10 Sep 2008

Today Interserve signed a contract with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to provide facilities management (FM) services for the FCO's UK estate and 14 diplomatic missions in Europe. The fixed-price elements of the deal are worth approximately £70 million over seven years with a possible extension of up to three years.

Interserve will provide a range of hard and soft FM services including planned and reactive maintenance, cleaning, catering, waste management, grounds maintenance and residential property services.

Bruce Melizan, Interserve Executive Director, commented: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with the FCO. We have already established a solid foundation for this contract, having built positive working relationships with the FCO over the past year and gained an understanding of the organisation and culture.  We will be working collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition to, and the improved delivery of, integrated FM services across the FCO's UK estate and 14 European diplomatic missions."

FCO Permanent Under Secretary Sir Peter Ricketts said: "This contract with Interserve is a key part of helping us to improve support services to our staff, so that they can be even more effective in delivering our strategic objectives. Bringing in innovation from the FM industry will allow our staff to access services in a more integrated and efficient way."

A phased programme of implementation will begin immediately, with Interserve and the FCO working closely together over the coming months to ensure a seamless transfer of services.