Training - DEFENCE MANAGEMENT JOURNAL, Issue 56

PROFILE- Service levels reach new heights

Mechanical and electrical contractor, WT Parker, is calmly and confidently delivering services worth in excess of £50m across the country for various government agencies, including Army Living Accommodation, Facility Management and the Royal Air Force (RAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) in particular.

Since World War II, WT Parker has worked with the majority of RAF and USAF stations throughout the central and eastern regions of the UK (including RAF Grantham, Watton and Thetford and USAF Alconbury, Molesworth, Mildenhall and Lakenheath), as well as on MoD bases. The company is engaged predominantly as an MTC contractor under the current FSC/2 Contract, or as a framework contractor on the Regional Prime Contract Central and East, delivering mechanical and electrical services that are key to both modern day new builds and the integration of services into refurbished existing facilities.

Its longstanding relationship with Defence Estates (now DIO) and the RAF gives WT Parker a firm knowledge base on which to offer advice and share experiences relating to MoD estates, as well as private sector properties.

This year, the company celebrates its 90th birthday. Its longevity is based on responsiveness to client demands, innovative technical advice and creation of a partnership with its customers that delivers the end result.

From the Employer's Performance Brief, the almost 350-strong, highly trained workforce deliver fully coordinated designs complying with all statutory regulations along with value engineering. Of increasing importance is the incorporation of renewable technologies.

WT Parker prides itself on developing its workforce. Over the years, it has recruited and trained apprentices, both electrical and mechanical, who
are the company's future skilled operatives. At present, 28 apprentices are undergoing training. A high number are sponsored on related degree engineering courses ensuring future succession planning needs are met in the company.

In the nature of its business, work can be distributed throughout the UK. WT Parker's headquarters are located in Burton-on-Trent, but, importantly, there are self-contained regional offices in Grantham and further east in Thetford, both of which serve the RAF and USAF bases mentioned and many others.

Contracts and service delivery include:
•Fixed price lump sum under the JCT suite and NEC;
•Guaranteed maximum price (GMP);
•Target cost with pain and gain share (MPTC);
•Open book actual cost reimbursement with pre-agreed overhead and profit;
•Measured term contract (MTC);
•Pre and post-measure;
•Purchase orders.

Accredited to ISO 9001: 2008, WT Parker places health, safety and environmental matters high on the agenda. Third generation family member, Tim Parker, demonstrates this by taking overall responsibility for the company's health and safety resources, and has instigated a planned programme of internal and external audits to ensure that quality management processes are adhered to.

Sean Smyth-Chairman and Managing Director
WT Parker Ltd
Staffordshire DE14 3SX
Tel: +44 (0)1283 542661
www.wtparker.co.uk
s.smyth@wtparker.co.uk