FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
ISS has won a seven-year contract, beginning February 2024 and valued at around £60 million per annum, to provide integrated facilities services (IFS) to the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).
The contract was awarded following a comprehensive commercial procurement process, which forms a critical part of Defra’s strategy to deliver future-fit workplaces and facilities that incorporate the highest safety standards and reflect the latest working practices and patterns.
ISS’s workplace and facilities management offering to Defra will include technical services, cleaning, waste management, catering, security, reception, portering, mail room and grounds maintenance. These services will be delivered by more than 800 employees on over 300 sites, who will join ISS’s global workforce of 360,000 placemakers — nearly 30,000 of whom are based across ISS’s UK and Ireland business.
Richard Jackson, Senior Responsible Officer of the Defra Group Workplace and Facilities Management Programme, said: “This new contract is a milestone for Defra Group as we look to transform our ways of working to deliver for the natural environment.
“Defra Group has one of the most diverse workplace portfolios in government, from scientific labs and observation posts to large scale offices and depots located across the whole of the UK.
“Following an open and transparent procurement process, we have awarded ISS this contract to make the best use of our assets and ensure our staff can continue to deliver for the public.”
Liz Benison, Chief Executive Officer at ISS UK&I said: “We are thrilled to announce this new contract with Defra, which marks a significant milestone for our UK business. This win not only reflects the strength of our industry-leading service offering, but it also reaffirms our strategic decision to pursue clients who share our values — and that this can be done without compromising on commercial growth and mutual benefit.”
Are you confident that your contractors and suppliers meet ethical labour standards and human rights obligations?
For many FM services, managing multiple third parties in the supply chain can be a complex challenge. And, in a sector that relies heavily on migrant workers and 65 per cent of FM services facing difficulties in sourcing workers (Q4 2022 RICS survey), exposure to exploitation and modern slavery is a very real risk. With the UK one of the biggest destinations in Europe for trafficking of workers, you need full visibility of the people you work with, so you can minimise your risks and identify which part of your supply chain is most vulnerable.
FMJ, in partnership with Alcumus, is pleased to bring together a panel of experts to discuss how to create an ethical supply chain in FM.
Taking place at 11am on Wednesday 21st of June, the webinar will discuss:
- The regulations to be aware of that are aimed at preventing human right abuses.
- How to gain greater visibility of modern slavery compliance in the supply chain by having a robust verification process in place.
- Steps to creating a compliant, ethical supply chain.
To register for the webinar click here.
