Last checked at 18 Jul 2008 07:00
18 July 2008
Carillion selected as preferred bidder on £118 million Kent Academies programme
Carillion is a framework contractor for the UK Government's academies programme, which forms part of the Building Schools for the Future Programme (BSF). The five new academies are - New Line Learning Academy and Cornwallis Academy in Maidstone, Axton Chase Academy in Dartford, Marsh Academy in Romney Marsh and Spires Academy in Canterbury.
Academies are publicly-funded independent schools, for pupils of all abilities, established by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups working in partnership with central Government and local education partners. Their independent status allows them the flexibility to be innovative and creative in their curriculum, staffing and governance.
Carillion will provide a fully integrated solution for the new academies using its wide range of in-house capabilities, including building design, construction and engineering services, together with the design and installation of IT services. As a leading provider of vocational training services for the support services and construction industries, Carillion is also exploring with Kent County Council ways in which training opportunities can be created through the delivery of these new academies.
Commenting, Carillion chief executive, John McDonough, said: "We are delighted to have been selected as the preferred bidder for this project, our fourth major project under the Government's BSF programme. Education is a huge growth area for Carillion and we look forward to delivering Kent County Council's vision of transforming education and providing excellent new facilities for students, staff and local communities through these new academies."
Construction work will begin after financial close in November 2008, with all five academies scheduled for completion by March 2011.
Both New Line Learning Academy and Cornwallis Academy will be built around the 'Learning Plaza' concept, in place of traditional cellular classrooms. This concept, which is already attracting a great deal of interest in education circles, uses a large open-plan space a storey-and-a-half high with a mezzanine floor to accommodate up to 120 pupils.
The concept delivers increased value for money in terms of building costs and therefore enables greater investment to be made in upgrading furniture, acoustics and lighting, which further enhances the effectiveness of the learning space provided.
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Notes to editors
Carillion is one of the UK's leading support services, Public Private Partnership project and construction companies. The Group has annual revenue of around £5 billion, employs some 50,000 people and operates across the UK, in the Middle East, Canada and the Caribbean. In the UK, Carillion's principal market sectors are Defence, Education, Health, Facilities Management & Services, Rail, Roads, Building, Civil Engineering and Utilities Services.
In the Middle East, Carillion's principal market sectors are Construction and Facilities Management. In Canada and the Caribbean, the Group's main sectors are Health, Roads Maintenance and Construction.
Carillion has a substantial portfolio of equity investments in Public Private Partnership projects, particularly in the Defence, Education, Health and Transport sectors.
Carillion's education portfolio includes the Nottingham City Council BSF which reached financial close in June 2008, South Tyneside and Gateshead BSF which reached financial close in December 2007, and Tameside BSF which achieved preferred bidder status in April 2008, together with 39 other schools provided under Public Private Partnership projects.
In the inaugural Sunday Times Best Green Companies Awards in May 2008, Carillion secured first place in the category for large and medium-sized companies with high environmental impact and second place overall.
This and other Carillion news releases can be found at www.carillionplc.com
For further information contact
John Denning, Director Group Corporate Affairs, Carillion plc 01902 316426