RM chosen as ICT provider for Essex BSF programme

4 May 2010

RM chosen as ICT provider for Essex BSF programme

RM confirms that it has reached financial close for a contract to provide managed ICT services for Essex County Council's BSF (Building Schools for the Future) programme. RM previously announced on 2 February that it had been selected for the programme as part of the Skanska RM consortium, which had been appointed preferred bidder.

The initial contract for four schools in the first phase of the Council's programme is expected to be worth £8m to RM. RM will be responsible for the design, implementation and day-to-day delivery of a sophisticated managed ICT service, creating 24-hour learning environments for pupils. The first four schools are expected to open by January 2012.

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Notes:

1. The RM Group is a leading provider of educational solutions that help teachers to teach and learners to learn. RM works closely with educationalists to create new products, processes and technology which improve education. RM is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol RM.L, ISIN GB0002870417. Further details are available at ww.rm.com/investors and through the Group's investor blog at rminvestors.wordpress.com

2. BSF (Building Schools for the Future) is the largest single schools capital investment programme for over 50 years. BSF will provide world-class teaching and learning environments for all pupils, teachers and communities in England. A key part of the initiative is to ensure that local authorities develop a sustainable, area-wide ICT strategy for schools in line with the Government's personalised learning agenda: 10% of the funding is ring-fenced for ICT.

3. The Essex BSF programme is one of the largest in the country, with the first phase alone worth in the region of £150m (buildings and ICT). For more information on BSF in Essex visit www.essexbsf.org