HMP Fosse Way is one of the newest prisons in the UK – a Category C resettlement prison designed as part of the Government’s commitment to rehabilitation.
It aims to provide a secure, safe, and supportive environment for approximately 1,700 prisoners, reducing reoffending rates through innovative programmes that prioritise education, training, and employment opportunities.
Serco was awarded the contract to operate Fosse Way in February 2022 and was to have the prison ready to receive its first prisoners just one year later.
My role was to lead the facilities management mobilisation, assembling a dedicated team to handle all aspects of the process: recruitment, procurement, scheduling, and every detail related to delivering facilities management.
Meeting the challenge of mobilisation
This project was a complex jigsaw puzzle with countless moving parts, strict contractual deadlines, and obligations to meet. To add to the complexity, the Midlands’ weather and Covid-related supply chain disruptions caused delays, compressing our timeline to take control of the site and begin operations.
In an unconventional mobilisation effort, we took control of two-thirds of the prison to begin operations while construction was still underway on the remaining third. Typically, prison operators are given a fully completed facility to mobilise over 13 weeks.
In this case, we reorganised activities to run in parallel with ongoing construction, ensuring that the full handover of the prison aligned with our timeline. This approach was essential to meeting the non-negotiable opening date.
Large-scale recruitment and training
Mobilising HMP Fosse Way also required a significant recruitment and training operation. We set up in a local hotel, where we processed hundreds of candidates and ran extensive training programmes.
Over 600 permanent staff were recruited across roles such as prison officers, healthcare professionals, educators, psychologists, and administrators. Once recruited, we delivered Instructor Training Camps covering physical, operational, and resilience skills to prepare staff for their roles.
This large-scale operation was critical to ensuring the team was ready to manage the prison’s complex needs from day one.
Supporting rehabilitation through innovation
As a resettlement prison, Fosse Way supports prisoners nearing the end of their sentences through dedicated rehabilitation programmes, some of which enable them to work and integrate into the local community.
Facilitating this required extensive engagement with local councils to secure their support for the initiative.
With 13 buildings and tens of thousands of assets to manage, verifying and integrating these assets into our systems was a monumental task. Familiarisation with the site was critical to ensure all operations were in place and functioning from the outset. Despite the compressed timeline, we successfully opened the prison on 29 May 2023, ready to receive its first prisoners.
A technological and sustainability showcase
HMP Fosse Way is a showcase of what’s possible in modern prison facilities. It’s technologically advanced, featuring an intelligent Building Management System fully integrated with our CAFM platform. This provides advanced data insights, enabling us to identify and resolve issues proactively while maintaining the smooth and safe operation of the prison.
Sustainability is another standout feature of Fosse Way. The site meets BREEAM excellence standards, incorporates solar panels and renewable energy sources, supports biodiversity, and implements advanced waste management processes.
It will also grow to become one of the largest EV charging facilities in the UK, supporting both internal operations and visitor use. With Serco electrifying its prison escort fleet, having robust EV infrastructure was a key consideration during mobilisation.
