Critical digital infrastructure supplier Telent has been awarded its 24th traffic signal maintenance contract in the UK after signing an agreement with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC).
The 10-year contract covers maintenance responsibility for more than 160 SMBC highways assets including junctions, pedestrian crossings, and car park guidance signs.
From 1 April 2021, Telent will use its intelligent asset management techniques to conduct routine, preventative maintenance and will also be responsible for attending to and repairing urgent faults.
Furthermore, Telent will provide a suite of fault management and asset management systems and deliver new and refurbished traffic signal installations from its Wednesbury regional service centre.
Accoridng to SMBC, key to the contract was a mutual commitment to delivering social value in the local area.
Thus, Telent STEM ambassadors will commit 100 staffing hours per year to provide careers advice and workshops for local Solihull students.
In addition, Telent will roll out dedicated staff wellbeing courses and diversity training for all contractors and subcontractors.
Telent said it had committed to maintaining spend with local suppliers, with its procurement team offering business advice to voluntary community social enterprises (VCSEs) and SMEs.
A SMBC spokesperson said: “As well as maintaining and improving a traffic network to ensure our residents and visitors enjoy safe and efficient travel, we always want to make sure our partners can help us provide a wider benefit to the area.
“With Telent, we’ve procured the services of a provider with a keen sense of social responsibility that is in alignment with the council’s own values and objectives.”
