EC Harris has won two major public sector deals, including a strategic role on the 拢500m Hatfield Hospital PFI project in Hertfordshire

The contract wins come as the firm is planning a major push for public sector work, which is to be spearheaded by the launch of a new regeneration business later this year.

On the Hatfield job EC Harris has been appointed lead technical advisor by East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. The new major acute hospital, including cancer centre, is due to be completed in 2013 and is now at the outline business case stage.

EC Harris has also been selected by the ODPM and English Partnerships to manage one of seven "millennium communities". The firm will provide QSing, project management and overall planning supervision on the 拢150m regeneration of South Lynn Millennium Community/Utopia, an area in King's Lynn, Norfolk.

The firm's public sector push will centre on the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Southwest of the UK.

At present the firm's public sector operation is strongest in London, the Southeast, the Midlands and the North.

Graham Kean, partner and head of public sector at EC Harris, said he would offer public clients "core QSing skills with a management overlay".

Health is a big political hot potato. There are problems with budgets and overspends

Graham Kean, partner, EC Harris

He said: "The public sector faces the problem of transferring management to white collar services... We see ourselves as a key player between the public and private sectors."

The firm will aim to win long-term framework deals from public bodies such as its contract with Northern Ireland's Department of Health.

Kean said the firm's public sector expertise in the social housing market would also be sold to private market developers working on mixed-use schemes featuring affordable homes.

Kean said EC Harris remained enthusiastic on the public sector despite questions over future government spending. He admitted the health sector looked less promising however. "Health is a big political hot potato. There are problems with budgets and overspends. But this also creates opportunities as there will be a period of taking stock."

Source

QS News