Appointment as Preferred Bidder

Mears Group PLC

("Mears")

Appointment as Preferred Bidder

Mears the provider of support services to the Social Housing and Care sectors in the UK, is pleased to announce that it has been appointed preferred bidder by Devon County Council ('Devon') for the provision of homecare services. The contract is for an initial five year period with an option to extend for a further two years and will be worth over £100m. The Council's decision to award new domiciliary care contracts is a provisional decision subject to normal call-in and procurement standstill procedures. Upon award, this contract would represent the largest care contract that Mears has ever been awarded.

The new approach to commissioning local services aims to ensure a more stable supply of care and support and raise morale across the sector by recognising and rewarding care providers and care workers in their vital role.

 Mears will act as the lead provider partner in four geographic areas across the south of Devon and will be responsible for organising and delivering personal care services in that area including co-ordinating and supporting other local providers.

Commenting, David Miles, Chief Executive, Mears, said:

"We are delighted to have been awarded this significant contract, which reflects our long-term strategy of focussing on opportunities that enable us to attract and retain the best staff and deliver a high quality service to the end users. We congratulate Devon for the stance they have taken."

For further information, contact:

Mears Group PLC

Notes about Mears

Mears is a leading provider to Local Authorities, Registered Social Landlords and the NHS. We deliver repairs and maintenance services and personal care services directly into communities and people's own homes.

Increasingly our growth is coming from Housing management services, that help reduce homelessness and more complex and integrated care solutions to the NHS that enable people to stay in their own homes for longer.

Mears employs around 18,000 people and provides maintenance and repairs services to circa 15% of the UK social housing stock. Mears also provides care, on a daily basis, to over 30,000 service users.