Wirral facilities management firm Kimpton secures new mechanical and electrical engineering contract with City of Liverpool College and will offer placements to students as part of the deal. Tony McDonough reports
Students at the City of Liverpool College will benefit from placements with a Wirral firm thanks to them signing of a new deal.
Wirral facilities management firm Kimpton has secured a new mechanical and electrical engineering contract with City of Liverpool College and, as part of the agreement, will offer opportunities for students to get hands-on work experience.
Kimpton has facilities management contracts with multiple sites in Liverpool totalling more than 1m sq ft. These include St Nicholas’ Church, the M&S Bank Arena, Exhibition Centre Liverpool and The Capital Building.
It won this latest deal with the college following a competitive tender process. Social value comprised a key component of the procurement process and Kimpton will now host a number of students on T-Level placements.
It will also support the college to refurbish its plumbing and gas workshop by designing and installing its gas and water infrastructure and providing industry hardware and appliances to support students’ learning, providing around £35,000 worth of in-kind value.
This new contract further expands Kimpton’s relationship with the college, having previously been appointed to manage its air conditioning systems and joining its minor works framework.
Kimpton, which is headquartered in Bromborough, uses current students within its delivery teams on those works, allowing the flow of talent and opportunity to come full-circle.
Matt Breakwell, director of sales and ESG at Kimpton, said: “Apprenticeships have long sat at the heart of our approach; four current directors and shareholders began as apprentices and nine senior team members followed the same route.
“In recent years we have widened access by recruiting directly through vocational colleges such as The City of Liverpool College, targeting students already committed through technical study, placements or T-Levels.”
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Both organisations have worked together for more than 30 years to help develop the city region’s future workforce, with dozens of apprentices and trainees benefitting from Kimpton’s expert team in classrooms and on site.
Elaine Bowker, principal and chief executive of The City of Liverpool College, added: “It’s vitally important to us that we prepare our students for the world of work, equipping them with the skills they need to secure jobs and pursue long, successful careers.”