DWP framework win for Morris & Spottiswood

Pete Dennis

Warrington construction firm Morris & Spottiswood has been selected by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to take on a programme of works after being appointed to its Estate Contractor Framework.

The Framework involves the refurbishment of Job Centre Plus premises and DWP offices across the North West of England and Scotland.

The company will carry out roofing repairs and renewals, as well as car park, fabric and decoration works, plus upgrades to mechanical and electrical (M&E) services.

Morris & Spottiswood is in the process of implementing an ambitious 10-year development plan, part of which involves ramping up its involvement in public and private sector framework agreements nationally.

Director of national frameworks Pete Dennis said a significant amount of the firm’s turnover now comes through public sector frameworks, and there’s a concerted effort to increase this work profile across the UK operations to align to the 10-year plan.

“A key part of our growth strategy is to increase our involvement in national, regional and local frameworks across every sector of the business,” he said.

“They’re something we see as being very important to every division. Most agreements are for between three to four years, so to a degree they give us security of workload and visibility of future workload.

“That’s also true for our supply chain and smaller sub-contractors – in return we can give them certainty and consistency, which is really important in the industry just now.”

He added: “Frameworks can provide scope to develop better community benefit initiatives, as well as focus on staff development and skills training.

“They also allow us to work closely with clients to introduce innovation to projects, perhaps leading to cost savings or the development of sustainable initiatives.”

Morris & Spottiswood’s turnover is around £100m and the business employs around 410 people.

Its four divisions – fit-out, housing, M&E services and maintenance – target projects ranging from £10,000 to £10m across a wide range of sectors, including education, retail, financial, housing, leisure, health and commercial.

The firm undertakes national and regional framework agreement contracts, and plans to grow both over the coming years.

It has been part of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s contractor framework for nearly 20 years, and is also currently on frameworks with by Edinburgh Council, Glasgow Airport and the University of Glasgow.

In addition, the firm is currently working on a number of public sector framework bids.

Recently, Morris & Spottiswood was one of 10 contractors selected for the Procure North West Lite Framework, covering public sector works between £50,000 and £1m across Cumbria, Cheshire, Lancashire, Manchester and Merseyside.

Projects awarded through this framework will involve a range of public organisations and buildings including schools, NHS bodies, leisure providers, housing associations, libraries and colleges.

“We want to continue to build on the progress we’ve made in Scotland and now replicate that in the North of England,” said Mr Dennis.

“Procure North West is our first large public sector local framework that we’ve undertaken in the region, so it’s a positive move and hopefully the first of many.”

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