Built asset consultancy firm Arcadis has been appointed by Wakefield Council to deliver its property and facilities services.

The deal is expected to be worth £3 million per year over seven years, with the option of a three year extension.

Arcadis is a part of Wakefield Council’s strategic partnership team to deliver its property and facilities management services. It will work along with Engie, the council’s recently appointed external partner to deliver its property and facilities services. It will also deliver project and professional services.

Wakefield sought a partnership “which will help secure jobs for local people and enable staff, customers and services to benefit from private sector expertise and investment”. Arcadis will be supporting the council in its ambition to generate up to £27 million in savings this year.

It is hoped that the appointment will help to support economic growth in the area, while also helping the Council to improve infrastructure and create new jobs for the people of Wakefield, according to Arcadis.

Arcadis head of strategic partnerships, Bill Green, commented: “Councils are under more pressure than ever before to deliver better outcomes using fewer resources, and that looks set to continue.

“With less money available, public sector organisations are turning to long term partners to optimise the benefits from combining public and private sector capabilities.”

Earlier in the year, Arcadis hired transport and logistics veteran Jonathan Beard, who joins the firm from ICF International where he was a Vice President. In his new role, as Head of Transportation & Logistics for Arcadis’ Asia operation, Beard will have responsibility for the company’s regional transports and logistics strategy and landing new clients. He is based in Hong Kong.

Before he joined Arcadis in Hong Kong, Beard was a Vice President and Global Practice Leader for Ports, Logistics & Transport Services at ICF International.