The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) has appointed Cushman & Wakefield to provide national Lease and Landlord Management services.
DWP serves over 18 million customers and employs more than 80,000 people, making it one of the largest government departments. With more than 850 properties across England, Scotland and Wales, including head office locations and job centres, it also accounts for a significant proportion of the government’s civil service estate.
Cushman & Wakefield’s appointment follows a competitive tender process run under the Crown Commercial Services’ previous Estates Professional Services framework RM928. It will be delivered through DWP’s new operating model, comprising an Integrator (Sodexo) coordinating and managing DWP’s appointed suppliers responsible for all aspects of day-to-day property services delivery, including: security, facilities management, lease and landlord management, capital projects, and furniture and equipment.
The new model presents an opportunity for DWP Estates to align the location of the estate with new and transformative ways of working, enabling DWP to have the right number of people, in the right locations, to deliver its business.
The Lease and Landlord Management contract will be managed by Cushman & Wakefield’s Global Occupier Services (GOS) business. The firm will manage DWP’s lease portfolio (including lease renewals, rent reviews and liaison with landlords) and intra-government and wider public sector occupancy agreements, including managing and collecting payments for rents, rates, insurances and service charges.
James Maddock, Head of GOS EMEA, Cushman & Wakefield, commented: “We have a long track record of partnering with the public sector to deliver efficient, sustainable and fit-for-purpose property, securing value for money for the public purse. There are exciting opportunities for DWP, so we are very pleased to enter into this landmark contract as they take steps to transform its estate for the future.”