Jarvis Accommodation Services, Amey, Carillion Services, and WS Atkins have all told The Facilities Business that they would consider getting involved in a broader spread of service provision if asked — with some already talking to potential partners.
In the education sector, some extension of the private sector role has already taken place. In late May, Surrey County Council announced it was to hand over the management responsibility of one of its schools to Nord Anglia. It is the first time a private provider has been asked to take over the education provision for a school not deemed to be failing.
Jarvis Accommodation Services chief executive, Henry Lafferty said he would not rule out following Nord Anglia's lead. He said: 'If our clients wished to outsource education provision then we'd be foolish not to consider this.'
David McGahey, managing director for education at Amey said he would also be interested in such a contract. 'We are not in discussion with any LEA about this, but we are watching and waiting to see what the new government will do,' he said.
In the health sector, Graham Blow, director of operations, facilities management at Carillion Services said the company is 'thinking very hard' about the opportunities he believes will be present by the end of the year.
Blow expects pathology services, pharmacies, physiotherapy and occupational therapy will all be outsourced in the near future. 'The message is coming out pretty strongly,' he said.
Roger McGlynn, director of WS Atkins Investments, the division of WS Atkins that handles PFI and PPP, said the company is positioning itself and forming allegiances to be ready for any change.
The issue will continue to be the subject of heated debate.
Ian McDonald, depute director of education at Glasgow City Council, which has the largest education PFI project in the UK, said: 'I think the education of young people is best left as a public service.'
Source
The Facilities Business
