Jack Wynn, Author at Facilities Management Forum | Forum Events Ltd - Page 8 of 11
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Jack Wynn

Forum Insight: Tactics to improve your email marketing campaigns…
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Although many in the marketing profession have publicly declared the platform of email to be a thing of yesteryear, it’s still evident that a majority brands and sales departments are keen to adopt an effective strategy that will connect an audience and spread the intended message.

Taking a standard template, filling in the blanks and hitting send is easy for anyone to do; but that’s not how you grow a business. It’s crucial to put some thought into developing a solid strategy, or even better, replicate an effective process that has gained a substantial amount of traction, and make solid improvements over time.

Every email campaign should have one goal in mind: don’t overwhelm your audience with too much information. You want to create a campaign that is easy for everyone to read and navigate; as well as ensuring all the appropriate information and links are included.

The day you choose to send out a campaign can also greatly impact the amount of traction gained. According to marketers, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays tend to be the best days to send emails.

Although a template will more than likely be replicated for every campaign, emails should still look personal to the individual. Avoid decorative HTML designs; make sure emails appear to be written and sent by a real person to increase loyalty.

 

Subject line tips:

The subject line you decide to go with will undoubtedly be the most important part of your email. It’s just a few words; but you should dedicate as much attention and care to your subject line as you do to the email body. If it doesn’t attract interest, it won’t get opened.

  • If appropriate, use a reader’s name.
  • Make the subject line as inviting and personal as possible. The more personal the subject line, the higher the open rate.
  • Experiment with attention-grabbing questions as subject lines.
  • Always deliver in your email what you promise in your subject line.

Procius launches new ‘right to work’ app…
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Mitie’s employee screening and vetting company, Procius – acquired by the facilities management firm in 2014 – has announced the launch of a ‘revolutionary’ new right to work (RTW) checking system app powered by KPMG, which aims to support businesses in ensuring compliance with Home Office/Immigration Service requirements are consistently met.

The app is said to be the first of its kind and will provide clients unprecedented access to a managed RTW service that will enable recruiting managers to complete a right to work check using a mobile device.

Furthermore, the app details the specific requirements for particular individuals at the time of an interview; capturing signed confirmation of documentation. Upon completion, the documentation is checked by Procius’ specialist RTW agents providing an ‘additional layer of assurance and governance’, with results then communicated back to the recruiting manager.

Technology development director at Mitie, Darren Gamage, commented: “The effective management of Right to Work is a critical issue for all UK employers, and the risks associated with either failing to undertake checks at the time of individuals joining or when their visas or status is due to change are significant. Our relationship with KPMG has allowed us to work with them to develop a highly flexible app and back-end database that allows us to support customers in managing this risk whilst also significantly reducing the paper burdens of traditional processes.”

 

Find out more about Procius’ employment screening services here

UK-GBC’s ‘Wellbeing Lab’ will aim to transform working environments…
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Created on the basis of UK-GBC’s influential work in wellbeing, productivity and health in correspondence to the Better Places for People campaign – and following on from the organisation’s offices report published in 2014 – the ‘Wellbeing Lab’ initiative will aim to help professionals across various sectors to understand the management of a healthy working environment.

Working in small organisational ‘teams’ and using their own building or project, professionals will be guided through the implementation of best practice principles and processes, using the framework that the organisation have developed.

The process is best suited to applications from small ‘teams’, which may include two or three: sustainability executives, HR managers, facilities managers, property/workplace advisors and landlord representatives.

To be considered for the programme, download an application form and find more information here

Home Office awards FM contract to Interserve under new framework…
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The international construction and support services group, Interserve, has won a five-year contract under the new Crown Commercial Services’ (CCS) facilities management framework, to provide ‘total’ facilities management services for the Home Office.

Starting with immediate effect, Interserve will deliver maintenance, cleaning, catering and security support, amongst other services, across one of the two ‘regions’ of the Department’s estate;  made up of over 200 sites serving key Home Office business areas including the College of Policing, HM Passport Office, UK Border Force and UK Visas and Immigration. The contract region covers buildings and sites located across the North of England, Midlands, the West Country, Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland.

The company has announced its promising half year results for the first six months of 2016, revealing a gross operating cash flow of £128.3 million and a reduction of net debt to £275.6 million; down from £308.8 million from the same period last year.

Houses of Parliament extends Servest relationship with new five-year contract…
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Following an initial three-year working relationship, the Houses of Parliament has announced the renewal of its contract with Servest Group Ltd to a new five-year deal.

Due to commence in September 2016, it has been reported that the facilities management provider’s contract could be extended by another two years, and approximately 180 members of the Servest team will provide cleaning services across 13 Parliamentary Estate buildings; including the Grade I listed Palace of Westminster.

Servest’s CEO UK and Europe, Rob Legge, said: “We are delighted to be extending our working relationship with the Houses of Parliament for the next five years and continue to deliver a mutually beneficial partnership with them.”

Guest Blog, Vince Treadgold: One Team, One Goal, One Mission…
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FM has drastically changed over the years. The industry has harnessed more respect as it has shifted from an emerging into a well-recognised sector. As such, facilities management is playing a bigger role in the way organisations view the world of work; however, the most evident change concerns the relationship dynamic between service providers and clients. More and more businesses are now waking up to the idea that their providers are genuine partners. With that realisation comes the mutual understanding that if organisations really want the FM solution to work, they need to be on the same page as their supplier, and vice versa.

There is now the widespread recognition that innovation is only possible when both client and provider work as one. At Servest, we have a presence at more than 7,000 sites across the UK. We’re growing at a phenomenal rate and that is thanks to two things: the quality of our offering and the relationships we are able to cultivate with our clients. For us, people are at the heart of our business, and we believe in relationships and human partnerships to create mutual success. The key to our most successful contracts is the fact that both parties work together as a team. Our mission is to get our people to understand the values and the goals that underpin every relationship, and to get them involved with both sides of the partnership.

The first step in that challenge is getting your employees on-board. Regardless of the business, it’s important to understand people and what matters to them if you’re to get the best out of a workforce. We work with our clients to ensure we listen to everyone who forms a part of that working relationship. By keeping an open dialogue we’re then able to empower people with the tools needed to act, change and innovate. Employee engagement sits at the centre of this focus. If people are engaged in their roles, and if they feel like they are part of the wider team, then they will be liberated when it comes to suggesting ideas that may move the business forward in unexpected yet profitable directions. To that end, we actually run training sessions and learning and development programmes that are open to both sets of employees, both client-side and within the Servest team.

Cultivating a culture of trust and respect is essential to the success of any business. This is even more necessary when a service provider is working on a client site. It’s important to avoid an ‘us and them’ dynamic so we really do focus on the human element with each and every contract we deliver. In order for a partnership to operate with integrity and diligence, the onsite team should jointly seek to foster an entrepreneurial foundation that drives a spirit of innovation and inventiveness. Working proactively together can ensure that both client and service provider is able to respond to the customers’ needs with the adaptability and flexibility necessary to deliver a high quality service.

Servest is often considered as an extension of our clients. We work with our clients – not for our clients – and together, we collaborate, communicate and cooperate on a weekly, monthly and quarterly basis to ensure the working relationship is as fruitful as it can be. It’s only together that we can pull out all the stops in order to deliver a unified FM solution.

 

 

Vince has over 10 years’ experience of working with major retailers and was identified as a candidate for the position as Key Account Manager for Tesco just over three years ago. He has helped nurture and expand Servest’s business with Tesco and now runs the account as a separate division of our company with full P&L responsibility and a turnover of £36 million.

Industry Spotlight: Networking opportunities at the FM and TSS Meet Up…
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This September, we invite you to join us for an evening of networking with a host of facilities management and security industry influencers and innovators; the perfect opportunity to catch up with your peers, meet new business contacts and network in an informal and relaxed setting.


In today’s uncertain times, we are all too aware how hectic both the facilities management and security industries are becoming, and with demanding hours and tough objectives to meet, it’s hard to not feel overwhelmed by the increasing industry developments. For us, it’s always heartening to organise meet up events by allowing industry professionals to share tips and advice for best practice; as well as promoting the array of benefits of working in the sectors.
Continuing our passion of bringing industry professionals together, the Facilities Management Forum and Total Security Summit are organising a number of networking events throughout the year. Following the success of the first FM Meet Up earlier this year, the next event will be taking place on the 21st September at the Grange St Paul’s Hotel.
Together with our partners ATEC Security, Flir Systems and Gallagher Group, we’re bringing together representatives from firms such as the BBC, Solid Management, Coach, SBEG and more, for an exclusive night of networking.  It’s a chance for senior figures from across the industries – and some of the most influential innovators  –  to get together to learn, share, network and engage in a relaxed environment over drinks and canapés.

If you would like more information on becoming a sponsor for the event, or attending the event, please contact Mick Bush on mick.bush@forumevents.co.uk or 01992 374090

 

Find out more about the Meet Up here

Forum Insight: The essential client meeting checklist…
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A well prepared face-to-face client meeting can create a significant impact on the quality of existing and new business relationships; as well as vastly increasing the value of a company in the long term.

Conducting client meetings is also a viable solution to sustaining business longevity which, is primarily determined by the loyalty and commitment of its customer base. Therefore, by following our essential checklist, a strong focus on hosting productive client meetings could turn out to be the one of best investments you will ever make in your business…

  1. Do your homework

It’s worthwhile to spend some time researching your clients’ business: their strengths, weaknesses, competitors and challenges. Gathering as much information as possible before your meeting will give you the much-needed confidence to hold a strong conversation and proactively suggest appropriate solutions.

  1. Plan your meeting

Particularly at a Forum or Summit, it’s likely you will only have around 20 minutes to make a bold first impression, so don’t waste it! Make sure to rehearse answers to any potential questions you feel the client may ask, and you’ll then be ready to overcome any obstacle.

  1. Focus solely on the client

Your last meeting went really well, and the client has given you a brief. Put that meeting to one side – you already have a date set for the next contact. Don’t neglect the client sitting in front of you; their potential contract could be bigger than the last and it crucial to keep this focus. If the clients purchasing requirement is good enough for them to travel to the Forum, then the sales opportunity is good enough for you to give them your undivided attention.

  1. Watch your body language

Get it wrong and it will be a deal breaker. Be immaculately dressed; firmly shake hands and pay attention to how you sit or stand. Strategically plan your coffee breaks; don’t leave your stand five minutes before your next meeting – they may be five minutes early! Inevitably, first impressions always count, so talk to them like you mean it. Be enthusiastic about the things you are talking about; listen to what they say and ask as many questions as you can.

Cities and Green Building Councils join forces to increase energy efficiency…
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Under a new partnership between the World Resources Institute-led Building Efficiency Accelerator (BEA) and the World Green Building Council, Green Building Councils located around the world will be working with various cities in order to increase energy efficiency in buildings. 

Green Building Councils based in Poland, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Colombia will work with mayors and city leaders in Dubai, Warsaw, Tshwane and Bogota, under the BEA, to achieve a goal by 2030 to double the rate of energy efficiency; recognising the best course of action to create significant efficiency improvements, as well as receive market buy-in from those who will help generate these energy savings.

Announcing the partnership at the Green Building Council of South Africa’s annual convention in Johannesburg, CEO of the World Green Building Council, Terri Wills, said: “Cities and the buildings which make them up consume around 75 per cent of global energy, putting them at the coal face of our fight against climate change. But whilst they are a major consumer of energy, cities also have huge potential to dramatically reduce energy use, with buildings offering one of the most effective ways to do so. Through collaboration with cities, our Green Building Councils will provide on-the-ground expertise to help realise this opportunity.”

Sodexo ‘proud’ to partner with the Stoddart Review…
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The provider of specialist catering, life support and remote site facilities management services, Sodexo, has announced its partnership with the recently launched Stoddart Review in a bid to highlight the importance of facilities management roles.

The Review, which was founded in honour of Chris Stoddart MSc., FCIOB, FBIFM after his sudden passing in 2014, brings together decision makers and industry leaders in the provision of high performing workplaces; existing to put the workplace on the ‘business agenda’.

Marketing and strategy director at Sodexo, Andrew Wilkinson, commented: “I often get the opportunity to speak to organisations about their challenges in engaging employees, improving productivity or driving a culture that is more agile, diverse and collaborative.  I can see a clear trend emerging in the increasing number of clients who recognise the value that outsourced facilities/workplace management services can bring.”

He continued: “The challenge however is making this the norm, it is something we should surely all be focussed on. By bringing together the thoughts of business leaders and world-leading thinkers in the provision of high performing workplaces the Stoddart Review can only help in this as it exists to put workplace on the business agenda.”

 

Find out more about the Stoddart Review here