HR team achieves large scale start‐up at GEOAmey

Abstract

Purpose

GEOAmey was founded in early 2011 as a result of a joint venture between GEO Group and Amey plc, with the sole purpose of bidding for the Ministry of Justice's prisoner escorting contracts (PECs), which were up for renewal. GEOAmey was awarded three of four available contracts, which meant that GEOAmey would be contracted to provide prisoner escorting services across England and Wales and would have to be fully mobile at the start of the contract in August 2011. This case aims to demonstrate how the company achieved the necessary transformation in such a short space of time.

Design/methodology/approach

The case presented the HR team with an exceptional brief, requiring it to implement a full‐scale HR program for a 3,500‐strong workforce in just five months. To accomplish this, the team applied a combination of progressive and traditional HR methods. Several approaches were taken, from organizing nationwide road shows where employees to be transferred from other providers could engage with their new employer, to creating and delivering bespoke training programs.

Findings

GEOAmey became a company capable of generating almost £100 million a year in revenue overnight and much of this can be attributed to the efforts of the HR team during the five‐month transition phase between conception and realization. It is highly likely that without the industry and dedication of the HR team in the face of hugely challenging circumstances, the establishment of GEOAmey may not have been successfully completed in time for commencement of its contract with the Ministry of Justice.

Practical implications

As a result of this intricate and widespread initiative, GEOAmey was in a position whereby on the first day of its formal existence, all of its officers were trained, uniformed and ready to carry out 12,500 prisoner movements a week.

Originality/value

The operation documented in the paper highlights that through careful management and a flexible program of tailored employee engagement it is possible to build workforce affinity with a new company extremely quickly.

Citation

Fox, K. (2013), "HR team achieves large scale start‐up at GEOAmey", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 12 No. 5, pp. 245-249. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR-04-2013-0040