Anthony Kirby, chief executive of Serco, has responded to media criticism, including from the New Statesman magazine, regarding the company's outsourcing operations. Mr Kirby rejected claims that government outsourcing to firms like Serco signifies that Britain has "lost control" or is in a state of "national failure."
The London-listed firm, which provides services ranging from bin collections to asylum accommodation, stated its commitment to bidding for "complex" UK contracts. Mr Kirby highlighted Serco's provision of 600 apprenticeships in the UK and noted that 90% of employment for local contracts comes from surrounding communities.
Serco announced higher-than-expected revenue of £2.5bn in the first half of the year. The FTSE 250 company also reported an increase in its pipeline of potential new work to £12.8bn, with opportunities in defence and other local services.