Mace Construct and Willmott Dixon have been jointly appointed by Crown Commercial Service to all three lots of the NHS ProCure23 (P23) Framework, marking a significant step forward for collaborative construction in England’s healthcare sector.

The appointment will allow the two leading UK contractors to work together on NHS construction projects. The alliance – announced in late 2021 – will see the two firms collaborate on projects together under a FAC-1 Framework Alliance Contract.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2020/21, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.04bn - supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

P23 is the fourth generation of the ProCure framework for the design and construction of NHS capital projects with an expected cumulative spend of £9bn during its lifespan. P23 enables NHS clients to quickly access experienced and proficient partners to support excellence in all aspects of NHS capital project delivery, including business case development, sustainability, design, construction (including modern methods), disruption mitigation, benefit realisation and optimised occupation.

The new commercial agreement recognises the importance of public sector construction as a key driver of economic recovery, providing health bodies in England with a new route to market for construction works and associated services, and helping the UK to build back better. It adopts the principles of the Construction Playbook, rationalising frameworks in an innovative partnership between Crown Commercial Service (CCS) and NHS England and NHS Improvement.

The Mace and Willmott Dixon alliance will allow P23 Framework users to draw on the combined expertise, skills and capacity of both firms for construction projects of any scale and complexity, with the complementary strengths of Mace and Willmott Dixon able to provide a wider, more holistic service for a consistent delivery of all project values.

The appointment to all three lots means that the two contractors will be available to deliver work across the three value bands identified by the framework: regional projects valued below £20m, projects between £20m to £70m and projects worth more than £70m.

Willmott Dixon and Mace both have extensive experience in delivering UK healthcare construction projects, from Mace’s delivery of the award-winning new Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital for UCLH to Willmott Dixon’s Pears building for the Royal Free Charity, which was recognised as the ‘Project of the Year (over £50m)’ at the 2021 Construction News Awards, while Willmott Dixon Interiors is reconfiguring the Langley Wing for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, which includes the remodelling and fit-out of the rehabilitation centre, and also refurbishing the urgent treatment centre for Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust.

Terry Spraggett, MD for Public Sector Construction, Mace, said:

“Healthcare construction delivery is complex, but one of the most rewarding things we do as a company – delivering vital new facilities that ensure people in England can receive the treatment they need.

“Our joint appointment to all three lots of P23 is a major step forward for our alliance with Willmott Dixon, allowing NHS clients across England to draw on the combined expertise and experience of two of the UK’s leading construction firms. We’re looking forward to working closely together as we target new projects through the framework.”

John Waterman, Chief Operating Officer at Willmott Dixon, said:

“We are delighted to have been appointed to all value bands on the P23 Framework, allowing NHS clients to access the services of both our Construction and Interiors businesses.

“Working in collaboration with Mace, we look forward to being able to offer P23 Framework customers solutions that draw on the expertise of both companies, helping to drive forward advances in modern methods of construction, as well as a shared vision for a more sustainable industry and achieving Net Zero.”

Simon Corben, Director of Estates and Facilities and Head of Profession at NHS England and NHS Improvement, said:

“ProCure23 builds on almost two decades of success of ProCure as a route to market for NHS capital projects. The framework has been split into 3 lots to enable greater reach into all aspects of the NHS's capital requirements including increasing our estate’s capacity through new builds, addressing backlog maintenance, or reconfiguring spaces to better meet the health and care needs of our local communities.”