Babcock International Group PLC has announced that it has been
selected by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) as the preferred bidder
for its new 25 year training contract. Following the LFB's
announcement, there will be a mandatory 10 day standstill period,
before the process can continue to final contract award. The
contract is expected to become operational on 1 April
2012.
Over the 25 year period, Babcock will be working with the London
Fire Brigade, the UK's largest fire and rescue service, to develop
and deliver enhanced training programmes and new, world-class
training facilities. Over 200 courses will be delivered at
the two new dedicated training facilities in Park Royal, North West
London and Beckton, East London, as well as at nine existing
regional training facilities and locally, on all stations, through
Babcock's computer based training systems.
This is the biggest modernisation of fire fighter training in
over a century. Babcock's proposals will radically improve
training facilities, increase the amount of time available for fire
fighter training and save the LFB an estimated £66m over the next
25 years.
Babcock already provides training facilities to four fire and
rescue services, including Devon & Somerset, Avon, Gloucester
and South Wales. It also provides training, including fire
training, to the Royal Navy. Babcock has just been ranked as
the UK's largest training provider by the Learning and Performance
Institute, and delivers programmes across a variety of sectors
including Engineering, Automotive, Hospitality, Retail, Active
Leisure and Health & Social Care.
The decision to outsource LFB training came after a report in 2008
said that existing fire fighter training facilities were no longer
suitable - the Brigade has been training fire fighters at its
current site in Southwark since 1878. The LFB considered
carefully the possibility of making a major investment to provide
the new training facilities itself. However, following close
analysis, Brigade officers recommended that an external training
provider would offer the highest quality training at the best
cost.
Alex Khan, Managing Director for Babcock's Education and
Training business, commented:
"We are delighted to have been chosen as preferred bidder for
this contract, which is testament to the experience and expertise
of our training operation. We are looking forward to
developing our partnership with the London Fire Brigade, helping
them to maintain a world-class service for a world city."
- Ends -
Notes to Editor:
Babcock International Group
- Babcock is the UK's largest work-based learning provider,
managing the training of over 20,000 learners at more than 8,000
employer sites.
- Babcock International Group PLC is the UK's leading
engineering support services organisation with an order book in
excess of £12 billion.
- Our 27,000 staff across the globe build, manage, operate and
maintain assets that are vital to the delivery of many key public
services, both in the UK and overseas.
- Defence, energy, telecommunications, transport and education
are all sectors where Babcock can be found working diligently
behind the scenes, delivering critical support.
- We take great pride in the considerable depth and breadth of
our people's expertise. We believe our market-leading reputation
gives assurance that Babcock is a partner who can be trusted to
deliver (TM).
- For further information regarding Babcock, visit our
website.
- www.babcock.co.uk/training
For further information contact:
Johnny Johnson
Babcock International Group
Tel: +44 (0)1273 507377
Email: johnny.johnson@babcock.co.uk
www.babcock.co.uk