Member Article

North Yorkshire facilities specialists land university maintenance role

A North Yorkshire company has been appointed by one of the UK’s leading universities to maintain its portfolio of buildings for the 23,000 people who learn, live and work in them.

After taking part in a competitive tender, Robinsons Facilities Services has been awarded a place by the University of York – a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities - on its property maintenance framework.

Based in Bishop Thornton, between Harrogate and Ripon, the company now carries out planned and preventative maintenance and round-the-clock emergency repairs to more than 600 commercial and public sites throughout North, South, West and East Yorkshire.

As part of the new University of York framework, it is one of just three accredited contractors appointed to carry out general plumbing repairs and replacement works across its extensive estate.

This includes the nine colleges on its 500-acre Heslington campus; the grade II listed Heslington Hall itself; as well as the medieval grade I listed King’s Manor site in the heart of the city centre.

The framework has been developed to ensure the University has in place a speedy and compliant route for the delivery of all its plumbing improvement needs, for projects worth up to £25,000. This includes the installation, maintenance and repair of water and gas pipes, as well as sinks and toilets and other similar assets.

The value of the whole framework, which runs for up to four years depending on performance, is estimated to be between £600,000 and £800,000 a year.

The appointment strengthens Robinsons Facilities Services’ specialism in the field of education and academia. It already works in partnership with the Red Kite Learning Trust, which operates a family of 13 academies across Harrogate and Leeds.

“We are thrilled that a university of York’s calibre, history and assets has turned to our home-grown Yorkshire expertise,” said its director, Katie Challis.

“We already work closely with the Diocese of York, looking after some 300 of its houses, as well as the York-headquartered accountants and business advisors Garbutt + Elliott, so know the city well.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the university’s estate team to ensure all their buildings, from the most historic to its most modern, run as smoothly as possible for its 19,000 students and 4,000 staff.

“The limited places on the framework were open to competitive tender and could have been awarded to anyone, so it’s great to see that we have the specialist skills to be part of it, while offering the best value for money.”

The contract marks another major milestone in the company’s growth as it extends its business footprint across the whole of Yorkshire.

It was recently appointed to carry out maintenance to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning in premises owned or managed by Harrogate Borough Council, as well as a 24/7 emergency repairs service. The landmark buildings in its care include Harrogate Convention Centre, the Royal Hall, Harrogate Turkish Baths, Harrogate Theatre, the Royal Pump Rooms, the Mercer Art Gallery, Knaresborough Castle and Museum, and Ripon Spa Baths.

Robinsons Facilities Services has seen its turnover grown threefold since it launched in 2013 as its own dedicated, independent business and now employs a team of 17 offering planned maintenance as well as a round-the-clock call-out repairs service.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by richard chew .