RM lands latest BSF deal

The deal is the first example of a BSF project in the north-west where two local authorities have worked together.

RM has secured another eight-figure Building Schools for the Future (BSF) deal.

The education specialist will deliver managed IT services for the Salford and Wigan BSF programme as part of the Hochtief-led Transforming Learning Partnerships (TLP) consortium.

The deal is the first example of a BSF project in the north-west where two local authorities have worked together.

The first stage alone, which addresses schools in Salford, will be worth up to £26m for RM over five years. But the London-listed firm said it is likely to scoop extra business from Wigan Council, which is also looking to transform 20 schools in its Borough.

RM recently posted a 21 per cent spike in revenue to £141.9m for its fiscal first-half and said there was little evidence that the economic downturn had impeded education spending.

However, the firm is coming under renewed pressure in the BSF arena as smaller competitors such as Ramesys and Redstone look to aggressively grab a larger a slice of the pie.

Terry Sweeney, chief executive of RM, hailed Salford and Wigan’s “innovative” approach to BSF.

“We're pleased to be part of the consortium they've selected to help them and look forward to working with our TLP colleagues - and with educators and education managers in the two authorities – to deliver a superior solution,” he said.