The University of Birmingham has upped its efforts to forge long-term relationships with contractors and consultants courtesy of its first proprietary framework.

The institution announced its inaugural capital estates framework, with Morgan Sindall Construction being named as a key construction partner.

The main contractor has been appointed to both of the lots it bid for; comprising projects between £2.5 million-10 million, and projects over £10 million.

Construction has delivered a number of recent projects across the University's campuses, including the multi-award-winning £45 million University of Birmingham Collaborative Teaching Laboratory, and the £18 million extension and renovation of the institution's University House business school.

Plans are in place to make the framework accessible to other universities in the West Midlands, to ensure they're able to derive similar efficiencies in cost and speed of delivery, along with guarantees on quality, sustainability and social value outcomes.

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Sean Bowles, Managing Director of Morgan Sindall Construction's Central business said: "As a long-term construction partner of the University of Birmingham, we're naturally delighted to have been appointed to its first proprietary framework.

"The estates team is adopting a ten-year strategy and opening the framework up to other institutions in the region. This evidences a collaborative approach and long-term vision – qualities we value in our customers.

"We look forward to designing and building projects across the entire estate over the next decade, while forging ahead, in tandem with the University, on key agendas relating to social value, inclusion and the move towards zero carbon."

Head of Procurement Jonathan Jones added: "The University of Birmingham has always prided itself on its scale of ambition to deliver first rate services and resources for its students and staff. With a planned additional infrastructure investment of £500 million over the next few years, we also wanted to develop further procurement opportunities by creating our own University construction framework. This framework not only allows the University to optimise its value for money, but is also available for other universities to use and benefit from the collective spending power and contractor relationship development.

"By working closely with our key contractors we can collectively develop additional opportunities with initiatives such as social value, environmental enhancements and sponsorship opportunities."

(CM/JG)