A London-based outsourcing group has won the contract to operate HMP Millsike, the UK’s first all-electric prison, which is expected to use 75% less energy than older prisons.
Mitie Care & Custody won the 10-year contract following a competitive bidding process.
Opening in 2025, the new category C prison is being built as part of the government’s £4 billion expansion programme and will be based on land opposite the existing HMP Full Sutton, in East Yorkshire.
It will be the first jail in the UK to run solely on electricity, with solar panels and heat pump technology, meaning it will use about a quarter of the energy used to heat traditional Victorian prisons.
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Danny Spencer, managing director, Mitie Care & Custody, said: “As proud partners to the public sector, we are pleased to have been awarded this contract to operate HMP Millsike.
“With our experience delivering critical public services to support the immigration, justice and care sectors, as well as our expertise in facilities transformation and decarbonisation, we are excited to bring a modern and caring approach to prison management at this innovative new site.”
The new prison will create more than 500 jobs and hold around 1,400 prisoners.
Founded in 1987, Mitie is a facilities management company that delivers “critical public services within the immigration, justice and care sectors for vulnerable adults”.
In 2017, it was awarded a 10-year Home Office contract to provide immigration services worth an estimated £525m.
Last month, the National Grid proposed a near £60 billion investment upgrade to the UK’s electricity network to ensure the government’s decarbonisation targets are reached.
