Mitie lands airport work

Maintenance outsourcing specialist Mitie has won a five-year contract with Manchester Airport to provide facilities management services.

Under the terms of the contract 300 staff transfer to Mitie from incumbent, Initial Air Services, who had managed the contract for 24 years. Services covered in the contract include cleaning terminals, car park and road sweeps, internal waste management and preparing the airport for the onset of winter each year.

The contract is worth £5.2m a year to Mitie.

Johan Venter, Mitie's director of transport cleaning, said: "Manchester Airport is very important for us and demonstrates the confidence that a major international airport has in our technical and logistical abilities."

Sarah Barrett, group head of customer experience, said: "We will be working closely with Mitie to tailor its training programmes for its people. We have our own desire to be the leading airport for customer service and if our service partners share that goal then it will make the journey easier."