From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, January 5, 2008

Well over one hundred contractors including a range of local small and medium sized building, electrical, plumbing/heating and specialist trade companies have expressed interest in becoming property maintenance contractors to Devon County Council.

The Council advertised the tenders in October in a move to simplify its maintenance contracts process for schools and other Council-owned properties, making it easier and more transparent to manage.

The Council has now invited companies that have expressed interest in working with the council to undertake health and safety training in a range of key health and safety areas.

In partnership with the Working Well Together Campaign (WWT), the County Council has arranged two Safety and Health Awareness days to promote awareness training and accreditation:

• Newton Abbot on the 23 January 2008 at the Newton Abbot Racecourse
• Barnstaple on the 30 January 2008 at the Barnstaple Hotel

The WWT campaign, set up in 2004, is an industry based campaign to improve health and safety within the construction industry. The campaign was initially set up by the Health and Safety Executive and is widely supported within the construction industry.

Constructive Devon, established in 2005 to encourage more people to work in Devon's construction industry will also participate in the event. Their partners include the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) - ConstructionSkills, the South West Regional Development Agency, District Councils, Learning and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus and local, regional and national contractors.

The two training events are also aimed to encourage businesses in construction to take on new trainees, at adult or apprentice level.

The Council's new maintenance contract arrangements will involve having a 'panel of approved contractors', based on nine geographic areas of Devon, from which trades can be selected to carry out planned and reactive property maintenance work and small works.

From April 2008, Schools for example will be able to choose which contractor from the approved panel to contact with full knowledge of their hourly rates and other charges.

The Council has 370 schools, and together with social care facilities for adults, children's centres, libraries, offices and other owned buildings, it has around 1,000 properties.

Councillor Julian Brazil, the County Council's Executive Support Member for Property Management, said:

"We're now looking very closely at all the applications submitted and will shortlist them by geographic region.

"Health and safety is one of the criteria we'll be looking at, which is why we're inviting them to attend either of the events in Barnstaple and Newton Abbot later this month.

"We're also keen to encourage companies to take on trainees and increase their skills so that they can attract more local business within Devon.

"The new arrangements will help the Council drive down our overall maintenance costs leaving money that can be redirected into other projects or services."