13 July 2016 | Herpreet Kaur Grewal More research needs to be carried out to assess how sophisticated different countries are for business and their adoption of FM practices, according to a BIFM report. The report from BIFM’s International Special Interest Group (ISIG) was the result of a recent FM Leaders Forum and one of the key themes to emerge from it was how to “outsource across borders”. As part of the discussions at the forum, it was established that further research should be carried out to benchmark ‘market maturities’ in order to establish the level of a country’s business sophistication and its adoption of UK FM practices, particularly with preference to UK health and safety practices. Steve Gladwin, chair of the International SIG, said: “It is evident that in an increasingly globalised world there are great opportunities for FM providers wanting to provide services in new international markets. We wanted to discuss the challenges of investing in businesses outside of the UK and the pitfalls and prospects available to organisations looking to expand their geographic reach. In doing so we wanted to identify the learnings so that we can continue to support others who are considering taking this step.” Gladwin added: “As with any developing business relationship between supplier and client, consultation and collaboration is essential. But for successful FM outsourcing internationally it is critical. What became apparent is that, problems are being created by the absence of a standard FM contract. Because of the variance in business practices this means there is no set of defined terms that all involved can agree upon. Therefore the clarity of contract is of vital importance as so much UK business terminology can be easily misinterpreted abroad.”  The ‘Outsourcing Across Borders’ paper with key findings  and outcomes of this FM Leaders Forum has been published and is available to the FM community for download below. BIFM Members and non-members can access the paper at www.bifm.org.uk/fmlf This latest FM Leaders Forum was sponsored by Polycom. Source link

Angus MacNeil slammed EDF chief executive Vincent De Rivaz in a letter to energy secretary Amber Rudd and insisted that a contingency plan must be drawn up by the government should the project not go ahead. “Given the uncertain timetable [of Hinkley] we would like to know what contingency plans you [the government] has in place in case Hinkley Point C does not materialise,” MacNeil wrote. “I would also like to know what the UK is liable for if the project is cancelled as a result of a decision by the UK government, and what the UK is liable for if the project is cancelled as a result of a decision by France.” The letter comes just a day after the select committee grilled EDF Energy chief executive Vincent De Rivaz on the future of Hinkley Point C. Mr MacNeil wrote that he was “disappointed” in Mr Rivaz’s inability to confirm a timeline for making a final investment decision on Hinkley, despite the French economy minster indicating a decision would come in May. He said that while Mr De Rivaz stated “categorically” that the project will go ahead, he was not “inspired with confidence” due to the poor track record of Hinkley so far. “We now watch with interest for EDF’s decision in early May,” wrote Mr MacNeil. “If it has not been made by the middle of May, following Mr De Rivaz’s comments to us yesterday, we will be calling him back to explain why.” The £18bn project has been beset by delays since EDF submitted its plan to build a new nuclear plant on the Somerset site. Last October EDF agreed terms with China General Nuclear Corporation on a strategic investment agreement that would see EDF take a 66.5 per cent stake and CGN a 33.5 per cent stake in the project – with a final investment decision expected within weeks of the deal. Since then, a number of dates have been mooted as potential dates for a final investment decision to be made but all have failed to materialise. Last October EDF agreed terms with China General Nuclear Corporation on a strategic investment agreement that would see EDF take a 66.5 per cent stake and CGN a 33.5 per cent stake in the project – with a final investment decision expected within weeks of the deal. Since then, a number of dates have been mooted as potential dates for a final investment decision to be made but all have failed to materialise. Source link