Jack Wynn, Author at Facilities Management Forum | Forum Events Ltd - Page 6 of 11
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Jack Wynn

AUDE: Effective estate management ‘key to HE standards and student experience’…
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In conclusion of a new study commissioned by the Association of University Directors of Estates (AUDE), two-thirds of the 2,000 university students surveyed agree that an educational institution’s facilities is crucial to choosing a place of study; making it the third-year where libraries and IT hubs came out on top and beating facilities such as entertainment and social establishments.

Quality of accommodation also continues to remain a top priority, with 57 per cent affirming that living standards played a crucial role in their final university choice; as well as the actual course itself (79 per cent), location (69 per cent), and academic ranking (44 per cent).

AUDE chair and director of estates and facilities at the University of Surrey, Trevor Humphreys, said of the findings: “Effective estate management is key to ensuring that higher education institutions deliver the best possible student experience, both academically and socially, so it’s encouraging to know that despite many sector challenges a very high level of students feel their university offers clean and well-maintained buildings.”

Workplace experience report published by Interserve…
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According to a recent report developed by the international support services and construction group, Interserve, the noise, smell and temperature of the workplace are among some of the main indicators that greatly influence an employee’s working experience.

Forming part of the organisation’s ‘workplace experience science series’ – initially launched in July of this year alongside the work environment change professionals, Advanced Workplace Associates – this first report details how by improving employees’ physical and emotional response to their working environment – from the look and feel of a workplace to non-visual sensory inputs such as smell, noise and temperature – can significantly improve productivity and cognitive performance.

Managing director, Commercial at Interserve, Jeff Flanagan, commented: “The environment may be different in the workplace, but the way we process experiences and how this affects our behaviour is the same. By understanding employees’ physical and emotional responses to their working environment – which this report seeks to explain – workplace professionals can design and deliver positive workplace experiences that will contribute to improved productivity and performance for the organisation.”

 

You can download a full version of the report here

BBP launches sustainable property management publication…
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In a bid to develop a more ‘consistent’ approach to sustainable practices, members of the BBP Managing Agents Partnership have come together to produce a practical document of sustainability provisions, setting out to ‘form the foundation’ of how sustainability is incorporated into any property management service offering.

The ‘Integrating Sustainability into Property Management Services: Core Provisions’ aims to provide clear and concise information on core strategies that should be undertaken by all property management agents in their offerings to clients; as well as detailing how agents can proactively introduce these activities into their daily schedules.
Download the publication here

Guest Blog, Bernard Daymon: Bacteria at universities – but not as you know it…
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There are a number of reasons why it’s vital to effectively clean up wastewater in universities. Today’s university campuses are the size of small towns, with student accommodation facilities, lecture theatres, libraries, bars and food outlets all on-site and many producing large quantities of wastewater. All of this wastewater poses its own challenges, especially where fats, oils and grease (FOG) are produced. These can become trapped and start to decompose, creating foul odours, which are unpleasant for all.

Aside from the unpleasant odours, wastewater also has a direct financial impact. At times when universities are experiencing an increase in cuts, the last thing facilities managers want to face is fines for illegal wastewater management under the Water Industry Act 1991. Companies pay an annual fee to hold a license in order to discharge effluent but there are strict limits on the amount that can be discharged. Extra charges are incurred where there are higher levels of contaminants in the effluent, which facilities teams will be keen to avoid.

However, the challenges faced on campuses make this easier said than done. Universities often have peak spikes in activity, such as on open days when thousands can attend, or during fresher’s week, where thousands of students will descend upon all the campus bars and food outlets every night for a week. This means that it’s hard to effectively keep up wastewater management at peak times, under intense pressure. It’s therefore important that wastewater management systems can work flexibly and quickly.

Bacteria are normally something that comes to mind when you think about cleaning up waste. However, new active bacteria solutions such as NCH Europe’s FreeFlow and BioAmp systems can clean up contaminants in wastewater. These bacteria are active from the moment they enter the system, meaning that they are instantly effective and perfect for times of high demand.

NCH Europe offers different types of bacteria systems, which are ideal for different demands. FreeFlow 50 is a dosing mechanism for the FreeFlow liquid, which is a biological solution containing ten strains of food safe bacillus bacteria that safely clear organic waste. The automatic dosing feature not only makes this more cost effective, it avoids human error, minimises the risk of an incorrect dosage and subsequently avoids fines. FreeFlow 100 is the premium solution, which is much stronger. It contains liquid nutrient and biological solutions, which boost the growth and performance of bacteria for a more effective treatment, particularly when cutting through FOGs and organic waste.

If there’s one thing that student kitchens and university wastewater systems have in common, it’s that they are both breeding grounds for bacteria. However, NCH Europe’s bacteria will help rather than harm. It’s vital that universities have effective systems in place to deal with wastewater, especially at peak times, to avoid costly fines and damage to their reputation because of unpleasant odours. Who knew that bacteria could be so helpful?

 

 

Bernard Daymon is the CEO and president of the global water, energy and maintenance solutions provider, NCH Europe. Having joined the company in 2013, Daymon has over 20 years of international experience in both consumer and business-to-business environments. His previous roles include CEO of household cleaning brand, Jeyes and CFO of home and personal care for Unilever.

Guest Blog, Simon Field: Loud noises and preventing damage in the workplace…
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When it comes to facilities management, it is not just the health and safety of your employees that you have to worry about, you also need to protect contractors and visitors.

Due to the varied tasks taking place within the facilities management industry, one of the biggest dangers can be exposure to loud noises. Simon Field, a technical specialist at science-based technology company 3M, discusses how a four-step approach can help to keep everyone at your facility safe. 

While the effects may not be immediately obvious, exposure to loud noises can have really harmful – and irreversible – consequences.

Anything from construction work to even lawn mowing could create damaging sound levels and if the correct steps are not taken, it is not only people’s health which is at risk – companies can also face legal action.

One of the most common health issues caused by high levels of sound is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) – which is a completely preventable but incurable condition.

In the past year around 15,000 people have suffered from NIHL caused, or made worse, by work. It is the most commonly reported occupational medical condition in the EU and between 2011 and 2014, NIHL insurance claims increased by 189 per cent.

As well as NIHL, loud noises can also result in tinnitus, which could lead to associated health problems such as insomnia. Safety can also be compromised, as people may not be able to hear warning messages or alarms if noise levels are too loud.

At 3M, we have devised a four-step approach to help companies keep everyone protected from loud noise.  

Detection

The first step in protecting your employees, contractors and visitors is to assess the noise levels to see if there is a problem. Start by asking yourself some straightforward questions such as, do employees need to raise their voices when speaking to each other or is the noise intrusive? If the answer is yes, then the noise levels are likely to be too high. Noise measurements should be conducted in any areas highlighted during your initial assessment. Noise surveys can be carried out in-house or by hiring a consultant.

It’s important to use the results of noise surveys effectively; deciding on noise control methods, re-evaluating risk assessments

and selecting appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Protection

As part of The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, employers are required to eliminate or reduce risks to health and safety from noise at work.

Depending on the level of risk, you should:

  • take action to reduce the noise exposure
  • provide your employees with suitable personal hearing protection

When deciding on hearing protection equipment (HPE), it is crucial to select a product that employees are motivated to wear. If the HPE does not fit correctly or is uncomfortable, the user is less likely to use it properly, which can significantly reduce the level of protection.

The two options available are ear plugs and ear muffs. These products come in different styles to suit a range of tasks, including disposable and reusable.

When deciding on protection, you should ensure that it is effective enough to eliminate risks, but does not leave the worker isolated. You also need to consider the working environment and check that it does not interfere with other PPE.

Training

It’s important to ensure that your workers understand why they need to take care of their hearing and how they can do this. Employers need to provide suitable information, instruction and training covering the noise hazards present, the control measures to be used and the correct use of these, including hearing protection. This could include fitting technique, any maintenance requirements and where equipment should be stored.

Validation

Once you have offered hearing protection to your workers, you then need to be confident that it is protecting them. As everybody is different, it is not a case of one size fits all when it comes to hearing protection, so you need to be sure the equipment is being used correctly.

To help prevent incorrect use, 3M has recently launched its revolutionary E-A-Rfit Dual Ear Validation System. This system takes noise measurements from both inside and outside of the hearing protection, in order to calculate a personal attenuation rating for each employee. The test takes only eight seconds to complete and can be used as part of a robust training programme, showing workers how correctly inserting the right ear plug increases their level of protection.

Following this four-step approach will help employers to feel confident that they are best protecting their workforce from exposure to loud noises.

More information about E-A-Rfit Dual Ear Validation System is available here. 
If you would like more information on hearing conservation or have questions on other types of PPE, please feel free to give 3M’s H&S helpline a call on 0870 608 0060.
*3M and E-A-Rfit are trademarks of 3M Company.

 

Simon Field has spent the last five years at 3M supporting the personal safety division with technical responsibility in areas of hearing conservation, eye protection, powered respiratory systems and welding protection. He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in this area, along with an IOSH qualification in ‘Noise at Work Risk Assessment and Management’.

Industry Spotlight: EMCOR UK’s technology expansion and dynamic mentoring programme…
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Since I started working for EMCOR UK as an apprentice 30 years ago, technology has radically changed the way EMCOR UK does things, directly benefiting the company’s employees and the work performed for clients. For example, in 2015 we introduced the EMCOR UK Mobile Management Application – a unique asset maintenance tool for engineers available on mobile phones. It’s an intelligent system that enables our engineers to be at customer sites quicker, work more efficiently, and assist in planning an engineer’s work day based on their location, availability, and skill-set. 

As one of the UK’s leading integrated facilities management service providers and with over 3,500 employees, EMCOR UK has a long-established, successful mentoring programme. However, after an extensive review, we recently introduced an innovative, two-way or “reverse” mentoring scheme to continue to improve performance, enhance the development of people, and enable two-way learning between generations of employees in recognition of the impact technology increasingly has on the workplace. This innovative mentoring approach enhances the more traditional mentoring practices. Additionally, EMCOR UK increasingly experienced that younger employees feel especially comfortable receiving instructions about job related projects via a handheld device as a result of them being born into the technological and smartphone age. This aptitude for technology has changed EMCOR UK’s approach towards training, especially within the mentoring programme.

The advantages for individuals of mentoring have long been established, and include improved levels of confidence and self-awareness, and better management of career goals; for mentors the advantages include recognition of their knowledge and satisfaction of developing their colleagues. For companies, and certainly EMCOR UK, benefits include noteworthy increases in employee retention rates, improvements in the ability of organisations to adapt to change, and enhanced productivity through better engagement and job satisfaction. In the old economy, mentoring was often regarded as the “long term passing on of support, guidance and advice. In the [traditional] workplace it has tended to describe a relationship in which a more experienced colleague uses their greater knowledge and understanding of the work or workplace to support the development of more junior or inexperienced members of staff.”

In the last five years EMCOR UK has experienced a significant and positive change in how younger employees interact with more seasoned colleagues. Previously there was an idea that younger people weren’t in a position to offer advice in the workplace, and this has now changed. It is a development we welcome and actively encourage at EMCOR UK. Our apprentices see that helping with the understanding and implementation of technology enables them to garner kudos with their more experienced peers, who recognise that they have inter-related dependencies.

Even the most experienced EMCOR UK employees are now benefitting from this approach. For example, Steven Mullen, a logistics manager in his fifties, is mentored by Simi Gandhi-Whitaker, a work winning director in her thirties. This shows that mentoring, no matter what stage of one’s career, means that you never need to stop learning.

One critical and primary area of focus that has significantly benefitted from and been positively impacted by reverse mentoring is EMCOR UK’s health and safety culture and compliance. Mentoring has given young employees a lot more confidence and has empowered them to report or act immediately when they see that something needs improvement in order to optimise workplace safety. This has enabled EMCOR UK to proactively address situations where safety was a concern, or resolve a possible issue before it becomes a problem.

Health and safety management is the number one priority for EMCOR UK, and the company is proud to have consistently achieved significant recognition for this focus –  from two of the most prestigious safety organisations in the UK – a total of 8 awards in 2016 alone; 25+ in the last 15 years. These include the Gold Medal Award in the respected annual scheme overseen by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), and six Gold Medal Awards for work for customers British Sugar, Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Public Health England (PHE), RAF Coningsby, BAE Systems, and United Utilities. Further, EMCOR UK was awarded the International Safety Award with Merit from the British Safety Council. 

EMCOR UK has little doubt that mentoring and our skilled use of technology has played a key part in the achievement of these awards, a reflection of our focus on customer collaboration and excellence of performance delivery.

 

Words by David Parker, group executive director at EMCOR UK

 

David Parker has over 25 years of experience in the mechanical and electrical industry, operating within the facilities, construction, and electrical security sectors. After joining EMCOR UK in 1983 as an electrical engineer, he quickly progressed into contract management. In his current role as group executive director, his wider remit and responsibilities also include management of health and safety – a primary focus for EMCOR UK.

Forum Insight: 5 top tips to closing big money deals…
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There are a number of viable reasons as to why decision-makers across a broad range of sectors ultimately lose out on big money deals; many overlooking the simplest of techniques that can either make or break a business relationship. Here, we break down the fundamental tips to help you sell your services…

  1. Let the client do the talking

Inevitably, to provide the very best service for your existing and potential client base, it’s crucial to find out exactly what the client is looking for. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you can to hone in on what their needs are. By asking questions, not only will this benefit your end by acquiring a better understanding; however, the client will also feel they are being productive and part of the solution.

  1. Personalisation goes a long wayRemember that clients say things for a reason. If they volunteer that they can’t talk right now because they are getting ready for a social event taking place on a Saturday; on your follow up call, ask them casually how the event went. Although you shouldn’t pry or send a gift, by casually asking about the event, you show that you pay attention to details. Knowing how successful the party was will prepare you on how to approach the conversation.
  1. Be enthusiastic

Your client feels passionate about what they do, and if you show that you are passionate and enthusiastic about providing them the solution they want, you’ll get the client on board. An enthusiastic attitude is sure to open many doors for you.

  1. Play it simpleSpeak to them on their level, not yours. Keep the conversation simple and get straight to the point. If your client understands what you can do for them, they are more likely to hire you. If you try and dazzle them with industry speak, you’ll lose them, and lose the contract. You may find that if you are speaking to a perspective client on the phone, stand up. For many people, standing makes them get straight to the point.
  2. When should we get started?

A straightforward ‘yes’ or ‘no hinges on far more than just the specific closing sentence or question, reps often struggle with wording their deal denouements. Does this sound too pushy? Too weak? Should they ask a question, or use a statement instead? But just like there’s more than one way to peel an orange, there are several strong ways to close a deal.

BIFM collaborates with employer groups on apprenticeship standards development…
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The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) is working closely with employer groups in a bid to create new standards for apprenticeships in the industry that include both degree apprenticeships at Bachelor’s and Master’s level, as well as supervisor and manager levels.

In theory, the industry body claims new apprenticeship standards will provide companies with the opportunity to employ apprentices at all levels, from senior management to strategic and operations. With the facilities management (FM) supervisor standard already approved, the development of a degree apprenticeship at Level 6 for senior FMs has also received approval, and the draft standard is due to be issued for consultation later this year.

The employment groups working on these standards submitted ‘Expressions of Interest’ to the  Department for Education (DfE) which supports the development of standards for Facilities Manager (Level 4) and Director of Estates (Masters).  The BIFM states that levels have been selected by ‘the industry’ to coincide with the ‘different occupational competencies’ required by FM professionals at various career stages.

The consultation is open for one more day (closes September 9, 2016) and the BIFM is encouraging all industry professionals complete the consultation for the proposed Facilities Manager and Director of Estates standards.  

New trailblazer course provides Mitie employees with ‘upskilling’ opportunity…
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As a result of a recent survey conducted in the first half of this year asking ‘its people’ on what improvements they would like to see in the workplace, Mitie’s property management business, Mitie Property Services, has announced a partnership deal with the construction training experts, Geason Training to administer an NVQ Level 2 Trailblazer Apprenticeship in Property Maintenance.

The programme, which runs for twelve months, has already seen 705 operatives sign up and one of the key benefits for Mitie is that all employees are able to train on a flexible basis, and on ‘Mitie- chosen’ sites. Furthermore, through the partnership and ‘upskilling’ course, the goal is for Mitie operatives to learn how to manage situations that would previously ‘have fallen out of scope’. 

Director of property services, Craig Boath, said: “At Mitie, we take pride in our people and the service they deliver. Not only will the trailblazer programme with Geason Training provide our people with the opportunity to be upskilled, but it will also improve the service that they deliver to our clients and customers on a daily basis.”

‘First Time Fix’ is a key performance indicator within the industry and the title embodies exactly what the programme aims to achieve: providing people with the skills to deal with issues at first point of contact. 

NG Bailey further invests in specialist energy services…
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According to reports, the independent facilities, engineering and IT services group, NG Bailey, has confirmed that it will continue to invest in its specialist energy services by introducing a dedicated ‘central operations’ centre.

The new centre, which claims to offer support to the company’s specialist team by merging the existing facilities management, IT and engineering expertise and abilities, provides services including: energy monitoring and alarming, data analysis, mobile operations management and dynamic scheduling to its client base.

NG Bailey’s head of energy, Chris Coath, commented: “Buildings are generating more data than ever before, and by accessing and then analysing that data we can use our design, engineering and building services capabilities to improve system efficiencies, increase building performance and reduce energy usage. This enables us to generate tangible outcomes for building owners and occupiers.

He continued: “The real opportunity is in the analysis of building data, which is what our operations centre is focused on. By being able to analyse and respond, in real time, to the data that is being collected within a building, we can help customers meet their financial and sustainability objectives.”

It is thought that NG Bailey has invested an estimated £1 million in its energy services offering during the last financial year.