ESS, the Defence, Energy and Government Services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland, has mobilised the Soft FM contract at MOD Abbey Wood.
ESS is delivering a range of services from catering, retail and leisure through to waste, cleaning and laundry to the site in Bristol which houses the MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and Defence Business Services (DBS) organisations. As part of the mobilisation, ESS has welcomed 100 transferring employees to its workforce.
MOD Abbey Wood is an addition to the Hestia South West Multi Activity Contract already being run by ESS Defence. The company supports over 250 military establishments across the UK, from Cornwall to the north of Scotland. These include operational, headquarters and training environments in partnership with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and other industry partners.
ESS worked closely with DIO and other MOD stakeholders to ensure a smooth transfer of services.
Understanding and adapting to the requirements of the headquarters in a post-Covid world is proving key to the successful delivery of the contract. ESS has invested in the foodservice and retail areas to encourage usage as the site’s occupants continue returning to the office. Customers have access to high street style hot food concepts as well as sandwiches, salads and a range of breakfast options. Plant-forward dishes are integrated into menus for those wanting a healthier, more sustainable meal.
Andy Hopkirk, SW Regional Manager – Defence Infrastructure Organisation, commented:
“I am really excited that we have been able to expand the Hestia contract with our partners ESS to encompass our largest Headquarters building complex in the South West. This marks the end of a vast array of good collaborative work between DIO, ESS and the client to manage the transition. It is also a fresh start and I look forward to seeing the service provision enhancements we will collectively make.”
Bob Gray, Managing Director – ESS Defence, commented:
“We are delighted that MOD Abbey Wood has become part of the Hestia South West contract which we have been delivering since June 2018. We are enjoying the challenge of supporting our clients as their teams re-establish their office routines after the pandemic. We recognise that providing a great working environment is an important part of this and that we have a crucial role to play.”
