Sodexo awarded 10-year deal at HMP Altcourse

Sodexo has secured a £260 million contract with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to manage HMP Altcourse from 1 June 2023.

The new 10-year deal will see Sodexo’s government business take over the management, operation and maintenance of the prison which is situated in the Fazakerley area of Liverpool with the 400-strong workforce transferring to Sodexo.

HMP Altcourse, which opened in 1997, was the first privately designed, constructed, managed and financed prison in the UK.  It is a category B local prison, receiving sentenced and remand adult male prisoners as well as young offenders, from the Cheshire and Merseyside courts. The prison can accommodate up to 1,164 men, across seven house blocks.

Sodexo has worked with UK governments since 1993 and currently manages five prisons, four in the UK and one in Scotland. From February 2023 Sodexo will also take over management of HMP Lowdham Grange in Nottingham.

It manages three male prisons, HMP Addiewell in Scotland, HMP Forest Bank and HMP Northumberland. Sodexo also deliver total operation of HMP Peterborough, the only dual purpose-built prison in the UK holding male and female prisoners, and HMP & YOI Bronzefield which holds female prisoners.

Sodexo is committed to the rehabilitation of offenders and has a focus on reducing reoffending by helping prisoners to develop new skills to support them in re-integration into society on their release.

Paul Anstey, CEO, Government, Sodexo UK & Ireland, said: “The award of HMP Altcourse reinforces our significant track record in the management of prisons and our commitment to provide secure and safe environments which supports the reduction of reoffending. We are delighted to have won the HMP Altcourse contract and will use our expertise and experience to work with the existing team there to build on what has already been achieved.”