The five-year contract, which commenced at the start of April, has an annual value of £14.35m and has the option to extend for a further three years.

RFM will undertake all planned preventative and reactive maintenance tasks across its logistically diverse estate and will work with SFRS, the world’s fourth-largest fire and rescue service, to provide the necessary experience and expertise to transform the current services. RFM will also be responsible for the delivery of small and minor capital projects

Adrian Mole, managing director, Robertson Facilities Management, said: “As the chosen delivery partner for hard facilities management services we will ensure that the estate is maintained to the highest standards to make sure that SFRS can continue to keep the communities they serve safe.

“We look forward to delivering a seamless transition of service as we welcome employees from the incumbent supplier and further build our supply chain relationships in mainland Scotland and the islands.

“We are committed to working with the local communities and our employability partners will soon be supporting us as we look to fill a range of employment opportunities across the whole of Scotland.

“As corporate members of the Supplier Development Programme, we will be engaging with SMEs and third sector organisations to ensure local delivery of specialist services and spend wherever possible.

“We are proud to be delivering a service which will provide SFRS with an excellently maintained estate and allow their focus to be on delivering essential front-line services.”

Iain Morris, acting director of asset management for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are absolutely committed to providing the best value service for the people of Scotland. This contract with Robertson Facilities Management will enable us to do exactly that, and at the same time provide opportunities for SMEs to provide services to maintain, protect and repair SFRS properties, allowing us to concentrate on our core roles and responsibilities as we work to continue to protect Scotland’s communities from harm.”