Fleeting support

VT Group, the defence and support services company, has commenced the provision of its 16-year capability management programme for the national resilience fleet of emergency vehicles.

Firebuy’s £100m Long-Term Capability Management contract, on behalf of the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG), will require VT to ensure these resources for the 46 fire and rescue services throughout the country that will operate the emergency fleet.

The 500-strong fleet of emergency vehicles and specialist units will be deployed in the event of major crisis such as floods, terrorist attacks and urban search and rescue operations.

VT believes the outsource contract will strengthen its foothold in the civil resilience sector and supplement its growing portfolio in homeland security. The company is currently involved in support for secure communications assets and work related to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats.

Paul Lester, VT Group’s chief executive, said: ‘The Long-Term Capability Management of the national resilience assets is a major programme for VT and an important part of the country’s national security and resilience.