Metrix UK

Metrix UK Ltd was a United Kingdom joint-venture company established to compete for the two principal contracting packages arising from the British Government's 2001 Defence Training Review. The review sought to rationalise and modernise defence training, consolidate a large and dispersed training estate, and place substantial responsibility for the delivery and management of military education with private-sector partners. Metrix was originally structured as a 50/50 equity partnership between QinetiQ and Land Securities Trillium. Its proposed programme covered two broad areas. Package 1 concerned engineering and communications training for the British Armed Forces. Package 2 covered logistics, security, policing and administration training. The project was intended to combine facilities management, training delivery, estate rationalisation and long-term public-sector contracting rather than operate as a conventional consumer-facing brand. The Metrix consortium assembled a wide group of industrial, education, engineering, services and defence organisations. Members identified in reference material included AgustaWestland, City & Guilds, Currie & Brown, Dalkia, EDS, Laing O'Rourke, Nord Anglia Education, QinetiQ, Raytheon, Serco, Sodexo and The Open University. The proposed operating model envisaged a major reduction in the number of defence training sites, from approximately 30 existing locations to roughly 10, with a principal campus planned for the Ministry of Defence site at St Athan in South Wales. In January 2007, the consortium received Preferred Bidder status for Package 1 and Provisional Preferred Bidder status for Package 2. This was a significant advance in the procurement process, but it did not result in a completed long-term operating contract for the entire programme. In January 2008, the Government stated that Metrix could not offer an affordable and acceptable solution for Package 2. Alternative approaches were therefore considered for that part of the programme, while the Government continued to pursue the Package 1 solution. The consortium subsequently experienced a change in its ownership and partner structure. In December 2008, Land Securities confirmed that its Trillium business would withdraw from the consortium because of significantly increased bidding costs. Sodexo, which had originally participated as a consortium member, took the place of Trillium as a partner. The change did not resolve the wider affordability and procurement difficulties surrounding the project. On 19 October 2010, the Defence Training Review project was cancelled. The cancellation ended Metrix UK's preferred-bidder position and effectively brought the company's central proposed role to an end. Metrix UK is therefore best understood as a project-specific defence-training venture rather than a continuing commercial brand with a broad portfolio of products or services.

Metrix UK emerged from the British Government's Defence Training Review, a 2001 programme intended to rationalise the organisation and physical estate used for military training. The procurement was divided into two principal packages. The first covered engineering and communications training for the British Armed Forces, while the second covered logistics, security, policing and administration. The programme contemplated a substantial reduction in the number of defence training sites and a more integrated model combining training provision with estate and facilities management. To pursue the opportunity, QinetiQ and Land Securities Trillium created Metrix UK Ltd as an originally equal equity joint venture. The company operated as the core vehicle for a broader consortium that included defence contractors, engineering businesses, education providers, facilities-management companies and professional advisers. Named consortium members included AgustaWestland, City & Guilds, Currie & Brown, Dalkia, EDS, Laing O'Rourke, Nord Anglia Education, QinetiQ, Raytheon, Serco, Sodexo and The Open University. The consortium's proposed solution involved consolidating the existing defence training estate from around 30 sites to approximately 10. A central campus was planned at the Ministry of Defence site in St Athan, in southern Wales. The plan would have made the campus a major hub for the delivery of engineering and communications instruction, supported by a wider network of retained or reorganised facilities. On 17 January 2007, Metrix achieved Preferred Bidder status for Package 1 and Provisional Preferred Bidder status for Package 2. The announcement represented the project's most important procurement milestone, but it was not equivalent to final award and did not eliminate the programme's financial and operational risks. On 31 January 2008, the Government announced that the consortium could not offer an affordable and acceptable Package 2 solution. It began examining alternatives for that package, while continuing to pursue the Package 1 Metrix proposal. The consortium's structure changed later in 2008. Land Securities stated on 11 December that Trillium would withdraw from its role as a partner because of the significantly increased cost of bidding. Sodexo, already a member of the wider consortium, assumed Trillium's place as partner. This change illustrates the commercial pressure associated with the procurement, although the available reference material does not establish a separate financial result for Metrix UK. On 19 October 2010, the Defence Training Review project was cancelled. Metrix UK consequently lost its preferred-bidder status, and the planned consolidation and St Athan-centred delivery model did not proceed under the Metrix structure. The available material does not document a subsequent operating business, replacement product portfolio or continuing corporate activity. Metrix UK is consequently treated as a defunct, project-specific defence procurement venture.

• 2010

  Defence Training Review cancelled

  [1]Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org

  On 19 October, cancellation of the Defence Training Review ended Metrix UK's preferred-bidder status.

• 2008

  Package 2 solution found unaffordable and unacceptable

  [1]Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org

  On 31 January, the Government announced that Metrix could not offer an affordable and acceptable Package 2 solution and that alternative approaches were being considered.

• 2008

  Trillium leaves the partnership

  [1]Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org

  On 11 December, Land Securities confirmed Trillium's withdrawal as a Metrix partner because of increased bid costs; Sodexo took its place.

• 2007

  Metrix becomes Preferred Bidder for Package 1

  [1]Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org

  On 17 January, the Metrix consortium was announced as Preferred Bidder for Package 1 and Provisional Preferred Bidder for Package 2.

• 2001

  Defence Training Review launched

  [1]Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org

  The UK Government's Defence Training Review established the procurement context for reorganising military training and reducing fragmentation across the defence training estate.

A project-specific public-sector defence training consortium focused on integrated military education, estate consolidation and long-term service delivery for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.

• Military education and training

  Package 1 defence training solution

  The principal proposed Metrix offering covered engineering and communications training for the whole of the British Armed Forces. It formed the basis of the consortium's Preferred Bidder status in 2007 and was linked to the planned consolidation of training activity into a smaller estate, including a proposed main campus at St Athan in South Wales. The solution did not become an operating service after the wider Defence Training Review was cancelled.

• Military education and training

  Package 2 defence training solution

  The second proposed package covered logistics, security, policing and administration training. Metrix initially held Provisional Preferred Bidder status for this package, but the Government later concluded that the consortium's proposal was not affordable and acceptable. Alternative approaches were considered, and the Metrix Package 2 solution did not proceed.

• Defence infrastructure

  St Athan defence training campus

  Metrix's planned estate model included a principal training campus at an MOD site in St Athan, southern Wales. The campus was intended to support the proposed consolidation of defence training from roughly 30 existing sites to about 10. It remained a planned element of the procurement and was not delivered through Metrix after the programme's cancellation.

• 2010

  End of the Metrix preferred-bidder positionOther

  Background

  The UK Government cancelled the Defence Training Review project on 19 October.

  Action taken

  The project was terminated, and Metrix UK lost its preferred-bidder status.

  Aftermath

  The proposed Metrix training and estate-consolidation model did not proceed.

  Source

• 2008

  Proceed with Package 1 while reconsidering Package 2Strategy

  Background

  The Government determined that Metrix could not provide an affordable and acceptable solution for the second Defence Training Review package.

  Action taken

  Alternative approaches were considered for Package 2, while the Government continued to pursue the Package 1 Metrix solution.

  Aftermath

  The separation of the two packages weakened the original integrated programme, and the overall Defence Training Review was later cancelled.

  Source

• 2008

  Replace Trillium with Sodexo as consortium partnerStrategy

  Background

  Land Securities reported that Trillium was withdrawing because of significantly increased bid costs.

  Action taken

  Sodexo, previously a consortium member, took Trillium's place as a partner in Metrix.

  Aftermath

  The revised consortium continued in the procurement process until the Defence Training Review was cancelled in 2010.

  Source

• 2010

  Defence Training Review project cancelled[1]Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The UK Defence Training Review project was cancelled, ending Metrix UK's status as preferred bidder.

• 2008

  Government rejects Metrix solution for Defence Training Review Package 2[1]Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org

  Other · Regulation

  The Government said that Metrix was unable to provide an affordable and acceptable solution for Package 2, prompting consideration of alternative approaches while Package 1 remained under pursuit.

• 2008

  Trillium withdraws from the Metrix consortium[1]Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Land Securities confirmed that its Trillium business would leave the Metrix consortium in response to significantly increased bid costs. Sodexo replaced Trillium as a partner.

• 2007

  Metrix consortium receives Preferred Bidder status for Defence Training Review Package 1[1]Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The UK Government announced that the Metrix consortium had been selected as Preferred Bidder for Package 1 of the Defence Training Review and as Provisional Preferred Bidder for Package 2.

1. 1Metrix UKen.wikipedia.org