Equion FM will manage the delivery of and provide hard and soft services at the new Keeley Street site, which will house 56 classrooms, including studios, special needs acoustic classrooms, music studios, a broadcast centre and art, jewellery and clay classrooms, also housing Kilns. Equion FM will also deliver catering services to the expected footfall of 3500 students, staff and the public every day.

A four-strong team from Equion FM will manage, in partnership with their external contractors, a team of 35 staff providing the services to City Lit. City Lit are also being advised on the environmental impacts of their move from split sites around the Capital to the central Keeley Street site by the consultancy Green Works.

“The new City Lit will be a busy and vibrant space, serving a large and very diverse student community”, commented managing director of Equion FM, Tim Grier. “Our strength in the education sector through our PFI work is on record, and we are now capitalising on this and replicating Equion FM’s offering in commercial markets.”

Philip Badman, vice-principal of City Lit added: “The move to our new campus marks an exciting stage in City Lit’s development. We have chosen to work with Equion FM because of their specialist knowledge, excellent management record and their understanding of the complexities of our new building. Together, I am confident that we will be able to provide a first-class learning environment.”

About Equion FM

Equion Facilities Management (FM) Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Equion Limited, a division of John Laing plc.  It is a managed services provider and outsourcing consultancy supplying business services to a range of complex and diverse organisations. Equion FM’s understanding of facilities management has grown out of our wider experience in the development and management of the built environment.

About City Lit

City Lit enjoys a national and international reputation as a leading provider of part-time learning for adults.  Established in 1919, City Lit today offers over 3,000 courses to 24,000 students a year. In a recent inspection, they became the first adult community college in the country to be awarded grades for "outstanding" provision. The choice of courses on offer is considerable, including visual and performing arts, languages, health & fitness, humanities, professional development & training, Centre for Deaf People and provision for adults with learning difficulties/disabilities.  City Lit moves in May 2005 to a new £21m headquarters in Covent Garden, the first purpose designed home for adult learning to be built in 40 years, making it the largest in Europe.

For more information:

Anne Sampson/Matthew Moth at the madano partnership, Tel: 020 7593 4000

Or

Christine Jones at John Laing plc, Tel: 020 7901 3200

For further information on City Lit, please email: marketing@citylit.ac.uk or telephone: 020 7405 3173.  http://www.citylit.ac.uk/