Member Article

£400k contract win for Durham’s Deerness Fencing & Landscaping

Deerness Fencing & Landscaping, part of Esh Group, has started 2015 well winning a framework contract for a fourth term to provide grounds’ maintenance services at the University of Sunderland.

The contract, worth around £400k over four years, is for grass cutting, planting, pruning, weed control and other horticultural services across the University of Sunderland’s extensive estate.

The grounds, spread over two principal areas separated by the River Wear, include over 30 acres of lawns, flower beds, shrubbery and development plots and over 600 individual trees.

Steve Cowie, Facilities Support Manager (Logistics), for the University of Sunderland said:

“Deerness Fencing & Landscaping has a great track record of supporting the University of Sunderland through excellent grounds maintenance services - I believe for over 10 years now.

“The Deerness team works on campus all year round, mostly on a planned programme but can be on an emergency out-of-hours reactive service if necessary. The team has a tremendous knowledge of the estate, so this means we at the University benefit from consistent service delivery and regularly look to Deerness for knowledge and advice on environmental and biodiversity issues, and help in mitigating risks and seizing opportunities.”

The contract win closely follows a number of industry Awards which have been won by Deerness Fencing & Landscaping including at the 50th anniversary of the Northumbria in Bloom Awards and Sunderland in Bloom Awards.

At the Northumbria in Bloom Awards the University of Sunderland was presented with Gold Award in the ‘Hospitals, Hospices, Medical Centres and Universities’ category. Steve Cowie continued;

“Judges commented on the thoughtful displays of carpet beds, rockeries and wildflowers throughout the University estate which are maintained to an extremely high standard by Deerness Fencing & Landscaping.

Deerness’ work went on to be further recognised as the University of Sunderland received an Award of Merit at the Sunderland in Bloom Civic Awards and Sunderland itself won Best Large City at both the Northumbria in Bloom Awards AND the Britain in Bloom Awards.

Jim Bates, Managing Director of Deerness Fencing & Landscaping said:

“We’re proud and delighted to have been awarded the University of Sunderland contract for another term – and we are extremely pleased that our work has received such compliments and recognition from the judges at all of these prestigious Awards. I’d like to thank the University and the City for their support and the teams for their hard work and commitment – these Awards are well deserved.”