Capita to buy UK Fire Service College
17 December 2012
Outsourcing company Capita has been selected as the preferred bidder for the purchase of the Fire Service College. Announcing the move yesterday, Department for Communities Minister Brandon Lewis said the proposed sale of the college would achieve value for money for the public purse and secure the future of the college, which is situated at Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire.
“I am delighted that we are making real progress in securing the future of such an important facility,” said Mr Lewis. “It is vital for the development of the Fire Service College that we put it on a sound footing, giving the private sector a chance to provide innovation and investment that will guarantee the future of a world-class asset.”
A number of conditions will be set on the sale. These include commitments that:
*the college is preserved as a national training centre for fire and rescue authorities
*the college will continue to offer wider national resilience and emergency services training and exercises
*government permission will be required if Capita wish to sell the incident ground
Chief Fire Officers’ Association president, Vij Randeniya, said:
“CFOA has been closely involved during the negotiation on the future of the Fire Service College and we are pleased with today’s outcome, which we hope will secure the long term future of a world class facility for the fire and rescue service. There is now a tangible opportunity for Capita to make real progress in providing innovation and investment.”
The government expects to complete the sale early in the new year.
The process to sell the college was started in April 2012 following the government’s response to Fire Futures in April 2011.
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