EMCOR UK has introduced its new service, Insight Intelligence, which combines human expertise with cutting-edge technology. This service leverages advanced modelling, AI, and data science to extract actionable insights from customer operations, enabling a comprehensive view of their entire estate and unlocking the full potential of their facilities. The service
Written by Charlie Brain, Senior Consultant, Water Hygiene Centre Commercial Offices in the UK have experienced an interesting life since the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The usage of these types of buildings has perhaps changed from the typical 9-5 way of life, therefore the way they are managed
Mitie has released its 2024 ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) report, highlighting significant strides towards its sustainability objectives. The leading facilities management provider achieved or surpassed 13 ambitious targets for the past financial year (FY24), underscoring its dedication to its core social value pillars: Environment, People, Communities, and Responsible Supply
Plans are underway to extend and modernise the iconic Calton Square office building in Edinburgh, expanding its space from 150,000 sqft to 200,000 sqft. This ambitious retrofit project aims to significantly enhance the building’s environmental performance while maintaining respect for its historic location next to Calton Hill, a UNESCO World
Edinburgh Airport has awarded Mitie a new five-year contract for grounds maintenance across its airfield and terminal buildings. As part of this contract, Mitie will provide essential landscaping services at Scotland’s busiest airport, which handles over 14 million passengers travelling to 152 destinations annually. The services will include lawn care,
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), the UK’s largest fire service, has extended its contract with Sodexo as its soft services provider for an additional two years. This extension, valued at approximately £12 million, reaffirms the successful partnership between SFRS and Sodexo, which has been praised for its dedication
Premier Technical Services Group Ltd (PTSG) has been contracted to deliver specialist electrical services at St Georges Hospital in Tooting. Located in South London and founded in 1733, it is one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals and one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It is run by the
Aramark UK has committed to helping turn Everton Stadium into one of the most revolutionary and advanced venues for fan experience in Europe. Recognised as one of the world’s leading foodservice providers, and as industry experts in creating food and beverage led venue experiences, Aramark partners with the Club in
Cushman & Wakefield has partnered with Property Inspect to manage compliance across its largest real estate assets. The partnership with its Asset Management Team in Ireland is enhancing compliance management across its major real estate assets, bringing cost savings and operational efficiencies to its asset management strategy. Property Inspect, the leading
Mitie has secured a new contract with South Western Railway (SWR), valued at £6 million, for a duration of up to three years. Under this contract, Mitie will deliver security guarding and intelligence services across SWR’s extensive network, which spans Greater London, Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Devon, and Somerset,
EMCOR UK has introduced its new service, Insight Intelligence, which combines human expertise with cutting-edge technology. This service leverages advanced modelling, AI, and data science to extract actionable insights from customer operations, enabling a comprehensive view of their entire estate and unlocking the full potential of their facilities. The service is powered by One Data World, EMCOR UK’s proprietary insight platform. This platform integrates diverse datasets into a unified system that delivers data and visualised reporting metrics across customers’ properties and services. By utilising a single data repository, Insight Intelligence goes beyond merely displaying historical data, employing state-of-the-art technologies such as interactive virtual modelling, diagnostics, digital twins, geolocation, IoT, remote services, AI, and intelligent modelling tools to support proactive decision-making and foster collaboration with customers. Insight Intelligence is built on four key components: Insight Intelligence is one of five key areas within EMCOR UK’s customer-centric services portfolio, alongside Carbon Transformation, Asset Dynamics, Facilities Management, and Workplace Evolution. The company also maintains a consistent focus on ESG and sustainability commitments, both for itself and its clients. James Dunnett, Chief Technology Officer of EMCOR UK, stated: “Many organisations face challenges in creating a single view of their facilities’ performance across their entire estate, which is crucial for ensuring efficiency, compliance, sustainability, and future readiness. Insight Intelligence addresses this need, offering customers rich data, advanced analytics, and our specialist expertise to fully unlock the potential of their facilities.” For more information on EMCOR UK’s Insight Intelligence service, visit www.emcoruk.com/our-services/insight-intelligence. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Written by Charlie Brain, Senior Consultant, Water Hygiene Centre Commercial Offices in the UK have experienced an interesting life since the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The usage of these types of buildings has perhaps changed from the typical 9-5 way of life, therefore the way they are managed may also need to change. This blog explores the risks that water poses in these types of buildings and in particular the risk of Legionella bacteria. What is Legionella? Legionella bacteria are common in natural water sources such as rivers and lakes, they may also be found in purpose-built water systems, such as hot and cold water systems in a commercial office building. It is these types of “man-made” water systems that pose the greater risk to humans, as the conditions for Legionella proliferation and exposure are increased. Commercial offices are those buildings used by differing types of businesses as a place of work. Standard office spaces are commonly divided into workspaces, kitchens, restrooms, and service rooms such as cleaners’ cupboards and plant rooms. What are the requirements to reduce Legionella Risk? All commercial building operators in the UK have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HSWA) which extends to risks from Legionella bacteria, that may arise from work activities. As the duty holder in control of a commercial office, you must; Who is Responsible? Whether you are the landlord/owner or tenant, the actions above must be undertaken, but like many commercial offices, these tasks may be undertaken by different parties. Unless a “fully maintained” lease is in place it is ultimately the responsibility of the landlord or owners to manage the building, this includes the water systems and other Health and Safety risks (including Legionella). If you are a tenant of a building (without a fully maintained lease) and are responsible for your employee’s health and safety, it would be advisable to seek evidence of compliance from your landlord. In some cases, fully maintained leases exist between landlords and tenants, that transfer responsibility from the landlord to the tenant for some or all the required tasks. In some cases, the tenant may feel they require more control over health and safety matters and undertake the tasks listed above themselves. Whatever arrangement is in place, records of work carried out to manage Legionella need to be kept up to date and readily available for inspection. Types of Water Systems Commercial office buildings range in size and complexity. It is fair to say, that the larger and more complicated a building and the water system is, the greater risk of Legionella is presented, which in turn, requires more elaborate control methods. The types of water systems found at commercial office buildings include; Each water or risk system requires a Legionella risk assessment and a resulting control scheme established. A control scheme will include monitoring, inspection, cleaning, and disinfection frequencies, so the more complex a water system is, the more controls it usually requires. Water System Usage One of the more topical issues regarding Legionella in commercial office buildings is water system usage. These types of buildings have experienced different levels of use since COVID-19, ranging from complete shutdown to reduced staffing levels and hybrid working styles. This impacts the water system as less water is being used daily, thus creating reduced flow, stagnation, and possible biofilm problems. The Legionella Control Association has reported that lockdowns have increased the rate of positive Legionella sample results. So, if your building has seen a different level of use, has the Legionella risk assessment been reviewed? Has the amount of stored water been assessed? Have different control measures been implemented? Other Considerations Scalding – Has a scalding risk assessment been carried out? Unnecessary installations of thermostatic mixing valves (TMV’s), especially in staff areas, can increase the risk of Legionella colonisation due to their complexity and maintenance requirements. The scalding protection should be applicable to the risk. Hot water boilers – Having replaced the traditional kettle, these installations can affect how much the sink taps are used. If drinking water dispensers are also used, is the sink cold tap being used at all? If a dishwasher is present, what are you using the hot tap for? The use of all outlets requires regular review. Drinking water dispensers – as mentioned above, these have replaced the humble cold-water tap, decreasing their use. If desired, mains-fed units are preferred to bottle-fed types, due to the quality of water supply, maintenance, and cleaning practicalities. If installed, mains-fed units should be sited as close as possible to a regularly used outlet to assist turnover. As with any commercial premises and health and safety matters, the starting point is always risk assessments. This will inform the landlord or building owner of any gaps in Legionella and water hygiene management and help form a plan to actively manage any Legionella risks identified. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mitie has released its 2024 ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) report, highlighting significant strides towards its sustainability objectives. The leading facilities management provider achieved or surpassed 13 ambitious targets for the past financial year (FY24), underscoring its dedication to its core social value pillars: Environment, People, Communities, and Responsible Supply Chain. Key highlights from the report include: Environmental Leadership As part of its ‘Plan Zero’ initiative, which aims to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2025, Mitie has successfully reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 5%. Major contributors to this reduction include the installation of low-carbon heat pumps across its sites and the ongoing transition to electric vehicles (EVs). With the introduction of its 5,000th EV, two-thirds (66%) of Mitie’s fleet is now fully electric, making it one of the largest electric fleets in the UK. In recognition of these achievements and its ongoing environmental efforts, Mitie received an ‘A’ grade for its carbon reduction strategy and reporting from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), placing it in the top 2% of organisations evaluated annually. Beyond reducing its own environmental impact, Mitie has also leveraged its expertise in green solutions, such as solar power and biodiversity, to assist its clients in reaching their net zero goals. Notable achievements in FY24 include increasing recycling rates at London Euston station from 10% to 81% through the introduction of an on-site recycling facility and installing 2,000 solar panels at the Associated British Ports site in Southampton, reducing carbon emissions by 235 tonnes annually. Empowering People Through Skills Development Mitie has continued its investment in training and development to foster long-term, fulfilling careers for its employees. Over FY24, the company supported over 1,200 apprentices at any given time, offering 90 apprenticeship courses. This includes the new Professional Security Operative Level 2 apprenticeship, which Mitie helped to develop to create more career progression opportunities within the security industry, and a heat pump engineer apprenticeship to support the growth of the UK’s green workforce. In April, Mitie reached a significant milestone by surpassing £2 million in Apprenticeship Levy gifting pledges. Through this initiative, Mitie has enabled over 25 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and local community services across the UK to fund apprenticeship schemes. Making a Positive Impact in Communities Mitie has exceeded all its goals under the Community pillar, maintaining its commitment to making a difference in the communities it serves. This includes nearly 25,000 hours of volunteering for local causes, supported by Mitie’s initiative to offer employees ten hours of volunteer time each year. Mitie’s independent charity, The Mitie Foundation, which aims to support disadvantaged groups in securing employment, celebrated its tenth anniversary. Over the past year, the foundation helped recruit 418 individuals, while Mitie continued its support for the Armed Forces community by welcoming 790 forces leavers. Promoting Sustainability Through the Supply Chain Mitie takes pride in being a responsible business, with nearly half (47.7%) of its supply chain spend directed towards SMEs and £3.3 million allocated to voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), surpassing its target by 46%. The company also achieved a 12% reduction in supply chain emissions compared to FY23, marking the completion of a three-year supply chain transformation programme focused on enhancing sustainability through procurement. Peter Dickinson, Chief Legal Officer at Mitie, commented: “As one of Britain’s largest businesses, we are committed to making a positive impact on our people, communities, and the environment. With our 2025 net zero targets fast approaching, it’s encouraging to see that we have exceeded so many of our goals this year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans are underway to extend and modernise the iconic Calton Square office building in Edinburgh, expanding its space from 150,000 sqft to 200,000 sqft. This ambitious retrofit project aims to significantly enhance the building’s environmental performance while maintaining respect for its historic location next to Calton Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ardstone Capital Ltd (UK), the development manager acting on behalf of Macquarie Asset Management, has appointed the architectural firm Sheppard Robson to lead the redesign. The architects are tasked with creating a structure that seamlessly bridges Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns. Sheppard Robson’s approach prioritises a fabric-first reuse strategy to address several challenges that the existing building poses for modern occupants. The current extensive glazing has led to overheating and operational inefficiencies, and the building’s fragmented internal layout needs reconfiguration to improve the entrance experience, which is complicated by the site’s varied street levels and stepped primary access. A key feature of the redesign is a new dramatic triple-height atrium covered with a structural timber roof, which will repurpose an underused internal courtyard for cultural activities that benefit the local community. The new façade will feature profiled spandrels and vertical fins to maximise self-shading and improve thermal efficiency. The project is targeting prestigious environmental and wellness certifications, including BREEAM Outstanding, NABERS 5*, and WELL Platinum. Mark Kowal, Partner at Sheppard Robson, commented: “Calton Square is a thoughtful blend of old and new. Our design approach has been to integrate the building into its unique location, creating a seamless transition between the city’s Old and New Towns. The goal is to reposition the existing building by creating an exemplary adaptive reuse project that excels in environmental performance and becomes an asset to the community.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Edinburgh Airport has awarded Mitie a new five-year contract for grounds maintenance across its airfield and terminal buildings. As part of this contract, Mitie will provide essential landscaping services at Scotland’s busiest airport, which handles over 14 million passengers travelling to 152 destinations annually. The services will include lawn care, tree and shrub maintenance, litter collection, and weed control across the entire airport estate, from the terminal front to the airfield. The team will also be responsible for mowing and maintaining approximately 2 million square metres of grass—a space equivalent to 280 football pitches. In addition to landscaping, Mitie will provide winter maintenance services at the airport. This will involve gritting car parks, walkways, and roads across the site, as well as supporting the maintenance of taxiway systems when needed. Given the harsh winter weather often experienced at the airport, ensuring the grounds remain safe and accessible for passengers and staff is a crucial responsibility that Mitie will undertake. Sustainability is a key focus of the contract. Mitie plans to use white marine salt, derived from evaporated seawater, for gritting, rather than salt obtained through mining. The company will also aim to eliminate the use of plastic and is working on several initiatives to introduce more sustainable planting and wildflower areas at passenger entrances to enhance biodiversity at the airport. This contract further strengthens Mitie’s presence in the UK aviation sector, where the company already provides a range of services, including cleaning, engineering, and waste management, as well as baggage security, at major airports such as Heathrow, London Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, and Belfast City. Tim Howell, Managing Director of Mitie Landscapes, commented: “We are delighted to partner with Edinburgh Airport to deliver grounds maintenance services over the next five years. Our experienced team is dedicated to maintaining the airport’s extensive grounds using the most sustainable methods available, ensuring they remain safe, functional, and visually appealing throughout the year.” Brian Anderson, Head of Engineering at Edinburgh Airport, added: “Effective grounds and winter maintenance are crucial to the airport and our daily operations, and we are pleased that Mitie will be working with us on this over the next five years. Their experience and expertise, along with their plans for future improvements, will help ensure the best service for passengers and staff across the campus.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), the UK’s largest fire service, has extended its contract with Sodexo as its soft services provider for an additional two years. This extension, valued at approximately £12 million, reaffirms the successful partnership between SFRS and Sodexo, which has been praised for its dedication to quality service delivery. Sodexo’s team, comprising over 370 colleagues, provides a comprehensive range of soft facilities management (FM) services across Scotland. These services include food and hospitality, cleaning, waste management, caretaking, security services, and grounds maintenance. The SFRS estate spans the entire length and breadth of Scotland, encompassing 385 sites, including the headquarters in Cambuslang. Paul Anstey, CEO of Government Services at Sodexo UK & Ireland, expressed his enthusiasm for the continued collaboration: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, supporting their critical work to enhance the safety and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.” Ijaz Bashir, Head of Asset Management at SFRS, also highlighted the positive impact of Sodexo’s services: “Sodexo’s staff continue to provide excellent services across many of our sites, and we are pleased to extend the contract. The team at Sodexo plays an integral role in ensuring our buildings operate smoothly, and we look forward to continuing our partnership over the next two years.” In addition to their commitment to delivering high-quality services, Sodexo has made significant social contributions as part of their work with SFRS. Notably, 40.6% of their sourcing and procurement is with small to medium-sized enterprises, and they have achieved a CO2 reduction of 4.3 metric tonnes over the last year. Furthermore, 90% of the Sodexo team working on the SFRS contract reside within 10 miles of their workplace, underlining their commitment to local employment. Sodexo’s social impact extends beyond operational services, with the company actively supporting fundraising for The Fire Fighters Charity, which aids serving and retired members of the UK’s fire service community. Additionally, Sodexo staff have contributed nearly 100 hours of volunteering, assisting young people with mock interviews and CV development through charity Springboard, mentoring in partnership with MCR Pathways, and supporting the Stop Hunger charity partners FareShare and SSAFA – The Armed Forces Charity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Premier Technical Services Group Ltd (PTSG) has been contracted to deliver specialist electrical services at St Georges Hospital in Tooting. Located in South London and founded in 1733, it is one of the UK’s largest teaching hospitals and one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It is run by the St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The new hospital at Tooting was built in stages. The first stage, which included 710 beds and the medical school, was completed in 1976, although the main hospital was not completed until 1980. In April 2010 St George’s Healthcare became part of the South West London and Surrey Trauma Network (SWLSTN). All Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments within the network continue to provide trauma services with St George’s designated as the major trauma centre. In this contract, engineers from PTSG Electrical Services Ltd will install a new lighting protection system, working at the hospital’s substation. This will provide protection for the buildings and their users in the event of an electrical storm. PTSG is the UK’s leading provider of lightning and surge protection services. Its network of engineers deliver a complete range of services including design and installation, testing and inspection and repairs and maintenance. Ultimately, the Group gives customers complete peace of mind that their assets and people are safe and protected at all times. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Aramark UK has committed to helping turn Everton Stadium into one of the most revolutionary and advanced venues for fan experience in Europe. Recognised as one of the world’s leading foodservice providers, and as industry experts in creating food and beverage led venue experiences, Aramark partners with the Club in one of the biggest commercial deals in the Club’s history. As part of the agreement, and in a demonstration of their commitment to the venue becoming a flagship for their European operation, Aramark will take a position as a Founding Partner of Everton Stadium, with construction of the new waterfront home nearing completion in advance of being fully operational for the 2025/26 football season. The long-term partnership, which marks the industry giant’s first step into English football, will see Aramark deliver world-class food, drink and experiences across Everton Stadium’s footprint all year round, incorporating matchday and non-matchday events. Working in partnership, the Club and Aramark will deliver new innovative experiences for Evertonians at the new stadium, using the most modern technologies to revolutionise fan experience, with the quality of food and beverage provision and speed of service at the forefront. Aramark will be drawing on the solutions it has deployed so successfully across a vast range of sports venues around the globe. These include some of the most high-profile NFL venues such as Philadelphia Eagles Lincoln Financial Field, Denver’s Mile High Stadium, and the Cleveland Browns’ Stadium. Also within Aramark’s impressive portfolio are nine La Liga stadia, including Atletico Madrid’s Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium and eight Bundesliga stadia, including Olympiastadion in Berlin. All offer innovative technology-enabled experiences tailored for fans and event attendees, coupled with diverse, exciting food and drink concepts. Embracing Everton’s vision for a digital-first stadium, Aramark will implement market-leading technology aimed at minimising wait times and enhancing fan satisfaction with support on hand from dedicated staff. Everton Stadium will boast ‘frictionless’ operations, which will significantly reduce queuing through ‘walk-in walk-out’ technology solutions. Alongside modern-day kiosks, these retail outlets will be established at key locations across the stadium to create inclusive and vibrant destinations where supporters will be able to enjoy first-class food and drink quickly and easily. These frictionless stores will include self-service beer systems, immersive food and beverage offers and kitchen collection points – which specialise in producing food exclusively for online order pick-up. Development of The Plaza – an accessible 30,000m sq. space at the eastern entrance to the stadium footprint – will showcase a wide range of specially curated food and drink concepts. Alongside pre-match entertainment and activities, Aramark will work alongside the Club to design food and drink offerings that will be flexible and on-trend, seasonally adapting to the needs of Evertonians and visitors, as well as any events taking place throughout the year. The partnership between Everton and Aramark is rooted in community spirit and driving opportunities for local people. More than 1,200 new roles will be created at Everton Stadium and through wider development initiatives established. In partnership with Everton in the Community (EitC), a new social enterprise will be introduced. This will see Aramark and Everton work in partnership to promote the career opportunities available at the stadium and support local food and drink suppliers in bringing their concepts to life. Richard Kenyon, Everton’s Chief Commercial and Communications Officer said: “This is a landmark partnership for the Club and we are delighted to welcome Aramark as a Founding Partner. “Their mission to set the standard for excellence and their alignment with our vision to create exceptional experiences for Evertonians really resonated with us. “Aramark understands what goes into and what is required to deliver high profile and multi-purpose venues. As we look forward to the Club’s bright future at our new home, we are focused on working together to deliver the right type of experience for every fan and every visitor, both within the stadium and on The Plaza. “By utilising Aramark’s global expertise across many industries, we will be adopting the very latest in retail technology to make a visit to Everton Stadium an amazing experience for every Evertonian. “Evertonians deserve the best and we are working with a global industry leader in Aramark to offer unrivalled experiences at our new home.” By becoming a Founding Partner at Everton Stadium, Aramark will also receive enhanced commercial opportunities and media rights at the Club’s new home once it opens in the summer of 2025. Helen Milligan-Smith, CEO and President at Aramark UK added:“We are thrilled to be a Founding Partner and chosen as the Culinary Experiences Partner for Everton. Our shared commitment to delivering remarkable experiences means we are developing something truly extraordinary for the launch of the new stadium. “It’s important to us that we go above and beyond to forge strong connections not only with our venues, but with the wider community too. The introduction of a new social enterprise programme is a great example of this, and we look forward to working with Everton in the Community to champion local produce and provide training and job opportunities to local people across Liverpool.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cushman & Wakefield has partnered with Property Inspect to manage compliance across its largest real estate assets. The partnership with its Asset Management Team in Ireland is enhancing compliance management across its major real estate assets, bringing cost savings and operational efficiencies to its asset management strategy. Property Inspect, the leading provider of building compliance and real estate solutions, is thrilled to announce its partnership with the esteemed global commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield. Working with its Asset Management Team in Ireland, this partnership signifies a pivotal advancement in its property inspection processes. It empowers the Cushman & Wakefield Asset Management Team to bring their facility services in-house, saving the need for expensive external resources. Recognising the manual, costly and resource-heavy nature of its inspection efforts to date, Cushman & Wakefield approached Property Inspect for a streamlined and efficient way to simplify its inspection workflows, with an aim to bolster compliance and expand the capabilities of its internal team. With an annual inspection mandate covering 8000 assets and diverse requirements ranging from Fire Risk to Health & Safety and meridian compliance, it sought a partner capable of delivering an easy-to-use and easy to integrate inspection system that can offer actionable insights to multiple teams and stakeholders. “After meticulous evaluation, we chose Property Inspect for its unparalleled service quality, adaptability, and seamless integration capabilities,” remarked Hazel O’ Carroll, Associate Director, Asset Services at Cushman & Wakefield. “Their commitment to excellence and tailored approach aligned perfectly with our vision for streamlined operations.” Property Inspect responded swiftly to Cushman & Wakefield’s needs, addressing key priorities such as base scoring methodologies and implementing a grading scoring system for Meridian compliance risk management. The partnership has yielded significant outcomes, including enhanced data collection, user-friendliness, and scalability, culminating in a roll-out to one of its largest assets, Dublin Airport Central. As a result, Property Inspect enhanced Cushman & Wakefield’s operations by reducing inspection times from 6 to 2 hours, resulting in significant annual cost savings. “We are excited to embark on this collaboration with Cushman & Wakefield, helping them dramatically reshape its property management processes,” comments Steve Rad, CEO at Property Inspect. “Through the implementation of Property Inspect, its teams have not only seen immediate enhancements in compliance rates, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation efforts, but have also experienced a significant transformation in the way they manage their properties, saving them time and the need for costly external resources.” The success of this partnership highlights the power of innovation and collaboration in revolutionising property management. As Cushman & Wakefield continues to expand its use of Property Inspect across its complex and comprehensive portfolio, the future prospects for enhanced efficiency and scalability remain promising for the leading commercial real estate services firm. For more information about Property Inspect, visit www.propertyinspect.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mitie has secured a new contract with South Western Railway (SWR), valued at £6 million, for a duration of up to three years. Under this contract, Mitie will deliver security guarding and intelligence services across SWR’s extensive network, which spans Greater London, Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Devon, and Somerset, and transports 220,000 passengers daily. In addition to ensuring the security of 14 sites, including stations, depots, and security control centres, Mitie’s Security Officers will provide reassurance and wellness checks for passengers aboard SWR’s trains. Given that SWR operates 1,500 journeys each day, these checks will be crucial in swiftly identifying and addressing any unusual behaviour or unattended items. The contract also marks a significant step forward in enhancing security through Mitie’s intelligence-led approach. For the first time, SWR’s security incident reporting processes will be fully digitised with the implementation of Mitie’s Merlin 24/7 software. Security Officers will be equipped to log detailed incident information via handheld devices, streamlining the reporting process. Additionally, SWR will have access to a dedicated dashboard on the platform, allowing security teams to monitor real-time intelligence on threat levels across its estate, informed by insights and trend analysis from these reports. Mitie will further bolster security by utilising open-source data gathering. Analysts based at Mitie’s Intelligence Hub will provide SWR’s security teams with updates on potential threats across the network, such as large public events, protests, and rising crime in the local area. With this information, the Mitie team can identify high-risk areas and make intelligence-driven decisions about the deployment of security officers at different sites on varying days. Jason Towse, Managing Director of Business Services at Mitie, commented: “We’re pleased to have been awarded this new contract with South Western Railway, building on our extensive experience and expertise in the rail industry. As we approach the busy summer period, we look forward to applying our intelligence-led approach to security, helping to create a safe and secure environment for the thousands of passengers travelling with SWR every day.” Daniel O’Riordan, Head of Safety and Security Assurance for South Western Railway, added: “At South Western Railway, the safety and security of our colleagues and customers is our top priority, and this is a significant moment as we partner with a new security provider. We’re delighted to welcome Mitie to the SWR community and look forward to working closely with them. We’re confident that their innovative digital and intelligence-led solutions will enhance the safety and security of our network for everyone who uses it.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
