Firm clinches the only place on the Scape National Minor Works Framework, worth between 拢750m and 拢1bn over four years

Kier has has secured the sole contractor role to deliver the local authority-controlled Scape National Minor Works framework, valued at up to 拢1bn over the next four years.

Despite the firm鈥檚 falling public sector workload - from around three-quarters of its construction activity to around half in the space of a year according to its latest results - it said it expected to maintain a 鈥済ood proportion鈥 of work funded by the taxpayer thanks to the appointment.

Scape is a local authority controlled company focused on new build and refurbishment and employing standard designs.

From the end of this year, Kier will be carrying out an estimated 2,500 projects valued under 拢500,000 and more than 350 projects valued between 拢500,000 and 拢2m with projects including work on schools, town halls, leisure and community buildings, police and fire stations.

Kier Group chief executive Paul Sheffield said: 鈥淲e are delighted to have been selected as Scape鈥檚 delivery partner for our unique approach. Delivering through our nationwide network of local offices means we can create work for local SMEs who in turn can offer local employment and apprenticeship opportunities. This, coupled with our national buying power and resources, will ensure that our local authority clients get value for money on all our Scape Minor Works projects, invigorating local economies, benefitting the SME supply chain and the local communities where we work.鈥

Mark Robinson, chief executive at Scape added: 鈥淭his is Scape鈥檚 first 拢1bn framework and the only one in the UK to deliver a national offering for projects up to 拢2m. At a very challenging time for public sector budgets this framework has been created to help drive down building procurement costs to help maximise savings.鈥