Commercial team advices on record outsourcing deal

A Shakespeare Putsman team led by partner Matthew Sutton has advised Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council on Europe's largest education outsourcing contract.

The Birmingham law firm advised on the negotiation and award of the 12-year contract which has a value of £345m. Serco Group won the contract and will deliver education support services to the Council and to Walsall's 119 schools. In addition it will introduce a number of new initiatives intended to support the economic and social regeneration of Walsall including the creation of 200 jobs in the borough, a Business Incubation Centre, and a young persons' apprenticeship scheme.

Matthew Sutton of Shakespeare Putsman said: "Walsall Council and Serco had been working together since 2001 and over that time the partnership delivered considerable performance improvements. This has been an exciting project to be involved with and it will be fascinating to see how the plans to bring further innovation to the borough develop over the next few years."

David Brown, Director of Children's Services at Walsall Council, said: "The negotiation and award of this sizable contract was a detailed piece of work and the advice and support of the Shakespeare Putsman team was crucial to ensuring that we are able to deliver the best possible education and children's services in the area."