Utilities infrastructure specialist, Falco, has strengthened its partnership with UK Power Networks following a recent contract announcement.
From 1st February 2022, the London-based company will be providing planned and responsive excavation services to cover faults, small services and unmetered connections (UMC) in the underground infrastructure of Britain’s largest electricity distributor in all of its three operating areas – London, Eastern and Southern Power Networks (LPN, EPN and SPN).
Following a competitive tendering process Falco has been reappointed as the primary groundworks providers for the LPN area following a 3-year hiatus. The EPN contract has been renewed.
The new combined contract is for an initial 4 year duration with an option to extend by 2 years. The EPN area covers the East of England. LPN encompasses the Greater London area.
Falco was appointed as the primary groundworks contractor for SPN in 2019.
“This new & expanded contract signals a major expansion of our service portfolio requiring significant investment in fleet, plant and human resources,” says Falco’s Managing Director, Brendan Griffin, “It is an acknowledgement of the quality and consistency of the work we have done to support and collaborate with UK Power Networks over the last nine years.”
Falco has now worked on UK Power Networks infrastructure for over 15 years initially as a sub-contractor to, among others, Laing O’Rourke and Skanska. The company was awarded tier-1 contractor status in 2013 when winning a 4-year contract for London. Four years later the company was appointed to provide planned and responsive services for the East of England area.
“We are delighted to announce Falco’s re-appointment to EPN for the next 4 years as well as their return to LPN region,” said Mark Simmons, Head of Powercare at UK Power Networks, “Their presence and commitment to continuous improvement and use of new technologies will help maintain and improve our networks, while delivering great customer service in the most safe, efficient, effective way.”
Falco transitioned to an employee ownership and governance model in March 2021 as part of building a succession plan for the business. The award of this enhanced and expanded framework agreement from UK Power Networks underpins the medium-term future of Falco and allows further development of capabilities that will help build a bigger and even better business that is well placed to serve the changing needs of key infrastructure owners.