Kent and Medway NHS trusts confirm new facilities management contract with UK’s largest service provider

Mears Group Plc has been successfully appointed as facilities management (FM) provider for Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT).

The largest provider of repairs and maintenance, FM, housing management and regeneration services across the UK, Mears will take responsibility for works across all the trusts’ sites, with a dedicated support team.

The five-year contract includes a 24/7, 365 days-a-year helpdesk for FM works including emergency repairs, planned preventative maintenance and statutory repairs and inspections, with potential for a further five-year contract extension at the end of the term.

In addition, Mears will be supporting Kent’s younger generation with apprenticeships and work placement opportunities.

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust is responsible for providing mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and a range of other specialist services.

Peter Prentice, Director of Estates & Facilities Management at KMPT commented: “We are delighted to be working with Mears Group who have a wealth of experience, resources, and knowledge from their previous work within the healthcare sector.

“Using the latest technology, Mears engineers will be able to log any maintenance issues and job information in real time. This will enable us to address any issues quickly and efficiently and help us ensure our hospitals, clinical spaces and offices remain in good condition for the benefit of both our service users and staff”.

As part of the Group’s aim to become the most socially responsible business in the sector by 2025, Mears has committed to delivering £1.7m of social value investment in the communities both trusts serve through local recruitment, as well as dedicating in excess of 500 hours of volunteering work to the projects and goals focused on by both clients. 

Kevin Woodcock, Managing Director, Mears FM, said: “Mears Group is delighted to be entering into this long-term partnership with KMPT and KCHFT, building on our organisation’s existing presence in the county. We look forward to delivering critical services which focus not only on safe and cost-effective service delivery, but also investing in the communities in which we work.”

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust provides wide-ranging NHS care for people in the community, in a range of settings including people’s own homes, nursing homes, health clinics, community hospitals, urgent treatment centres and mobile units. Find out more: www.kentcht.nhs.uk

Kevin Galvin, Director of Estates and Facilities at KCHFT, said: “It’s crucial we make sure the places we deliver care from are fit for purpose and compliant with modern standards so we can continue to provide optimal healthcare to our patients and those that access our services. We are very pleased to be working with Mears, which has a proven track-record in delivering quality FM services, and also to be partnering with KMPT, which like us, delivers care to millions of people across our large and diverse communities.”