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FOUR YEARS ON: PERFECT CIRCLE DELIVERS MORE THAN 1,450 PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS

Kenneth Booth October 28, 2020

PROPERTY, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle has celebrated four years delivering Scape Group’s Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework – having been commissioned on more than 1,450 public sector projects during its term. Set up in 2016 by sector-leading firms Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM, Perfect Circle delivers the broadest

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Scape Group unveils details of next generation Venture frameworks

Kenneth Booth June 17, 2019

The frameworks have been created to enable efficient built environment procurement for private companies including; charitable bodies, public sector joint venture (JV) partnerships and housing delivery companies; The Venture offering includes the full range of multidiscipline design services, client advisory, development management and construction, civils and infrastructure services; Scape Group,

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Another celebratory milestone for Grantham’s town centre regeneration

Kenneth Booth March 5, 2019

Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has completed the exterior shell and associated external groundworks of Grantham’s new Savoy Cinema, which will house a state-of-the-art, five-screen, 650-seat cinema as well as restaurant and office space. The first floor of the building will be used as teaching and lecturing space by the

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BDC 319 : Aug 2024

Scape Group

FOUR YEARS ON: PERFECT CIRCLE DELIVERS MORE THAN 1,450 PUBLIC SECTOR PROJECTS

Kenneth Booth October 28, 2020

PROPERTY, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle has celebrated four years delivering Scape Group’s Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework – having been commissioned on more than 1,450 public sector projects during its term. Set up in 2016 by sector-leading firms Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM, Perfect Circle delivers the broadest range of property, construction and infrastructure consultancy services available to the public sector via Scape’s BECS framework, which was due to come to an end in early October but was extended by three months to support partners and clients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Victoria Brambini, managing director at Perfect Circle, said: “We are immensely proud of the success we have achieved with Scape over the past four years, and the strong relationships we have forged with clients and our growing network of supply chain partners. “Our public sector clients have benefitted from vastly reduced procurement time and real savings for the public purse. Together with Scape, we have delivered real value, ensuring social, economic and environmental benefits sit at the heart of every project – enabling clients to unlock true social value and create a lasting legacy for their communities. As a result, more than £44m in social value has been generated on projects commissioned via the framework, including the delivery of 900 hours of employability workshops.” Perfect Circle has assembled a supply chain of more than 680 partners across the UK since the start of the framework, helping micro-businesses and SMEs to work with a diverse range of public sector organisations. Victoria said: “SMEs are the backbone of our industry and the building blocks of strong local communities; their involvement in public sector schemes is vital. Our regional presence across the UK allows us to engage with local supply chains effectively and provide them with opportunities to work on schemes that directly benefit their communities – supporting their growth and ensuring that public money is reinvested in the area. “The Scape BECS framework has significantly contributed to the government’s drive for levelling up in the UK and we are delighted to have spent more than £52m through SMEs on public sector projects.” Despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Perfect Circle has continued to respond to the ongoing need for public services to be provided to communities – be it in designing new bridges and adding electricity charging points to car parks, or managing hospital refurbishments and school extensions. The framework has grown, with the consultancy teams securing 89 new commissions over the past six months and reaching a height of activity that has generated month on month record fee earnings. During this time, Perfect Circle provided valuable cashflow for its suppliers, ensuring crucial public sector schemes keep moving, generating local spend and adding inclusive social value. Victoria said: “During 2020 in particular, SMEs have experienced – and are continuing to experience – a range of challenges. As well as continuing to preserve and support growth of opportunities for our suppliers by giving them a route to market, with consistency and collaboration with clients, we have continued to make fair and even faster payments. Over the past quarter, 100% of invoices have been paid in 30 days, with 60% of payments made in five days.” Sara Boland, managing director of chartered landscape architecture practice Influence, added: “2020 has presented many challenges to the industry, with the impacts of both Brexit and coronavirus to consider. “During this unprecedented time, working with Perfect Circle’s transparent, reliable payment terms has demonstrated their respect for and commitment to our relationship and the projects that we collaborate on. The certainty and assurance of trusted partners like Perfect Circle have been critical to supporting the planning of cashflow in businesses at this time.” Scape’s BECS framework is the most efficient route to market, allowing direct award for commissioning services with full public procurement compliance. It significantly reduces the time needed for brief preparation – accelerating delivery of projects and programmes. Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “The vast array of successful projects the team at Perfect Circle have delivered throughout the lifetime of the BECS framework is testament to the outstanding value this partnership has brought to the public sector. “Importantly, this pioneering framework has achieved what we had all hoped. It has systematically introduced real change in the community, through our joint commitment to implement social value wherever possible. “The partners that came together to form Perfect Circle know exactly what it takes to generate a positive legacy, something that will continue to play an increasingly integral role in shaping the future of the UK. “To build back better means that every element of best practice that has been identified throughout this framework partnership is improved upon in the future. And we’re tremendously excited about seeing what can be achieved through our new consultancy frameworks. “It’s clear that Perfect Circle has set a high bar and I look forward to seeing how the next generation of TeamScape consultancy partners respond to its unequivocal success.” The £1bn, next generation Scape’s Consultancy framework will replace the current BECS framework for new commissions in January 2021. To find out more about Perfect Circle, please visit www.perfectcircle.co.uk. 

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Works set to commence in August for redevelopment of Skegness Industrial Estate

Kenneth Booth August 17, 2020

Midlands-contractor G F Tomlinson is due to start highway infrastructure works this August as part of the £2.4million re-development of a mixed-use business park site in Skegness for Lincolnshire County Council, via the Scape Regional Construction framework. Works at the Skegness Industrial Estate located to the west of the town,  close to main routes such as the A52 include the construction of a new highway link to join up two parts of the existing industrial estate, which will allow for the expansion of the park site onto the surrounding agricultural land. The preparation works will enable the current site to be more easily accessible for multiple business functions in future, to accommodate speculative builds or purpose-built units for a range of private clients, including local seasonal companies in Skegness for storage needs. As well as a new 4,000m2 access road, there will also be a foul water pump station that will service the land, as well as water and electric service ducts to allow services to be easily brought onto the site in future and LED street lighting to current standards. Expected to be complete in spring 2021, the redeveloped business park site will span six hectares, which includes the current existing main industrial site and surrounding road infrastructure that is being opened up for future development. G F Tomlinson has worked on numerous projects for Lincolnshire County Council in the past, including heritage works for Lincoln Castle and in the education sector –  the refurbishment of school buildings at Lincoln Castle Academy and Monks Abbey Primary School, the construction of a new two storey Science and ICT building at Walton High School in Grantham, as part of its expansion and transition from an all-girls school to a coeducational secondary school, and the refurbishment of the disused former Mablethorpe Tennyson High School, to create the Springwell Alternative Academy in Mablethorpe. Managing director of G F Tomlinson, Andy Sewards, said: “We’re delighted to announce the commencement of infrastructure works this August for the redevelopment of the existing business park site in Skegness. The works will ensure accessibility to the site and existing industrial estate and will facilitate potential for economic development for the town, providing quality space with access to agricultural land for a number of businesses in the vicinity, or for those looking to relocate to the Skegness area. “We have a solid, longstanding relationship with our client, Lincolnshire County Council, and have worked with them for numerous projects and developments since 2012 when we did the first of the waste transfer stations. We look forward to seeing this project through from its summer start to finish, which is expected at the beginning of next year.” Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The expansion of the business park is a big confidence boost for our coast. Diversifying the economy in the area will provide more year-round employment as well as allowing local businesses to expand or re-locate. “The site will be suitable for a wide range of business needs and usage, including purpose-built units for many different companies, and will encourage future investment. By boosting investment and creating jobs, there will be benefits throughout the wider area.” Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “G F Tomlinson has a long-standing relationship with Lincolnshire County Council and it is great to see that they are utilising the speed and efficiency of the Regional Construction framework for the infrastructure works at the Skegness Industrial Estate, ensuring it is fit for expansion will bring investment to the local area, helping with the town’s economic recovery and future development.”

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Scape Group unveils details of next generation Venture frameworks

Kenneth Booth June 17, 2019

The frameworks have been created to enable efficient built environment procurement for private companies including; charitable bodies, public sector joint venture (JV) partnerships and housing delivery companies; The Venture offering includes the full range of multidiscipline design services, client advisory, development management and construction, civils and infrastructure services; Scape Group, the market leader in public sector procurement, has published details of its next generation of the Scape Venture frameworks, the procurement arm of the business focused on supporting public/private partnerships and charitable organisations. Scape Venture offers clients fully managed frameworks designed to allow privately funded projects to be delivered rapidly, with a robust governance structure and embedding the same socioeconomic benefits that its other frameworks do, supporting local job creation and offering a wide range of community engagement initiatives. The frameworks have been developed to assist local authority owned private companies, charitable bodies, joint venture (JV) partnerships and special purpose vehicles with projects that are privately financed.   The services that will be offered under the frameworks include full multidisciplinary design consultancy, client advisory services, development management, infrastructure and construction. It has also been designed to support the delivery of projects being undertaken by the privatised elements of public sector organisations, charities, housing organisations including the delivery of new schools which form part of a section 106 agreement. Scape Venture has already supported a number of high-profile clients to achieve their desired outcomes and maximum social value on a number of projects, including the RSPB Sherwood Forest visitor centre, the National Space Centre and the University of Cambridge Eddington Estate Management Office. The new frameworks take a strengthened approach to responsible procurement, ensuring speed, value for money, inclusive social value and enhanced performance management. Scape’s delivery partners include a wide range of industry leading businesses and operate across the country, including; Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall, Robertson, Wates, Willmott Dixon, Woodhead Construction and Perfect Circle, the consortium comprising Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM. Each partner has been selected for their expertise and ability to work collaboratively with clients and communities to deliver social value across projects. Service Project value Areas covered Partner Consultancy All project values National Perfect Circle Civil Engineering All project values National Balfour Beatty Construction Exclusive provider: All project values Scotland Robertson Construction Exclusive provider: Projects over £7.5m   Non-exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m North England, Wales and Northern Ireland Willmott Dixon Construction Non-exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m North England Woodhead Construction Construction Exclusive provider: Projects over £7.5m   Non-exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m Central Morgan Sindall Construction Non-exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m Central Woodhead Construction Construction Exclusive provider: Projects up to £7.5m London and South England Morgan Sindall Construction Exclusive provider: Projects over £7.5m London and South England Wates Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, comments: “We are tremendously proud of the volume of successful, and high-profile projects that Scape Venture has enabled in recent years by bringing together the very best of public and private procurement expertise. “Our strengthened Scape Venture offering will continue to generate greater value for money and project success for privately funded projects, while creating significant and measurable social value across the United Kingdom. The delivery partners we have selected will all be supported by strong local supply chains which will ensure projects are delivered on-time and on-budget, while stimulating local economic growth by keeping the pound local.” Steve Beechey, Group Strategy Director and Managing Director Government Affairs, Wates Group, comments: “Scape Venture represents a pioneering approach to the procurement of privately funded projects, which has set a new standard in efficiency while incorporating the extensive local economic benefits created by public sector procurement practices. Our re-appointment to Scape Venture recognises our shared values with Scape Group to continually raise standards in the built environment and to deliver exceptional projects that come with an ambitious socioeconomic legacy.”

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Another celebratory milestone for Grantham’s town centre regeneration

Kenneth Booth March 5, 2019

Midlands contractor G F Tomlinson has completed the exterior shell and associated external groundworks of Grantham’s new Savoy Cinema, which will house a state-of-the-art, five-screen, 650-seat cinema as well as restaurant and office space. The first floor of the building will be used as teaching and lecturing space by the University of Lincoln, with the ground floor currently being marketed as restaurant space. South Kesteven District Council’s office building has also been remodelled as part of the works, to provide a link from the town centre onto St Peter’s Hill and the new cinema, which is due to open in summer 2019. The project has been procured via the Scape Regional Construction framework. Andy Sewards, managing director at G F Tomlinson said: “Now that the cinema’s external shell is complete, we can see the new facility really taking shape. We’re proud to play a part in the regeneration of Grantham’s town centre and have established a great new relationship with South Kesteven District Council which can be built upon for years to come.” The £6.2m St Peter’s Hill Cinema project is part of South Kesteven District Council’s plan to regenerate Grantham’s town centre by extending the town’s leisure and cultural quarter. The deputy leader of South Kesteven District Council Cllr Kelham Cooke and Cabinet member Cllr Jacky Smith met Savoy managing director James Collington on site. “This is a significant day for Grantham and the whole district, a step closer to providing residents and visitors with a clean, modern and multi-screened cinema that can be enjoyed by many and will be an asset for the town and the surrounding area,” said Cllr Cooke.  “We are committed to the regeneration of Grantham town centre, and this cinema will play a huge part in that.” Cllr Jacky Smith, who has overseen the project, expressed her pride at the topping out and handover.  She hailed a bright new educational vision for the district with a university centre above the cinema, thanks to a £2m grant from the Great Lincolnshire Learning and Enterprise Partnership towards build cost and fit out. She said: “We shall have the luxury of five superb cinema screens here on the doorstep and a university centre to bring ambitious higher education options to South Kesteven, all under one roof.” Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive said: “It’s great to mark another project milestone that plays an important part in the regeneration of Grantham, which is currently experiencing significant investment to revitalise the town. The whole community will benefit from the improved public realm and new facilities. “By using our framework, South Kesteven District Council have guaranteed cost-effective and efficient project delivery, whilst ensuring that the local supply chain and economy has experienced significant benefits throughout the project’s lifetime and beyond.”

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Wilmott Dixon and Scape Group Working Together to Complete the New Scared Heart Primary School

Cristina Diaconu April 25, 2017

Wilmott Dixon and Scape Group have been working together in order to complete the new Sacred Heart Primary School. The development took place in Sandwell and the school officially opened on the 24th April. Before the official opening, the primary school children had their first meal and had a tour around their new school. Sacred Heart Primary school has been designed and built by Sunesis, which is the name of the joint venture between Wilmott Dixon and Scape Group. The work was carried out to replace an existing facility and will also help the school meet the growing demand for school places. In Sandwell there has been a 26% increase in the birth rate, which can lead to pressure on the number of school places. There has also been a higher than normal movement in to Sandwell which can increase this pressure on schools. Therefore, the work to improve the Sacred Heart School will have appositive effect on the area. The new school will be able to offer 420 primary school places and 52 nursery places; it is thought that the school will be full by 2022. The new school building has been designed in order to meet the needs of their pupils. Sacred Heart School is now better equipped to be able to accommodate children with special educational needs and mobility requirements. The school is also able to meet the dietary requirements because of the school’s band new kitchen. The new school is larger than the previous structure and because of this there will be an opportunity to support the community by offering family learning, including additional English lessons for both parents and pupils. The new school has had a good response from the pupils and teachers, who started at the new site after the Easter Holidays. The project was delivered by Sunesis on time and on budget. Sunesis develops and pre designs new schools on a national scale and is known for their fixed costs and efficiency when meeting delivery dates.

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