Serco Group
Serco Group plc (LSE: SRP) is a government services company based in Hook, North Hampshire in the United Kingdom. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
History
Serco was founded in 1929 as a United Kingdom division of the Radio Corporation of America and initially provided services to the cinema industry.[2] It changed its name to Serco in 1987[2] and has been a London Stock Exchange listed company since 1988.[2]
On 29 December 2008, Serco completed its acquisition of SI International.[3]
Operations
The Guardian has called Serco "probably the biggest company you've never heard of".[4]
Serco operates in various sectors:
- Home Affairs: Serco operates the National Border Targeting Centre for the UK Border Agency and provides the Carrier Gateway - the interface between carriers and the Agency.[5]
- Transport: Serco operates London's Docklands Light Railway,[6] Woolwich Free Ferry[7] and the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme[8] (all for Transport for London), and Great Southern Railways in Australia.[9][10] Serco also has a joint venture with Abellio, the UK arm of Dutch national rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen, to operate passenger trains in the UK: Serco-Abellio has a 25 year concession for Merseyrail in Liverpool and operates Northern Rail services in the north of England.[11] Serco also operates the Dubai Metro.[12] Serco formerly operated the Copenhagen Metro with Ansaldo STS, until selling its share with effect from 1 January 2008.[13] In addition, Serco Rail Operations operates infrastructure monitoring trains in the UK.[14] Serco's Home Affairs division, run by Tom Riall, also operates speed camera systems throughout the UK and designs, writes and tests the software that controls the matrix message signs, signals, emergency roadside telephones (SOS) and traffic monitoring on England's motorway network including the National Traffic Control Centre.[15]
- Aviation: Serco provides air traffic control services at international airports in the United Arab Emirates[38] and at some smaller airports in the USA and Canada.[39][40] Since 2004 Serco have also had £5m a year from the US government to manage airports in Iraq.[41] Serco also operate Scatsta Airport in the Hebrides.[42] In June 2010 Serco signed a £4million contract to operate all air traffic control services for Coventry Airport.[43]
- Education: Serco holds a 10 year contract with Bradford City Council to manage and operate the local education authority,[49] providing education support services to the City's schools, and similarly manages and operates Walsall[50] and Stoke-on-Trent local education authorities.[51] Serco is one of Ofsted's three Regional Inspection Service Providers, responsible for school inspections in the English Midlands.[52] Serco is also the provider of a Student information system, Facility, used in schools and colleges in several countries.[53]
- Drivers' licensing: Serco, through a purpose-made division Serco DES, holds a 10 year, $114 million contract with the Province of Ontario to operate the province's DriveTest driver examination centres. These tests include vision, road, and knowledge tests for all persons seeking to become a licensed automobile driver in the province.[39]
- Serco also administers a number of publicly funded websites in the UK, including the Business Link website.[55]
- Serco publishes a magazine, Ethos Journal, to stimulate thought and provoke reaction to the big issues shaping the world of public services. Ethos is aimed at public sector leaders, politicians, academics and policy specialists debating the future of public services today.[57]
Serco operates in Continental Europe, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific region and North America, but the majority of its turnover still comes from the UK.
See also
- Serco Ltd v Lawson [2006] UKHL 3, a UK labour law case concerning the jurisdictional application of employment rights.
Notes
- ^ a b c "Preliminary Results 2010" (PDF). http://www.serco.com/Images/FY10ResultsSEA_tcm3-37331.pdf. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
- ^ a b c "History". Serco. 14 May 2010. http://www.serco.com/about/ataglance/history/index.asp. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Hubler, David (30 December 2008). "Serco wraps up SI International buy". Washingtontechnology.com. http://washingtontechnology.com/Articles/2008/12/30/Serco-wraps-up-SI-International-buy.aspx. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ 'Happy, Touchy Feely and Driven by God', Jane Martinson, The Guardian, 24/02/06
- ^ Government snared in fight over scrapped £742m e-Borders contract
- ^ "Transport for London: Franchise". Tfl.gov.uk. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/modesoftransport/dlr/management/1534.aspx. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Serco to operate Woolwich Ferry Services
- ^ Hill, Dave (12 August 2009). "Boris Johnson bike hire scheme: and the winner is". Guardian (UK). http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2009/aug/12/boris-johnson-serco-bike-hire-london. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Australia's Great Train Journeys
- ^ The Ghan – Australia on line
- ^ "Department for Transport: Serco NedRailways announced as Preferred Bidder". http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/releases/sra/2004/2004b/serconedrailwaysannouncedasp1487. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Serco preferred bidder for Dubai metro operations contract, Railway Gazette International 2007-06-19. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
- ^ Milanese run København Metro, Railway Gazette International 2008-01-08. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
- ^ "Serco website – rail operations". Serco.com. 25 April 2010. http://www.serco.com/markets/transport/railoperations.asp. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Shah, Saeed (21 February 2001). "Serco to run Britain's first traffic control unit". The Independent (UK). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/serco-to-operate-britains-first-road-traffic-control-unit-692753.html. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Managing NPL". Npl.co.uk. http://www.npl.co.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.2797. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "National Physical Laboratory". EthosJournal.com. http://www.ethosjournal.com/home/item/182-national-physical-laboratory. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
- ^ Contract News Update
- ^ Home Office: Electronic tagging
- ^ Paterson, Craig. "Virtual Private Prisons". Corporate Watch. http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=2513. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Home Office: Yarls Wood". Ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/immigrationremovalcentres/yarlswood. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Home Office: Colnbrook". Ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/managingborders/immigrationremovalcentres/colnbrook. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Wackenhut Corrections wins prisoner escort contract". Prnewswire.co.uk. http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=48160. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Prison Privatisation". Strafvollzugsarchiv.de. http://www.strafvollzugsarchiv.de/index.php?action=dokument_anzeigen&anzeige_id=8. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Department of Corrective Services: Acacia Prison Contract". Correctiveservices.wa.gov.au. http://www.correctiveservices.wa.gov.au/about-us/business-with-us/tenders-contracts/acacia-prison-contract.aspx. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
- ^ "Government of Australia: Criminal Justice System". Aic.gov.au. 30 June 2009. http://www.aic.gov.au/criminal_justice_system/corrections/facilities/qld.aspx. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Private contractor Serco to run detention centres Crikey, 1 July 2009
- ^ Companies Use Immigration Crackdown to Turn a Profit New York Times, 28 September 2011
- ^ "Serco says Mt Eden prison contract worth $300M". NZ News UK. 1 February 2011. http://www.nznewsuk.co.uk/business/?ID=15352&StartRow=1. Retrieved 26 December 2011.
- ^ Terry Macalister (2 September 2004). "PFI deals help Serco to record order book of £10bn". Guardian (UK). http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2004/sep/02/privatefinance.society. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Airport of Embarkation". Raf.mod.uk. 18 March 2010. http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafbrizenorton/aboutus/apoewing.cfm. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ a b c "Serco Business Review Page 20" (PDF). http://www.investis.com/reports/srp_en_ara_2002/downloads/part6.pdf. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Serco Sodexho and the real story about work choices
- ^ "Defence Academy". Da.mod.uk. http://www.da.mod.uk/colleges/jscsc/About%20JSCSC/Support%20Services. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Harrison, Michael (21 June 2001). "BNFL consortium seeks 15 year extension to Aldermaston contract". The Independent (UK). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/bnfl-consortium-seeks-15year-extension-to-aldermaston-contract-674841.html. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Dstl Inspire Contract release". Serco. http://www.serco.com/media/pressreleases/2005/DstlInspireContract.asp. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ "Marine Services". Serco. http://www.serco.com/markets/defence/marineservices.asp. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- ^ Serco - Middle East
- ^ a b Serco - North America
- ^ Goose Bay Airport - Control Tower services
- ^ Terry Macalister (3 March 2004). "Serco wins Iraqi Air Traffic Deal". Guardian (UK). http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2004/mar/03/iraq.internationalnews. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Scatsta Airport control tower not fit for purpose". Shetland Times. 10 June 2011. http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2011/06/10/scatsta-airport-control-tower-not-fit-for-purpose. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ^ Coventry Airport Gears Up For Business Coventry Airport, 15 June 2010
- ^ "Private Finance Initiative – Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital" (PDF). http://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/docs%5Ctrustdocs%5C96.pdf. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Leicester Royal Infirmary: Hospital Cleaning". Uhl-tr.nhs.uk. http://www.uhl-tr.nhs.uk/formedia/press-releases/january-december-06/july-september-2006/september-2006/hospital-cleaning-. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Krissy Storrar (25 February 2006). "So you thought it was Tony and Gordon in charge?". Mirror.co.uk. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16746093&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=so-you-thought-it-was-tony-and-gordon-in-charge--well--think-again--and-meet-the-men-from-serco-who-r-name_page.html. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "New company vows to clean up Derriford Hospital". 3 June 2009. http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/New-company-vows-clean-Derriford-Hospital/story-12683888-detail/story.html. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ "Serco and Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust sign pioneering pathology partnership". 30 January 2009. http://www.serco.com/media/pressreleases/2009/gst.asp. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
- ^ Catcheside, Kim (10 November 2003). "Bradford: Concerns about education privatisation". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3257825.stm. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Chris Hyman: Can Serco take over the World?". The Independent (UK). 2 September 2007. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/chris-hyman-can-serco-take-over-the-world-401126.html. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Best school in town and still they want to close it Ed Caesar The Sunday Times 11 November 2007
- ^ "New inspection contracts signed" (Press release). Ofsted. 25 March 2009. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/News/Press-and-media/2009/March/New-inspection-contracts-signed.
- ^ "A window opens on pupils' progress". London: Education.guardian.co.uk. http://education.guardian.co.uk/evaluate/story/0,,1775329,00.html. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Thu, 9 Oct 2008 (9 October 2008). "Serco picks agency to help it beef up marketing". Marketingweek.co.uk. http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=62796&u=pg_dtl_art_news&m=pg_hdr_art. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Enlightenlive". Enlightenlive. http://www.enlightenlive.com/html/serco.html. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "Southwark voluntary and community groups to receive PCs from serco". Findarticles.com. 2007. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ECZ/is_2007_Oct_29/ai_n21068411. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ "EthosJournal". Serco. http://www.ethosjournal.com/. Retrieved 11 February 2011.
External links