Stuart O'Brien, Author at Facilities Management Forum | Forum Events Ltd - Page 75 of 87
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Stuart O'Brien

First Response Group raises over £5,000 for Mencap
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Leeds based total facilities management company First Response Group has donated over £5,000 to Leeds Mencap, who foster positive livelihood to children and adults with learning disabilities.

First Response Group raised the money from organising and hosting a Coffee Morning, Halloween Party, BBQ Lunch and from other private donation opportunities.

“We are grateful to the local community and local businesses for their kind donations and support to events the company have held. Our staff have been extraordinarily fantastic in sparing their time to prepare for the Leeds 10km marathon and hosting the events. We are also grateful to the company Directors for allowing us to hold these events in works time disturbing the normal day workflow,” said Mark Hullah, National Accounts Director who chairs the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee.

The company is committed to supporting Leeds Mencap and keen to build on the close ties within the city.

Leeds Mencap offers support to people with very different needs and aspirations to help ensure that they live a fulfilling life and achieve their goals.

“As a local, independent charity that must raise all its own funds, we could not achieve the work we do without the support of local companies. First Response Group have just been amazing, as their company strapline suggests, they have listened, responded and delivered to our needs and we are delighted to have an ongoing relationship with them,” said Loretta Jones, Head of Fundraising.

For more information to be involved in making a difference, contact Catherine Storey in the fundraising team on 0113 2351331.

Norse wins £50m Daventry District Contract
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Norse Commercial Services has signed a 10-year agreement with Daventry District Council.

In a contract worth £50 million, the partnership will see Norse delivering a wide range of services, including litter picking, street sweeping, general roadside maintenance, clearing graffiti and fly-tipping, along with collection of waste and recycling from household and businesses.

Commenting on the agreement, Norse managing director Dean Wetteland said: “We will be making significant investment in facilities and equipment for environmental services, including a new fleet of vehicles, machinery and equipment and the redevelopment of the environmental depot and offices at High March Daventry.”

Norse now provides waste and environmental services in nine of its 16 partnerships.

The company has a turnover in excess of £137 million and employs over 8,500 staff across private and public sectors. The company has been trading for over 26 years in contract services, strategic services and FM.

Etch set to unify blockchain technology within FM
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For workers who get paid monthly, it can be difficult to ensure that money lasts – and for building contractors it can be hard to ensure payment.

Etch is a new platform that will change the way employers and employees engage with payroll. It enables those who work in facilities management to pay workers and subcontractors by the second into an account that can be checked instantly by app and accessed with a card very similar to a debit card. Etch is raising £5 million to fund the new platform through a token sale.

Euros Evans, founder of Etch, explained why payroll needs to be improved: “Billions of people across the world live pay cheque to pay cheque, a situation that can lead to mounting debt, stress and poor health. The Etch solution enables employers to pay their employees in real time. If, for example, they don’t have any money at the beginning of the day, their morning’s work will mean they have enough money for lunch.

“We hope by people being paid as soon as they’ve earned it, we can reduce the need for payday loans and other such instruments to plug spending gaps, as well as improving peace of mind.

“We will use blockchain technology to unify payroll and remittance services to create a platform that not only benefits employees in their lives, but reduces business inefficiencies, saving them time and cost in payroll.

“The system makes things very easy for workers. Imagine that you start your shift at 8am. You ‘punch in’ using the app to let your employer know you’re working, and from that point money is paid into your account in a continuous stream.

“At 12.00 noon, you check the app again, which shows you your account balance. If it had been empty at the beginning of the day, you’d now have four hours’ pay in the account. Your employer would have already issued you with an Etch card, which you can use in any shop to buy your lunch.”

The Etch platform allows employers to pay workers and contractors second by second, their balance being visible through a smartphone app and accessible via a card which is similar in appearance to a credit or debit card.

 

https://etch.work

Carillion reduces full year revenue outlook after ‘disappointing’ first-half
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Troubled British multinational FM and construction firm Carillion Group has revised its full year outlook after what it referred to as a disappointing set of first-half results.

Revenues are now expected to be £4.6bn-£4.8bn, down from £4.8bn-£5bn, with a further £200m provision in respect of 23 of its support services, adding to the £845m provision for loss-making construction contracts that it announced in July.

The debt accumulated by the company, from weak cash flow to failure to replace completed contracts, has climbed from £42m in 2007 to an average of £694m in the first half of 2017. The company forecasts full-year average net debt to be in the region of of £825m-£850m.

The results saw a significant drop in the company’s share price, down more than 70% for the year to date.

Discussing the results, Carillion Group’s interim chief executive Keith Cochrane said: “This is a disappointing set of results which reflects the issues we flagged in July and the additional £200m provision for our support services business that we have announced today. We now expect results for the full year to be lower than current market expectations.

“The strategic review that we launched in July has enabled us to get a firm handle on the group’s problems and we have implemented a clear plan to address them.”

Carillion Group has said previously that it would consider “all options to optimise value for the benefit of shareholders”. Conversations have already taken place to reduce cost and debt by selling off parts of its overseas business.

Cochrane added that the group had made “an encouraging start” to deal with the issues it faces.

“Supported by an operating model that manages risk much more effectively, and led by a fresh management team with a mandate to drive cultural change, I am confident a strong business can emerge,” he said.

De-Ice

Q&A: In conversation with De-ice Director Vicky Lopez
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As the nights draw in and the temperatures fall (hurricanes notwithstanding) we sat down with Vicky Lopez, director at De-ice, one of the UK’s longest established winter gritting and risk management specialists, to talk about the best ways for businesses to prepare for winter…

Q – How should UK facilities managers be preparing their response to possible bad weather this winter?

A – Winter is only around the corner, and being prepared for severe weather and taking responsibility is vital for any business. At De-ice we are ready to begin service as soon as the weather temperatures fall, and feel reassured that we (and our clients) are ready to tackle the elements.

Here are a few tips for implementing a winter plan:

  • Sites should be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • If the decision is to outsource the service, then review winter maintenance organisations and find the one that meets a site’s specific requirements.
  • Make sure your winter maintenance supplier provides the following as a minimum:

– Daily forecasting based on road surface temperatures

– Agreed site plans – highlighting areas to be serviced

– A tracking system to evidence attendance

– The ability to stockpile salt

– Work with dedicated winter maintenance machinery, which can be calibrated for an even spread of salt

– Insurance

– A transparent audit trail

– A dedicated account manager for you and 24/7 contact during the winter

  • If you are self-delivering, then review and update your policy and processes. Make sure staff are appropriately trained and machinery fit for purpose.  Make sure you keep accurate records of when you gritted.
  • Don’t wait – regardless of the weather, standard winter maintenance contracts commence on 1st
  • Plan ahead – to ensure you remain operational, and minimise the exposure to slips and trips.

Q – How has the propensity for ‘extreme weather’ in recent years altered how businesses need to manage the associated risks?

A – No two winters are ever the same, and for the last three years we have experienced few incidents of extreme weather in the form of heavy snow and severe ice.  But that doesn’t mean we should all rest on our laurels and think Winter 2017-18 will follow the same pattern. Whether we like to admit it or not, frost, ice and snow — even if they don’t last long — are predictable features of a British winter.

It certainly seems more companies are becoming aware of the importance of working with winter risk management providers to help manage the overall risk. Outsourcing brings peace of mind for the business during difficult and uncertain weather conditions. 

Q – What new products and technical advances can we expect to see deployed by De-ice during winter 2017/18?

A – We always look to be proactive and lead innovation within our industry. While many tried and tested products and processes are still effective and provide value for money solutions, we have to remember that providing winter maintenance support is a lot more than spreading grit on a car park.

This winter, the accuracy of our weather forecasting and our audit trails have both seen significant advances.  Forecasting is more site specific, and improvements in GPS tracking enables us to track both vehicles and personnel.

Q – Road gritting is always a key talking point in the media – what are the best strategies for the effective treatment of areas that need gritting?

A – Proactive treatment in getting your product – salt, brine, and chloride – onto the road surface before frost, ice or snow take hold. And this is essential for the service to be effective.

Monitoring and understanding the weather in your area can only enhance service delivery when there is a marginal or low confidence forecast.

If the 2009/10 winter taught us anything then being sufficiently resourced to deal with extreme weather is imperative – ensuring there is enough fleet, staff and material (salt) to cope with potential demand.

Q – In 2022, we’ll all be talking about…?

The weather. We all love to talk about it – from snow and freezing temperatures, to heat waves.

The weather is a hot topic of conversation across the world, and extreme weather events always hit the headlines given the impact they can have on areas such as transport and public services.

De-ice is an Event Sponsor for the FM Industry Christmas Party, which is being hosted by the FM Forum and FMJ on Tuesday, November 28th at Grange St Paul’s Hotel, London – and tickets are just £30, which includes drinks, canapés and entertainment.

Register Today!

Alternatively, contact Paige Aitken for more information on 01992 374079 / p.aitken@forumevents.co.uk.

Energy Management Summit

Secure your VIP place at the Occupational Safety & Health Forum
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What do London City Airport, the RFU and Vodafone have in common..?

…They are all attending the Occupational Safety & Health Forum to source innovative and budget-saving suppliers, learn from industry experts and network with their peers.

Would you like to join them? BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE HERE.

This one-day event will set you up for 2018 and beyond. As our VIP guest, we’ll provide you with a bespoke itinerary of meetings with suppliers who match your requirements and upcoming projects. No hard sell and no time wasted.

You can also attend educational and insightful seminar sessions, and network with peers who share your challenges.

You’ll be joining 65 senior safety & health professionals, with delegates representing:

Alpha LSG, Associated Independent Stores, AXA Partners, Chanel, Greencore, Heathrow Express, Kaplan International, Kelly Group, London City Airport, Natixis, Office Depot, Oxford Instruments Nanoscience, Queen Mary University of London, Rugby Football Union, Sibelco, Sonoco Alcore, Stonbury, St Raphaela’s Hospice, The London Clinic, The Market Research Society, Vita Cellular Foams, Vodafone and many more.

Would you like to join them? 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.

Steve Fox

GUEST BLOG: From service providers to business enablers – The elevated position of the FM department
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Steven Fox, Corporate Real Estate Solutions, Qube Global Software

Facilities managers (FMs) today have more responsibilities than ever before. The rapid development of technology available at their fingertips has triggered a transformation in the complexity of the FM departments’ role within the corporate framework. Added to this is the increasing importance placed on providing a safe, cohesive and optimised work environment to achieving business success. In the past decade or so, we’ve witnessed FMs upgrade from mere service providers to bona fide business enablers.

Yet they still do not have a seat at the boardroom table. And with FMs capability to directly influence C-suite decision-making, is now the time? The view of FM as simply a nuts and bolts necessity, rather than a strategic benefit, is perhaps to blame for this. Confusion as to where FMs sit in the business could also be to blame – who the FM reports to depends on the respective management structure; in some cases, the facilities manager will report to the HR director. Support services such as IT, HR and procurement are all there to enable the company to carry out its core function. Yet, they tend to work in silos – and don’t really acknowledge the operational importance of FM at all. By leveraging technology, FM is fast becoming indispensable to the C-suite by helping organisations move towards ever-increasing levels of efficiency.

The role of metrics in informing C-suite decision making

A strategic FM strategy can pay dividends for an organisation in more ways than one, and with property and asset management software solutions such as Qube Horizon, FMs can provide top management with relevant real-time, past and projected information to help streamline business strategy.

It is essential that FMs link their goals to the wider business by assisting in achieving corporate objectives, collaborating with other business units, and maintaining a comprehensive FM solution to benchmark and measure corporate performance. By tracking key metrics, FMs will have the means of reaffirming or assisting decisions made in the boardroom.

Below are a couple of scenarios in which FMs can provide influential data for benchmarking purposes, as well as key metrics that will give a complete overview of an organisations’ portfolio; thus providing the opportunity for the FM department to elevate their position in the organisation by informing on business decisions.

Measuring employee satisfaction

An important facet of FM is ensuring employees are happy and comfortable in their working environment. Property tech now has employee survey capabilities, which are a great way to not only increase the understanding of issues that are important to your staff, but also to deal with them in a timely manner. Say for example, employee dissatisfaction has been flagged in a specific building. The FM department has access to data that could help identify if there is anything in the built environment that could be negatively impacting the workplace. FM’s can filter their help desk data down to a specific building, then use embedded reporting gadgets to identify if there are any reoccurring issues raised by multiple employees. If reoccurring issues were identified and related to temperature for example, further analysis could be performed just on HVAC assets in the property. Asset performance and operating costs can be compared with other HVAC assets of similar type or make in the portfolio, and deduce if any asset is performing outside of normal trend. Corrective maintenance, asset replacement or even the changing of an underperforming contractor can then be initiated depending on the underlying issue identified. Not only can the FM deal with the problem in real-time, they can also use collated data to pre-empt any other issues before they occur and rectify before they’re escalated to senior staff. Quick, evidence based changes can be made that directly improve the work environment, meeting corporate objectives of maintaining an effective workspace for its employees.

Group-wide cost saving

In addition to optimising the work environment, FMs have a key role to play in maximising assets and establishing cost-effective working processes. For instance, building and leasing decisions are traditionally the remit of the property manager through consultation with the business and its current and projected requirements. However, FM’s can also play an important role here. When deciding to renew or terminate an expiring lease, FM’s have a large volume of data that could help inform upon the best course of action. On a basic level, this can include an overview of utility bills and energy performance, but also more in-depth analysis of space utilisation levels or details of imminent end of life asset’s and the estimated costs of their replacement. All of this paints a picture, on whether renewing the lease and maintaining the property are higher than the costs of moving to a modern building on the market, the FM can offer advice accordingly.

Future planning

Whether a leasing decision is imminent or not, FM’s can assist with formulating the business budget by projecting the total costs of future occupation. Prop tech software such as Horizon can create detailed expenditure forecast reports filtered by property, region, type and so on, which can also take into account projected inflationary increases year on year. These expenditure forecasts can include anticipated planned maintenance and asset replacement costs, but also provide analysis on what make of assets can be procured and maintained cheapest. The report format is easy for senior management to digest, who can factor that information in when tailoring future budgets.

Effective facilities management evidently plays a crucial role in assisting organisations in accomplishing their corporate objectives both short and long-term. Taking advantage of their unparalleled access to real-time business data and capitalising on the opportunities to demonstrate FM’s value, the sector will continue to be uplifted to a whole new level in the eyes of other industries and practitioners.

Landlords risk fines over heat network regs
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Thousands of landlords and developers are facing fines over a lack of awareness of heat network regulations, a compliance expert has warned.

It is thought an estimated 17,000 networks have gone through the process of registering sites with multiple tenants, but Michael Gallucci, managing director of consultancy MPGQS, says many more individuals and organisations have missed the notification deadline.

Discussing the issues, Gallucci said: “It is pretty clear that people are perplexed by the requirements for metering. I would urge people to seek professional advice.”

Shifting deadlines has added confusion and created a ‘moving target’ for compliance, claims Gallucci.

“Although regulations are an administrative headache for agents, and an unwelcome cost burden for landlords, managing the process well could help reduce energy bills and develop more efficient buildings.

“Managing agents must ensure their clients comply by reporting information about properties where residents are supplied with heating, cooling or hot water. They may also be required to install meters at occupier level, an obligation that’s set to roll out more widely in 2017, spreading the net of those who can be caught out.

“It’s complex but cannot be ignored. Non-compliance with any of the requirements to notify, meter and bill is a criminal offence that can lead to civil and criminal sanctions, including unlimited fines, not to mention damage to reputation.”

Under the Heat Network (Metering and Billing) Regulations 2014 and driven by an EU target to cut greenhouse gas emissions even a building owner or manager with a small sub-let is classed as a heating supplier if the tenant is charged for heating, cooling or hot water, whether it’s billed separately or included in the rent.

Suppliers were required to notify the National Measurement and Regulation Office (NMRO) by the end of 2015. NMRO can impose civil sanctions for non-compliance with the notification requirements, including compliance notices or enforcement undertakings and financial penalties.

Fines for landlords can be given for non completion of the notification, a new development or major refurbishment which hasn’t installed meters at occupier level and if meters haven’t been installed at building level existing properties managed or owned.

Bringme Box solves shopping at work issues
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An innovative idea is set to solve the issues of shopping away from the home, when deliveries are made at a workplace.

The Bringme Box provides a secure and safe way of receiving online shopping for collection when it suits the individual. The boxes can be located in a building’s entrance or anywhere suitable, and the courier or postman simply delivers the parcel into the box, closes the door and the recipient is automatically informed through the Bringme App on their phone or computer that their parcel is ready for collection. There are different sized boxes, even ones with hanging rails for clothes.

There is a clear audit trail throughout the transaction from the moment the courier drops off the item, to the moment the recipient collects it, using a unique QR code to open or close the box, ensuring that parcels never go missing and sensors in the box automatically detect when there is something inside it. The Bringme Box receives and signs for delivery so its quick and easy for couriers and postmen.

Conversely, if there are items needing to be returned, or sent on, or something needs picking up, the box works the other way around, like an automated service desk, and a courier can collect from it without having to disturb anyone. It doesn’t have to be a commercial transaction – users can leave or have belongings collected by friends or family, too. It enables you to be in when you’re out and you can access any kind of product or service, controlling everything via the Bringme App.

Graham Price
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Forum Events is sad to report that former FM Forum event manager Graham Price passed away late last month.

Graham Price joined Forum Events in July 1999 and worked on the conception of the FM Forums. He left the business in 2013.

Running the Facilities Management Forum for over a decade, he sat right at the heart of the FM community, and his ebullient nature meant that he made many, many friends within the industry.

“Graham successfully launched the FM Forum and then took it to a bi-annual event. Given that we are now celebrating our 20th anniversary, it’s testament to his work,” said Forum Events MD Sarah Beall.

“He became something of a guru within the FM business, creating a massive network of FM professionals and companies, many of whom still support the FM Forum 20 years later.

“But alongside this incredible business acumen was his work mentoring more junior staff here at Forum. He helped many individuals here, including myself, to build their careers, many of whom are still here today and running the FM Forum in his name. He was a true gentleman, and very kind, and will be very much missed.”