholic Education Trust (BWCET) has taken a unique approach to appoint general building, roofing, mechanical and electrical contractors to its £12m minor works contract.

Six providers were appointed – Hodgson Sayers, John Flowers MJ Quinn, Odin Services, Able Construction, and T Manners & Sons.

This minor works programme is the first in the UK education sector to be created through a ‘robustly compliant’ process.

The contract offers delivery of projects across the full school year, removing the need to procure at a project level.

Best value was assured through a ‘rate-card’ approach to pricing and by inviting contractors to work with the trust to formulate works programmes.

Local support was secured to create social value opportunities, including jobs.

£12m School Contracts

Historically, the trust spent significant amounts of time procuring standalone projects. It meant contractor capacity uncertainty and lack of commitment from suppliers. The seasonal focus of educational construction projects further compounded these challenges, with peak demand during holiday periods.

Traditional project-focused activities also limited the ability to make supply chain improvements in design and cost, alongside a notable lack of innovation in design and build practices. The trust says these challenges have hindered the development of an estates strategy essential for sustainable improvements and decarbonisation.

Education Commercial Services (ECS), the Trust’s commercial arm, has pioneered a ‘robustly compliant’ approach, which can be replicated for other Trusts.

Nick Hurn, CEO of BWCET, said: “Our minor works programme and ECS is a game changer in this sector enabling MATs to be proactive in procurement, creating a forward pipeline, improving supply chain sustainability, cost savings and speed of delivery.”

First of Its Kind

The initiative will enhance the regional economy by working with local providers including SMEs and creating 271 employment and training opportunities.

It includes 20 new FTE jobs, 30 apprenticeships and 220 flexible employment opportunities and work experience placements.

Another 150 days of training opportunities will benefit students at the Trust’s schools. Around 230 hours of learning, working with subject departments will support the curriculum.

Additionally, 50 days of construction sector awareness training and 64 days of career guidance and mentorship are part of the contracts.

Louise Levy, COO of BWCET, added: “We have intentionally focused on delivering a robust, compliant approach which ensures we are not only improving our estate management and securing best value but also supporting regional job growth and providing valuable opportunities for apprenticeships and training for our students. We value the engagement from the regional business community in making this process a success.”

This initiative is part of the Trust’s broader estate strategy, which includes market engagement events to gain insights from the construction sector. This approach is designed to be a model for other Trusts receiving annual School Condition Allocation (SCA) funding, promoting a streamlined, compliant route to market for smaller players.

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