Serco signs new Business Link contract
Serco signs new Business Link contract for South East England
7th January 2010
Serco Group plc (Serco), the international service company, announces that it
has signed a contract with the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to
provide Business Link services across the South East region of the UK. Serco
announced in August 2009 that it had been appointed preferred bidder for this
contract. The contract is expected to commence in April 2010, and is valued at
around £80m over three years, with an option to extend for a further two years.
Under the contract, Serco will maximise the quality, efficiency and consistency
of the service by integrating the six existing Business Link operations in the
South East, which serve businesses in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire,
Berkshire, Surrey, Hampshire, Sussex and Kent. The new service will simplify
and improve access for the region's 750,000 businesses to an extensive range of
support, increase focus on frontline advice and one-to-one support, and place a
particular emphasis on small and medium sized enterprises and new business
ventures.
Serco is a leading provider of business support services, and delivers the UK's
national online portal businesslink.gov.uk as well as regional Business Link
services in London, and in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. In London, awareness
of the Business Link service has increased by 40% over the past year, leading
to a 50% increase in calls handled by the contact centre, and in Devon,
Cornwall and Somerset, innovation and operational efficiency improvements have
resulted in 50% more businesses receiving intensive help and guidance over the
last 18 months.
Pam Alexander, SEEDA Chief Executive, said: "The new Business Link contract
comes at a pivotal time for the economy in the South East. It will be a great
boost to South East businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs to take advantage of
the services as they prepare for the upturn. Business Link will support the
region's economy, helping to create prosperity for all. Serco has an extensive
track record in delivering Business Link services in other regions so we have
confidence that business support within the South East will go from strength to
strength."
Christopher Hyman, Chief Executive of Serco Group, said: "The work we do in
helping businesses to start-up and thrive is a key part of addressing
unemployment, encouraging entrepreneurship, and creating sustainable economic
growth in the current challenging economic environment. I am delighted that the
value and quality of the work we do both nationally and in the regions we serve
has been recognised in our selection for this contract."
Ends
For further information please contact Serco:
Charles King, Head of Investor Relations T +44 (0) 208 334 4122
Dominic Cheetham, Director of Corporate Communications T +44 (0) 208 334 4334
Marcus De Ville, Head of Media Relations T +44 (0) 208 334 4388
About Serco
Serco is a FTSE 100 international service company, which combines commercial
know-how with a deep public service ethos.
We improve essential services by managing people, processes, technology and
assets more effectively. We advise policy makers, design innovative solutions,
integrate systems and - most of all - deliver to the public.
Serco supports governments, agencies and companies who seek a trusted partner
with a solid track record of providing assured service excellence. Our people
offer operational, management and consulting expertise in the aviation, BPO,
defence, education, environmental services, facilities management, health, home
affairs, information and communications technology, knowledge services, local
government, science, transport, welfare to work and the commercial sectors.
More information can be found at www.serco.com.
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