Wates Construction has been named as a supplier on the new Construction Works and Associated Services 2/ProCure23 framework launched in partnership with Crown Commercial Service (CCS) and NHS England and NHS Improvement.

CCS supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2020/21, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.04bn – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

The ProCure23 lots is a procurement route for the design and construction of NHS capital projects and aims to bring the latest best practice in construction methods, modern methods of construction and digital infrastructure to the NHS. Wates has been appointed to all the ProCure23 lots, including the two higher value lots for healthcare facilities between £20 million and £70 million and over £70 million.

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The new commercial agreement recognises the importance of public sector construction as a key driver of economic recovery, providing health bodies in England with a new route to market for construction works and associated services, and helping the UK to build back better. It adopts the principles of the Construction Playbook, rationalising frameworks in an innovative and collaborative partnership between CCS and NHS England and NHS Improvement.

The framework, which lasts for four years, combines the ProCure23 lots that are available to NHS England and has two national lots that are available to all other UK public sector bodies. The frameworks enable clients to buy construction services from businesses like Wates that have experience delivering highly complex structures, working in live operational environments, and understand how to implement the latest technology to improve quality and accelerate progress towards net zero.

This announcement follows the appointment of a new senior team focused on expanding Wates’ work in healthcare last summer, with Sophia Lawrie also joining the company in September as Healthcare Framework Manager.

In October, it launched the Decarbonising Health Estates Partnership (DHEP) alongside Arup and HKS Architects to support NHS Trusts in developing and implementing their decarbonisation strategies, focusing on existing NHS estates.

Wates recently completed the 72-bed York In-Patient Facility at Foss Park and is currently completing the Abbey Area Health centre in Camden, which includes a GP surgery, offices and new community centre. In 2020, it delivered a 176-bed intensive care unit for The Royal London Hospital to boost response to COVID-19.