Civica bags £50m Luton BSF deal

Software and services specialist Civica is part of the consortium that has landed a £270m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) contract from Luton Borough Council to revamp its 13 secondary schools.

The building and refurbishment work will take place over the next four years and the project represents the borough's biggest investment in education for more than 50 years. The winning QED Wates consortium is led by construction firm Wates Group and also includes Civica and engineering and services company VT.

Kevin Crompton, chief executive of Luton Borough Council, said: “QED Wates and the council will be working closely with schools, students and the local community to ensure that the new schools meet the needs of the communities that will be using them. This is more than a partnership about schools: this is a partnership focused on improving the quality of life for Luton residents.”

Civica has been tasked with delivering the programme's IT and communications aspects, worth about £50m over the next 10 years, as a managed service. Schools will begin benefiting from the project in June and the programme is due to be completed by 2012.

The programme includes a 25-year facilities management contract and the consortium claimed the project will boost the local economy by providing increased employment and training opportunities. Civica will develop integrated IT learning and teaching environments and will be installing technology in new and existing school buildings as well as other community facilities.

Civica chief executive Simon Downing said: "Civica has been providing software and services to Luton for many years and, as part of the QED Wates consortium, we look forward to supporting the next stage of the council's ambitious vision for schools."

Debbie Jones, the council’s director of children learning, added: “The programme’s new state-of-the-art learning environments and 21st century facilities, including ICT, will be a fundamental tool to realise our vision of transforming the lives and opportunities for children and young people in Luton.”