Mace and Gleeds lead consortium to deliver Peruvian new schools programme

• A consortium of companies from the UK and Finland have been selected as Peru’s delivery partner to build 75 new schools to mark Peru’s bicentenary year as part of the Proyecto Especial de Inversión Pública – Escuelas Bicentenario (PEIP-EB)
• A Government-to-Government (G2G) agreement was signed between Peru and the UK to support the delivery of this programme
• The consortium, ‘Koulu’, is formed of Mace, Gleeds, Arup, 4global and Finnish companies AFRY, Polar Partners, LMA and ISKU

Yesterday, the UK Government signed a G2G agreement with the Government of Peru to support the construction of 75 new public schools in Peru. Kate Harrisson, British Ambassador to Peru signed in representation of Department for International Trade and Patricia Alvarado, Executive Director of PEIP-EB signed in representation of Peruvian Government.

The Ambassador of Finland was present in the signing ceremony marking the important participation of Finnish companies in the project.

The UK and Finland consortium, led by Mace and Gleeds and including AFRY, Polar Partners, 4global, LMA, ISKU and Arup, has been appointed by the PEIP-EB, a special entity first of its kind in Peru set up by Peru’s Ministry of Education (MINEDU). The G2G enables Technical Assistance that will be provided to PEIP-EB, who is ultimately responsible to deliver this important social programme.

The programme includes the construction of 59 schools in the Metropolitan Lima area and also 16 Emblematic Schools distributed between Puno, Junín, Cajamarca, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Callao, Lima province, Ucayali and Cusco.

The firms will bring British expertise across the project lifecycle and local supply chain knowledge to provide Project Management Office (PMO) services, technical assurance, procurement and knowledge transfer services that will improve capacity and capability across the Peruvian public sector. The British companies will also provide project management services across the construction phase, bringing their global experience to support PEIP in delivering the schools to time, cost and quality.

Drawing on Finland’s track record in delivering one of the world’s highest quality education systems, the Finnish consortium members will bring their pedagogical competence in the knowledge transfer & training process as well as on the design of Peru’s new learning environments as part of the programme.

Knowledge transfer is at the heart of the UK and Finland’s approach to the PEIP programme of work, as well as a shared interest in assuring the resilience and sustainability of the projects, helping to improve education outcomes for young people in Peru.

Mace and Gleeds will work together in an unincorporated joint venture known as 'Koulu', together with Arup, 4global and Finnish design and education specialists AFRY, Polar Partners, LMA and ISKU.

Collaborating with the UK Government and the Government of Finland, the organisations will support the long-term continuation of the relationship on future initiatives with the Government of Peru.

Mace, Gleeds and Arup are currently working with Peru’s Authority for Reconstruction with Changes (ARCC) on a $US 2bn reconstruction programme, rebuilding critical social infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, flood defence and water management systems affected by the impact of El Niño Costero in 2017 in Peru.

Mace and Gleeds are sharing knowledge with local supply chains and the ARCC, leaving a legacy of best practice in project implementation and successful delivery.

Mace, Arup and 4global have also delivered the 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games in Lima, establishing a successful partnership with the Government of Peru and the private sector.

Kate Harrisson, British Ambassador to Peru said:

“It is an honour that Peru has chosen the UK government and Koulu consortium as its delivery partner to provide technical assistance in the development of the Bicentennial Schools Special Project. It is a great opportunity to support Peru in the year of its Bicentenary and to continue strengthening our partnership. The project will boost social infrastructure in education - an essential pillar supporting Peru’s development process and investment in its people.” Ambassador Kate Harrisson.

Mr. Jukka Pietikäinen, Finnish Ambassador in Lima, said:

"We are delighted and proud to be part of this project. Finland believes in the importance of international collaboration, and, thus, we wish that this project will strengthen our ties with the Perúvian educational sector. The Finnish companies AFRY, Polar Partners, LMA, and ISKU have solid international experience exporting Finland's education know-how in designing school infrastructure, modern learning environments, school furniture  and training teachers with the best international standards. I rest assured this project will mark a key milestone in Finnish education exports worldwide, especially in Latin America."

Jason Millett, CEO for Consultancy at Mace, said:

“Building on our current work in Peru, we are excited to embark on a new delivery contract to create vital social infrastructure that will improve urban and rural areas in the country. We are committed to build not only sustainable education facilities, but also a legacy for local communities, working with the PEIP to share knowledge and best practice in project management and delivery.

“I’m delighted that we can continue to transform infrastructure delivery in Peru, following our successful partnership in completing the 2019 Pan American and Parapan Games in Lima as well as our current reconstruction programme with the ARCC where our teams are doing a fantastic work. Placing sustainability and resilience at the heart of the programme, we will deliver distinctive value to the PEIP and Peru.”

Stuart Senior, Supervisory Board, Gleeds, said:

“I am delighted that Gleeds has been selected as one of the delivery partners for the Bicentennial Schools programme for Perú. Our previous work in the region means we have a unique perspective on the Perúvian building and infrastructure sector, and our repeat appointment is further evidence of our ability to curate and work collaboratively with a team of experienced partners.

“Through this latest joint venture, to which each partner brings its own unique skillset, we hope to set yet another example of what can be achieved when businesses from across the globe share knowledge and work together to realise a common goal. Not only will we strive to leave a lasting legacy in terms of the buildings we create here, but also to provide the Peruvian Government with a first-class project management office that will pay dividends for generations to come.”