Firm selected for university framework

Midlands-based G F Tomlinson is celebrating its successful selection as a key contractor on the prestigious University of Birmingham Build Higher framework.

The new £500m 10-year construction framework will focus on improving higher education facilities in the West Midlands, concentrating on the enhancement and development of the University of Birmingham’s own estate as well as procuring capital projects over the next decade. It is also available to other higher education institutions across the UK.

The University of Birmingham has significantly invested in its campuses in the last decade and the framework will enable the delivery of innovative academic spaces to facilitate the Russel Group university’s world leading research, and will support ambitious infrastructure and capital development plans as part of this.

G F Tomlinson has been appointed to deliver projects between £2.5million to £10million and was successfully selected on its ability to demonstrate understanding of the challenges and requirements within the higher education sector, as well as capability of working collaboratively with universities to deliver high quality buildings on time and within budget whilst achieving a high level of social value.

As part of the university’s collaborative strategy to build strong, long-term relationships between key contractors and consultants in the construction, design and surveying industries – all contractors will be encouraged to collaborate and collectively develop opportunities for social value, environmental enhancement and sponsorships, to bring benefits to the higher education sector.

Chris Flint, G F Tomlinson’s framework director, said: “We are delighted to have been successful in our bid for the University of Birmingham’s new framework, which will see us build strong, long-term relationships with the University of Birmingham and its selected contractors and consultants to deliver the university’s ambitious expansion plans for campuses over the next 10 years.

“We have established a reputation for delivering high quality, sustainable projects in the higher education sector, creating environments which nurture academic learning, research and collaboration.  This appointment provides further opportunities to build on this with the University and other HE institutions whilst at the same time reinforcing our presence in the West Midlands.”

Head of procurement Jonathan Jones said: “The University of Birmingham has always prided itself on its scale of ambition to deliver first rate services and resources for its students and staff. With a planned additional infrastructure investment of £500million over the next few years, we also wanted to develop further procurement opportunities by creating our own university construction framework. This framework not only allows the university to optimise its value for money, but is also available for other universities to use and benefit from the collective spending power and contractor relationship development.

“By working closely with our key contractors, we can collectively develop additional opportunities with initiatives such as social value, environmental enhancements and sponsorship opportunities.”

This announcement closely follows another successful appointment for the regional contractor, to a £30billion national central government framework for Crown Commercial Services Construction Works and Associated Services Agreement; a major seven-year framework for public sector construction.