Kier has begun delivery of its £700m Norfolk highways and infrastructure services contract, with 100 new colleagues TUPE'd (Transfer of Undertakings [Protection of Employment]) over to the company.
The new staff arrive from the council's previous contractor Tarmac, which had been responsible for maintaining Norfolk's roads since 2014.
Running for up to 14 years, the contract covers the maintenance and improvement of 9,836km of the county's highway network.
Kier is expected to deliver surfacing, surface dressing, planned maintenance, drainage improvements and bridge and structures work, alongside cyclical maintenance such as grass cutting and drainage cleansing.
Bobbie Perks, general manager at Kier Infrastructure, said: ‘This is a long-term contract and we're setting it up for long-term success, by bringing all stakeholders together and having early engagement, and focusing on the culture, team and ways of working we need. I'm really proud to be welcoming over 100 new colleagues to Kier, all with key skills and expertise needed to successfully deliver improvements that will make a real difference to communities across Norfolk.'
Grahame Bygrave, director of highways, transport & waste at Norfolk County Council, added: ‘We're really looking forward to starting this long-term partnership with Kier. The Norfolk County Council Highways Department is an outstanding team, who work hard to deliver the very best for the residents of Norfolk. I know that Kier share our values of quality, innovation and sustainability, and I'm looking forward to working with them.'
This new partnership is expected to bring new technologies, champion inclusive growth and active travel and open up local jobs and opportunities for skills development.
