Capita Symonds continues to have a strong
presence in its Regional Business Centre in Carlisle,
following the end of our ten-year partnership with Cumbria County
Council on 31 January 2011.
We retain many high quality jobs and continue to be the
largest consultancy business in Cumbria, focussed on achieving
growth and ongoing success in the region.
Background
Formed in February 2001 on a seven-year contract (with a
three-year extension), the partnership between Capita and Cumbria
County Council was the first of its kind, and an exemplar for
subsequent local authority partnerships.
The partnership involved the externalisation of the Council’s
successful ‘in-house’ Design & Business Services (DBS)
consultancy and involved the TUPE transfer of 576 employees to
Capita across various professional disciplines including HR
and personnel, payroll and pensions, highways, and ICT (including
over 300 property and infrastructure professionals to Capita
Symonds).
In entering into such an arrangement the Council sought a
partner who would bring jobs and investment as well as continuing
to deliver and improve Council services.
Investment & Growth
The creation of a new £6m state-of-the-art Regional Business
Centre (RBC) at Kingmoor Business Park, Carlisle, not only provided
an efficient operating base, but helped kick start the northern end
of this immensely successful strategic employment site. The
futurist aluminium-clad building was designed by Capita
Symonds for speed and economy of erection. Investment was also made
in the network of local offices Capita occupied throughout
Cumbria.
Growth was a key focus of the partnership and the
value of new work that has been won has brought significant benefit
to the economy of the region. As a result the turnover of Capita in
Cumbria increased year-on-year and peaked at £35m.
Whilst it was not possible to deliver the 1,000 new jobs hoped
(for which Capita fulfilled its contractual obligation in
compensating the Council) the creation of some 450 new jobs during
the ten years remains commendable. These were high value jobs,
particularly within Capita Symonds, and resulted from contract wins
with a number of local and national clients, and a sustainable
business of over 200 people that continues to operate in
Cumbria post-contract. In a general climate of economic decline, to
deliver such growth is a real success story and provided many
opportunities for local employment and retention of skills.
Through the partnership, Capita Symonds has also expanded into
North East England opening an office in Durham in 2003 to service
framework arrangements with both Durham County Council and
Darlington Borough Council. More recently offices have been opened
in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and York.
It is estimated the overall added value to Cumbria
from the ten year partnership with Capita is likely to be at least
£55m.
The future
Capita Symonds continues to have a strong presence in its
Regional Business Centre in Carlisle, providing a multidisciplinary
service to the Highways Agency and a number of local authorities
under existing frameworks - as well as working with major
contractors and developers.