Babcock scoop MOD contract

expat network

Babcock scoop MOD contract

Government contractor Babcock International scooped a multi-million pound slice of the Ministry of Defence in a privatisation deal.

The FTSE 100 company has agreed terms on a £140 million deal to take control of the Defence Support Group after a month of final negotiations.

The agency maintains and repairs military vehicles and light weapons. The services it provides are worth about £2 billion over the next 10 years. DSG was vital to the army’s operations in Afghanistan, fixing damaged kit from a workshop in Camp Bastion.

The MoD has been keen to sell-off and outsource parts of its responsibilities and introduce private-sector, commercial nous to drive down costs.

This has been criticised by unions and some senior members of the military, but they will be relieved that DSG remains in British hands.

US companies KBR and General Dynamics were both in the hunt for DSG until Babcock edged them out last month.

Source: Evening Standard

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Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.