Stuart O'Brien, Author at Facilities Management Forum | Forum Events Ltd - Page 71 of 87
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Stuart O'Brien

Total Security Summit

Total Security Summit – Secure your delegate place today
By:

We have an extremely limited number of delegates places left at the Total Security Summit, which takes place on March 12th & 13th at Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted.

It’s FREE to attend, but you need to act swiftly!

BOOK ONLINE HERE

As our VIP guest, you will join other senior security industry professionals from organisations including:

Air Liquid, Aviva, Central England Co-operative, Edwardian Hotel, Hats Group, Knight Frank LLP, North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS, Park Mobile, Thames Water, The LaLit London, Tottenham Hotspur and more.

In addition, you’ll get to attend inspirational seminars and network with like-minded senior security professionals.

And all hospitality, including all meals and refreshments, overnight accommodation and an invitation to a gala dinner is included.

Register today to secure you place!

Or for more information, contact Leanne Webster on 01992 374066 / email leanne.webster@forumevents.co.uk.

Alternatively, if you’re an security industry supplier and would like to showcase your products & services at the event, contact Haydn Boxall on 01992 374 084 / h.boxall.forumevents.co.uk.

Nine Carillion projects to be taken on by John Laing
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John Laing Infrastructure Fund (JLIF) has confirmed that it plans to replace Carillion on nine facilities management projects.

Laing, one of Europe’s largest listed investors in public infrastructure projects, said there would be “minimal service disruption” after the collapse of Carillion earlier this month.

Laing continued that it expects “advisory and transaction costs in respect of the appointment of replacement facilities managers to cost approximately £3 million in aggregate.”

Banks were forced to pull the plug on Carillion, putting the company into liquidation, with the Government stepping in to guarantee public services provided by the company continuing, ranging from providing school dinners to thousands of children across the country to maintaining road works.

In a statement, John Laing added: “The company will continue to manage the situation as it develops and provide further updates as appropriate.”

The value of the nine projects is about 8.5% of the total portfolio value and about 9.6% of its net asset value, claimed JLIF

In a statement, JLIF said: “The (fund’s) investment adviser believes that the compulsory liquidation of Carillion should have no material impact on the Company and no impact on the company’s dividend policy.”

5 minutes with… David Richards, DriveTech
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David Richards, Head of Marketing at OSH Forum event partner DriveTech, discusses the challenges facing the H&S industry, trends, opportunities – plus BREXIT and Royal babies…

Tell us about your company, products and services.

DriveTech, part of the AA, is the world leader in fleet risk and safety management, and driver training. We are also the UK’s largest provider of driver offender retraining courses. With 25 years of successful experience, DriveTech now offers fleet consultancy, driver assessment and training services in over 95 countries and over 30 languages through over 50 partners. These products and services improve driver safety, reduce fleet running costs and ensure compliance with legal obligations and duty of care responsibilities.

What have been the biggest challenges the health & safety industry has faced over the past 12 months?

I think the implications of the new health and safety sentencing guidelines in February 2016 are still reverberating around the industry in general and fleet risk management in general. The recent significant increases in Health and Safety fines cannot be ignored.

And what have been the biggest opportunities?

Over 1,792 people were killed on Britain’s roads in 2016. We still have a long way to go to achieve ‘Vision Zero’.

What is the biggest priority for the health & safety industry in 2018?

It’s hard to look beyond the nearly 1,800 people killed on the roads and 24,000 plus seriously injured in 2016 – latest published figures.

What are the main trends you are expecting to see in the market in 2018? The continuing driver towards ‘Big Data’; I prefer to think of it bringing together data from a number of different sources, currently managed independently, to drive better and more insightful management decision making.

What technology is going to have the biggest impact on the market this year?

Smart phones – as the world moves away from desktops to mobile devices, we will see more information at our fingertips which is great… unless you’re driving!

In 2020 we’ll all be talking about…?

Brexit, Donald Trump, the Tokyo Olympics and, possibly, royal babies?

Which person in, or associated with, the health & safety industry would you most like to meet?

Nils Bohlin, an engineer at Volvo, who invented the modern three-point car seat belt in 1959. He’s saved thousands of lives.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learnt about the health & safety sector?

I’ve personally never met a health and safety professional who isn’t passionate about what they do.

You go to the bar at the Occupational Safety & Health Forum – what’s your tipple of choice?

I’ve just discovered the ‘Dark and Stormy’ – it’s rum, ginger beer, and lime juice in a tall glass, full of ice. Wow!

What’s the most exciting thing about your job? Working for a company dedicated to saving people’s lives is pretty exciting.

And what’s the most challenging?

Like 99% of people, never enough time!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

My dad once told me “Take all your holidays. You’ll not only get a break from your colleagues… they’ll get a break from you too!”

Peaky Blinders or The Crown?

As a Brummie by birth, it has to be Peaky Blinders.

GVA and Apleona confirm separation
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Independent commercial property agent GVA has announced a separation with management services company Apleona, allowing the two companies to focus on their respective core markets.

GVA chief executive Gerry Hughes said: “The separation is a significant development which gives us greater focus and control over the next phase of our growth. We now have a closer operational relationship with our shareholder, which will fast-track the delivery of our strategy.

“2017 was another strong year for GVA operationally and financially. As well as achieving our financial targets, we welcomed 25 new directors and senior directors to our business, and we are looking forward to accelerating our growth in 2018 and beyond.”

Andy Mottram, former member of JLL’s EMEA board, has been appointed chairman.

Discussing the move, Mottram said: “GVA is a great brand in the UK with a real sense of momentum. The firm offers a unique market proposition blending consultancy and transactional services across both the private and public sectors and its regional network is the envy of the market. I look forward to supporting Gerry and the team in the next phase of our journey.”

Total Security Summit

Claim your place at the Total Security Summit
By:

We have a limited number of places left for delegates at the Total Security Summit, which takes place on March 12th & 13th at Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted.

It’s FREE to attend, but you need to act swiftly!

BOOK ONLINE HERE

As our VIP guest, you will join other senior security industry professionals from organisations including:

Air Liquid, Aviva, Central England Co-operative, Edwardian Hotel, Hats Group, Knight Frank LLP, North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS, Park Mobile, Thames Water, The LaLit London, Tottenham Hotspur.

In addition, you’ll get to attend inspirational seminars and network with like-minded senior security professionals.

And all hospitality, including all meals and refreshments, overnight accommodation and an invitation to a gala dinner is included.

Register today to secure you place!

Or for more information, contact Leanne Webster on 01992 374066 / email leanne.webster@forumevents.co.uk.

Alternatively, if you’re an security industry supplier and would like to showcase your products & services at the event, contact Haydn Boxall on 01992 374 084 / h.boxall.forumevents.co.uk.

Energy Management Summit

Last call for the Occupational Safety & Health Forum!
By:

This is a last call for you to attend next month’s Occupational Safety & Health Forum, which takes place on February 7th at the Radisson Blu Hotel, London Stansted.

If you would like to join 60+ other senior health and safety professionals, you need to register today or miss out!

Simply click here to book your FREE place.

The Forum will give you the opportunity to:

  • Source innovative and budget-saving suppliers
  • Network with like-minded peers
  • Enjoy full hospitality, including lunch and all refreshments

Click here to book online, or to find out more contact Paige Aitken on 01992 374079 / p.aitken@forumevents.co.uk.

Alternatively, if you’re an industry supplier and would like to showcase your services at the Occupational Safety & Health Forum, contact Lisa Rose on 01992 374 077 / l.rose@forumevents.co.uk.

Health & Safety

RECOMMENDED: Do you provide Health & Safety services? We want to hear from you!
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Each month on FM Briefing we’ll be shining the spotlight on a different part of the facilities management market, starting in February with Health & Safety.

It’s all part of our new ‘Recommended’ editorial feature, designed to help FM industry buyers find the best products and services available today.

So, if you’re a supplier of Health & Safety services and would like to be included as part of this exciting new shop window, we’d love to hear from you – for more info, contact Lisa Carter on lisa.carter@mimrammedia.com.

Here are the areas we’ll be covering, month by month:

February – Health & Safety

March – Building Maintenance & Refurbishment

April – Cleaning

May – Total Facilities Management

June – Energy Management

July – Security

August – Air Conditioning

September – Waste Management

October – Asset Management

November – FM Software

December – Business Continuity

For more information on any of the above, contact Lisa Carter on lisa.carter@mimrammedia.com.

Jones FM secures 20 Old Bailey contract
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Southern-based facilities management company, Jones FM, has been awarded a contract to provide electrical maintenance for 20 Old Bailey.

The 235,000 squared-foot workspace, opposite the law courts in centre of London, has recently undergone a major refurbishment, which included internal modernisation, the addition of two extra floors and structural changes to the atrium, in a bid to attract businesses looking for high-end office space in the capital.

Jones FM’s portfolio currently includes St Katharine Docks, Chiswick Park and 125 Old Broad Street.

Commenting on the contract, Brad Jones, senior partner, Jones FM, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Jones FM, and we are really proud to be supporting London’s finest buildings to work effectively for the businesses that make the city thrive.”

Government offers advice to suppliers on Carillion crash
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The Government has offered advice to suppliers and creditors affected by Carillion’s liquidation last week.

Troubled UK facilities management and construction giant Carillion owed almost £1.3bn to banks and the end finally came on January 15th as a winding up order was made against the firm, with the court appointing the Official Receiver as the liquidator.

The company held just £29m in cash when it collapsed.

Advice on the Government’s website for customers, suppliers and sub-contractors is to call usual operational points of contact for the Carillion Group, or visit the website www.pwc.co.uk/carillion.

The site also recommends that you register as a creditor in the liquidation if you haven’t been paid for goods or services you’ve supplied to the company, and/or you have paid these companies for goods or services that you haven’t received.

Self-employed contractors and agency workers providing services to Carillion are not entitled to redundancy payments.

The company, based in Wolverhampton, employed around 20,000 people across the UK and over 40,000 globally. It is involved in a number of projects including HS2, the construction of new hospitals in Smethwick and Liverpool, maintaining 50,000 army base homes for the Ministry of Defence and providing school dinners to over 30,000 pupils a day across 218 schools.

Discussing the announcement, Carillion chairman, Philip Green, said: “This is a very sad day for Carillion, for our colleagues, suppliers and customers that we have been proud to serve over many years. Over recent months huge efforts have been made to restructure Carillion to deliver its sustainable future.

“In recent days, however, we have been unable to secure the funding to support our business plan and it is therefore with the deepest regret that we have arrived at this decision.”

Bennett Hay wins major Here East contract
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Bespoke hospitality services firm Bennett Hay has won a major contract to provide front-of-house services to Here East, a growing technology and creative campus located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London.

The contract includes Bennett Hay delivering services across four receptions at the Here East facility, starting with help desk, reception and concierge services.

Bennett Hay will be responsible for looking after over 5,500 staff and guests.

Sara Carthy, estate director at Here East, said that Bennett Hay’s “very tailored and individual approach will help shape our bespoke guest experience”.

Bennett Hay co-founder and director Anthony Bennett added: “The contract allows us to bring to life our respected ‘guest-centric’ approach where our service is carefully tailored to reflect each and every client brand we represent.”