Capita named preferred bidder for Lancashire contract

Outsourcer Capita has been appointed preferred bidder by Blackburn with Darwen Council to become its technical series partner, in a deal expected to be worth at least £60m.

The partnership, which will be for an initial five-year term with the option to extend for another five years, will see Capita provide services and business cases that will deliver savings, income and growth for the borough.

The deal will build the North of England’s first ‘place-based partnership’, creating new opportunities around the development of land, local assets and skills that generate income and transform Blackburn with Darwen.

The core of the new contract includes technical services such as highways and property.

Beyond generating savings through reducing costs and increasing efficiencies across the Council, Capita will also work with the Council to generate new income through the commercialisation of existing services and assets.

Chief executive Andy Parker said: “We have been working with the Council for fifteen years, and this contract builds on that long-standing relationship.

“This partnership model will transform Blackburn with Darwen and drive further investment and funding into the area – as well as allowing the Council to draw upon the complete breadth of expertise across Capita. The wider framework also means we can enable Blackburn with Darwen to maximise the opportunities as regional devolution in Lancashire begins to develop.”

At 1458 GMT, Capita shares were up 0.6% to 1,065p.