It will carry out repairs and maintenance work on behalf of the East Midlands Property Alliance (EMPA) in North and South Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

EMPA’s new repairs and maintenance services framework is the first collaborative regional agreement of its kind in the UK. It will enable local authorities and other public bodies who participate in the alliance to buy-in repairs and maintenance services without having to go through a costly and time consuming procurement process.

The framework is easy to access, flexible, with options regarding payment models and delivery solutions and also offers a wider range of benefits – including using companies with a proven track record in key areas such as health & safety, sustainability, employment & skills development and boosting the supply chain to deliver local benefits.

The EMPA framework for main contractors has already saved procurement costs of over £750,000 and projections indicate the potential for large clients to save £2.5million over the four year contract by using innovative service delivery methods.

Willmott Dixon Partnerships managing director, Mick Williamson, says, “We are delighted to have been selected by EMPA, and their managing agents SCAPE, for the innovative new repairs and maintenance framework. Our aim will be to work closely with the local authorities and other public bodies who participate in the Alliance.

“We believe the efficiency gains made available through the framework will be important in making public sector funding go further. We have a strong track record of combining high quality repairs and maintenance services with excellent value for money for our clients. We are excited by the challenge of delivering efficient and cost effective services to public sector organisations operating in the East Midlands.”

Nottingham based SCAPE’s development director Alan Coole explained: “This is the first repairs and maintenance framework of its kind in the UK that has been developed by a collaborative organisation. We believe it offers local authorities - and indeed other public sector organisations operating in the East Midlands - a great opportunity to innovate and deliver better services to their customers.

“Public sector budgets are continuing to shrink so it is more important than ever that the wider public sector take steps to make savings in all aspects of their work. Our role as a local authority controlled company and managing agent for EMPA is to develop a range of frameworks which will enable their property teams to operate their services in a more efficient and cost effective way.”

He continued, “We are very pleased to have Willmott Dixon working with the alliance and look forward to them delivering over the next four years an innovative and excellent service which is not only cost efficient but also helps local investment in communities.”