DEO programme kicks off with official signing ceremony

Topic Defence, Frameworks

Date 26 May 2023

Galliford Try’s Chief Executive Bill Hocking was among the guests in attendance for an official signing ceremony between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Strategic Alliance Partners working on the Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) portfolio.

Minister of Defence, Baroness Annabel Goldie DL, led the MoD delegation for the ceremony, alongside Director of Infrastructure for the MoD Sherin Aminossehe, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) Chief Executive Mike Green and Army Director of Basing and Infrastructure Major General Richard Clements CBE.

Galliford Try was successful in its bid to win the Air & UK Strategic Command regional package and the Munster Barracks major project package under the DEO scheme, which is set to transform the defence estate across the country. Together the two packages are worth up to an estimated £387m.

Baroness Goldie commented: “The Estate Optimisation portfolio is fundamental to the future of Defence. From service, and family living accommodation, to specialist facilities such as hangars, command headquarters and medical facilities, this is the largest and most ambitious Defence infrastructure investment portfolio that we have as a department. At the heart of this is making life better for our people.

“I am proud of the hard work that has gone into establishing these two contracts which are central to this programme’s successful delivery. This is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver significant change, and I for one am delighted to sign on the dotted line.”

Bill Hocking, Chief Executive of Galliford Try, commented: “I am delighted that we have been able to sign this agreement and commit ourselves to deepening our partnership with MoD and DIO. The DEO portfolio is a fantastic opportunity for our business to develop even greater collaboration with our partners, and set a benchmark for how these large-scale infrastructure programmes should be undertaken.”