Facilities management provider Programmed will maintain Transpower’s national network of properties, including its nearly 180 substation sites, in a potential nine-year contract.
The deal with Transpower began July 1 and is a significant win for Programmed which now has caretaking custodianship for more than 5800 customer sites across New Zealand.
The Transpower deal comprised three different contracts tendered late last year to manage the state-owned enterprise’s national network of substations, warehouses, plus other properties.
Programmed is growing with 34 new roles created across the country and two new larger offices being established in Wellington and Christchurch alongside its Auckland headquarters.
Re-investing in local communities with local knowledge via a shared trust model is vital to the company’s success, says Programmed NZ facility management head Matthew Cotterall.
“These are complicated roles working within an electrical environment so utilising knowledgeable and skilled local workers was incredibly important to us as part of this partnership,” he says.
“We’re very aware that we couldn’t win this scale of business without our vendor partners and that they rely on us too.
“We are thrilled to bring on a highly experienced network of people and organisations who have been working on Transpower infrastructure for years whilst investing back into them with training and safety systems, technology and a modern fleet for ultimate work fulfilment.”
Cotterall says Programmed has introduced and adapted innovative technologies, such as drones, to ensure Transpower’s assets are maintained to the highest possible standard.
“Transpower provides an essential service to New Zealanders; ensuring the integrity of its buildings and infrastructure services is vital to its success,” he says.
“We’re laser focussed on minimising disruption and risk and look forward to bringing our innovation and expertise to its services.”
Transpower grid delivery executive general manager Mark Ryall says they are looking forward to working with Programmed.
“We’re entering an exciting and busy period that will ensure our critical infrastructure meets New Zealand’s needs for the future. Facilities Maintenance is an important part of that work,” Ryall says.
Programmed has seen exponential success since entering the NZ market in 1986 and through its multiple high-profile contracts with Chorus, Transpower and the Ministry of Education, it is now responsible for more than 6000 different sites from Cape Reinga to Bluff and across to the Chatham Islands.
Programmed has also developed operations frameworks for customers including KiwiRail, the Auckland Council, Te Āhuru Mōwai, and Fonterra.