Councils in the north west are joining forces to deliver services to schools in the region.
Wirral and Cheshire West and Chester Councils have agreed to form a company offering a comprehensive range of services currently worth £30m to almost 300 schools.
They say the new company will be a direct provider and prime contractor delivering 'higher quality, more innovative, tailor-made services for schools whilst benefiting the local economy with the creation of a thriving local business, generating employment'.
More than 1,100 full and part-time council staff will be transferred when the new company is formed.
Cllr Mark Stocks, executive member, education and children at Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: 'A wealth of experience and economies of scale will enable us to invest in education that directly benefits schools and children.
'This venture will also help to protect the jobs of our staff whilst working in a growing, thriving business, investing in front line services and retaining that public sector ethos.'
Cllr Tony Smith, Wirral Council’s cabinet member for children and family services said: 'This is an exciting opportunity to develop a unique organisation which will deliver sustainable services for the future and in doing so, improve outcomes for children and young people.
'Keeping the ownership of the company in the hands of our two councils enables us to reinvest in services which will benefit our communities.'
The two authorities worked together for six months to deliver the business case for the new company supported by a £100,000 award as part of the national Delivering Differently programme.
