1,000 Carillion jobs saved as MoJ launches new prison services company

The jobs of around 1,000 staff – including 100 contractors – previously employed by Carillion have been saved after the Ministry of Justice announced it was establishing a new company to deliver facilities management services at prisons in England.

The new company, Gov Facility Services Ltd, will take over services such as cleaning, reactive maintenance, landscaping and planned building repair work.

The MoJ said the services, which are provided to 52 prisons in the South West, South Central, Kent & Sussex, Greater London and East of England, will continue unaffected in the transfer.

All the former Carillion staff will transfer across to the new company with their terms and conditions of employment preserved.

Justice Secretary, David Gauke said: “We have robust contingency plans and are taking appropriate action to ensure that the prison FM services continue to operate normally.

“I want to reassure staff that their jobs are secure and essential to making prisons safer and more decent.”

Permanent Secretary, Richard Heaton said: “The Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ) priority is to ensure continuity of service. We are implementing our contingency plan for the prisons facilities management contracts held by Carillion.

“This means the work that was undertaken by Carillion will move to a new government-owned company set up for this purpose. I’d like to thank all the Carillion staff who are moving across into the new company and reassure them that their jobs are secure. The vital work they do to maintain and improve our prisons is greatly valued and appreciated.”

The new company has already been created and will take responsibility for the prison FM services as soon as the formal transfer of staff has occurred.

The action has meant there have so far not been any disruptions to prison maintenance.

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