Ryhurst selected for NHS trust estates role

Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has selected Ryhurst as preferred bidder to become its strategic estates partner.

Subject to contract, Ryhurst's work will include reviewing the use of existing facilities, providing expertise in surplus asset disposal and exploiting estates and commercial opportunities.

Ryhurst has a Preston office.

Over the next month the trust will head towards award of contract, following which CWP will enter into a 15 year 50/50 joint venture partnership to deliver a comprehensive range of estate management services.

The trust will use Ryhurst's Service Targeted Estates Partnership model in the delivery of an intelligent estates strategy.

CWP chief executive Sheena Cumiskey said: "We are very excited about this partnership and are pleased to announce Ryhurst as our preferred bidder.

"This partnership will ensure CWP's estate is maximised to support existing clinical services and trust plans for service development as well as plans to continue to deliver excellent clinical services and provision of high quality care."

Ryhurst managing director Stephen Collinson said: "Working together with the NHS, this appointment cements Ryhurst's place as the leading developer of this type of partnership, whose single guiding principle is to support clinical strategy through smart asset management.

"We're very excited to bring our innovative model to CWP and look forward to working together in the delivery of progressive, cost effective estates management services that offer good value to the taxpayer."

Ryhurst's STEP model was developed to help the NHS better utilise its estate, improve the quality of buildings essential for clinical services and provides an equitable solution for the taxpayer to be used in the delivery of a whole estates partnership with the NHS.

Following the preferred bidder appointment and award of contract, it is anticipated that the partnership will be fully established by the end of August.