Serco returns to UK growth as outsourcer puts woes behind it December 12, 2019 Public services outsourcer Serco’s UK revenues have returned to growth for the first time since 2013. Six years ago, revelations emerged that the company had charged taxpayers to monitor released prisoners who were actually dead or still in jail with electronic tags. Read more: Serco fined £19m for government tagging contract fraud It became part of [...]
Construction disputes rise as Carillion fallout continues to hurt industry December 5, 2019 The number of construction disputes in the High Court has increased in the last year, as contractors struggle with tougher trading conditions, according to research. The UK’s specialist Technology & Construction Court (TCC) heard 397 construction related disputes in the year ending 30 June, the third consecutive annual rise. Read more: Reforming public procurement can [...]
Amey to offload two business units as Spanish owner Ferrovial works towards sale December 3, 2019 Amey, one of the UK’s biggest providers of outsourced public services, is said to be looking to hive off two of its business units as part of plans by its Spanish owner to sell the company. The firm, which employs about 17,000 people, has reportedly hired advisers to sell its environmental services and utilities divisions, [...]
Mitie sues Ministry of Justice over court cleaning contract November 24, 2019 Mitie is suing the Ministry of Justice over what is claims was a botched tendering process for a contract to clean and repair courts and tribunal buildings. The outsourcing giant has lodged a High Court claim after losing the contract to French rival Engie last month. Read more: Mitie’s clients hold back on spending until [...]
Revealed: Government faces mounting pile of complaints over contract issues November 11, 2019 Whitehall is facing a spiralling number of complaints from companies bidding for government work, as officials move to counter growing disquiet over a series of botched contract awards in recent years. The number of complaints rose by nearly half in 2018 to 235, up from 159 the previous year, according to data released under the [...]
Exclusive: Outsourcers told Michael Gove no-deal Brexit planning is stalling industry October 10, 2019 Whitehall has come under pressure from some of its most prominent public service providers for slow decision-making, as time and resources are increasingly directed towards no-deal Brexit planning. Three sources with knowledge of the matter told City A.M. that de facto no-deal Brexit secretary Michael Gove has been urged to “get a move on” so [...]
Carillion saga continues: Watchdog probes Whitehall salvage attempts on unfinished hospitals October 6, 2019 Britain’s public spending watchdog is to launch in investigation into Whitehall’s attempts to rescue two major hospital projects which ground to a halt when Carillion went bust last year. The unfinished Midland Metropolitan and the Royal Liverpool University hospitals were left hanging by a thread when the outsourcer collapsed in January 2018, eventually lumping taxpayers [...]
Outsourcing failures have ‘undermined public trust’ in policy September 15, 2019 The government’s repeated failure to outsource public services effectively has “caused harm and waste,” stoking calls from Labour to nationalise them, according to research. In a stinging rebuke of outsourcing failures over recent years, the Institute for Government (IfG) said this evening the policy has, at times, “let down” the people most in need in [...]
Capita return to growth ‘distinctly possible’ as turnaround starts to do the trick August 1, 2019 Capita’s market value shot up today as investors toasted the first fruits of a sweeping turnaround plan. The outsourcer’s share price jumped 17 per cent on the news margins had grown in four of its six main business divisions. Capita runs the Ministry of Defence’s recruitment programme for the British army. The figures Pre-tax profit [...]
Serco continues to power ahead of outsourcing crowd after US deal July 31, 2019 Serco shares rose today after it reported a nearly one-third jump in first-half underlying profit. The outsourcer, which has increasingly looked overseas in recent years, said the increase was in part down to revenue growth in North America. Read more: Serco fined £19m for government tagging contract fraud Shares rose five per cent today. The [...]