Portakabin and Zurich Municipal Get Pupils Back Into School Buildings

After a fire at Avon Valley School in Rugby destroyed 95% of the school buildings, the quick response provided by Portakabin was key to getting the school back teaching in suitable school buildings in record time. portakabin.co.uk/?wcp

October 31, 2004 -- When a fire took hold at Avon Valley School in Rugby, destroying 95% of the school buildings, the quick response and one-stop-shop service provided by Portakabin (http://www.portakabin.co.uk/?wcp)was the key to getting the school back teaching in record time.

As its recently appointed approved supplier of modular buildings, Portakabin was recommended by the schools insurers Zurich Municipal, the UKs leading insurer of school buildings.

Portakabins Coventry Hire Centre Manager, Mark Fox, quickly visited the school to discuss the necessary requirements and, after a twoweek consultation and planning period, the final design and layout of the interim school buildings was agreed.

Mark Braine, Headteacher at Avon Valley School, said: We worked very closely with Portakabin to create exactly what we needed. The company satisfied all of our requirements, as per our specifications, and designed a comprehensive plan for the new school.

Over a four-week period 142 Portakabin building modules were installed at the school, creating 44 classrooms for all subjects, kitchens, a dining hall, library, ICT suites, changing rooms and toilets.

The Portakabin buildings are on hire for an initial two-year period and will house the schools 1,000 students until the construction of their new, enlarged school is completed.

In addition to providing its high-quality buildings, Portakabin supplied all of the classroom furniture, since much of this had been destroyed in the fire. The company also supplied climate control systems for the ICT suites, access ramps for the classrooms, and a comprehensive fire and security alarm system.

Mark Braine added: Were all delighted with the new school and the facilities are more up to date than we had before. Students have settled in well and are enjoying being back together. My thanks go to Portakabin for the excellent service we received from the very beginning, and for the companys total dedication to this project.

Portakabin is accustomed to providing its facilities under such circumstances, but this is the first major project that has been carried out since it became Zurich Municipals approved supplier. It is also the first time that Zurich Municipal has appointed a company to act as approved supplier in the provision of school buildings, a measure which is further improving Zurich Municipals services to its customers.

Throughout the two year contract, Zurich Municipal's UK operation, part of the worldwide Zurich Financial Services Group, will authorise and pay for replacement facilities for its customers in the form of Portakabin buildings following damage to existing buildings through fire, flood or in the event of any other crisis.

Sheena Boomer, Purchasing Consultant at Zurich Financial Services, said: After a thorough review, we concluded that Portakabin met our requirements in terms of quality of buildings, service and overall price and that they were best placed to look after the needs of our customers.

The unique Portakabin Customer Charter*, developed to provide customers with total peace of mind, also helped Zurich Municipal to come to the decision that Portakabin was the best company for the job. Sheena continued: The Customer Charter states that if the company fails to complete projects on time and on budget, we will be entitled to a weeks free hire for every day Portakabin is late.

This gave us additional assurance that Portakabin would enable us to deliver the highest possible service to our customers.

*Terms and conditions apply.

For further information on Portakabin school buildings and other services please go to http://www.portakabin.co.uk/?wcp. Porta and Portakabin are registered trade marks.

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