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The Education Funding Agency has defended the lack of SMEs on its new £5bn Regional Framework, as its director of capital stressed he was "determined" to help regional contractors win future education work.
A total of 16 contractors were selected for the six-lot Regional Framework, which commenced this week, with Bam Construction, Bowmer and Kirkland, Kier and Shepherd among the big winners.
When the framework was launched last year, the EFA said it would help to level the playing field between those on its national Contractors' Framework and smaller, regional contractors.
However, only two out of 43 spots on the framework were awarded to contractors with a turnover of less than £100m, while 60 per cent of places were awarded to firms with a turnover in excess of £900m.
EFA director of capital Mike Green defended the prominence of the UK's biggest contractors on the new framework.
He told Construction News: "There are some smaller contractors certainly, and there are some different ones on there than we would normally use."
Preston-based Conlon was appointed to the North-west region and is the smallest firm to be successful on the framework, with a turnover of £35.4m in 2013.
"Unfortunately we cannot just say, 'You're a small contractor', and give them a place"Mike Green, EFA
Among those outside the UK's top 30 contractors by turnover to have qualified were GF Tomlinson, Eric Wright, Rydon and Seddon,...