SD Sealants, one of the largest cosmetic finishing groups in the UK, has launched a new repairs service dedicated to the facilities management sector. This new facilities management offering is the latest in a line of new services launched by the company, following the launch of its insurance claims department
So you’re thinking about renovating your home, that’s great! In these times when everyone’s been pretty much homebound, it can be a good idea to invest in some quality renovations. But before you start, we suggest you run a thorough check of your home, just to avoid any future (unpleasant)
Are you frustrated with the reappearance of rodents and ants after you’ve cleaned up your house? Well, before you feel hopeless, consider this. Pests like rodents, ants, or moles don’t appear because of the lack of sanitization at your home. They can occur in the cleanest of places and wreak
COVID-19 has challenged us all, testing safety, resilience, finances, and wellbeing alike. At our IWFM Impact Awards 2020 virtual ceremony in September, we celebrated some amazing examples of the powerful influence of our profession and its ability to adapt to these extraordinary circumstances with ingenuity, skill and often compassion. Ahead of Workplace Week International (9 to 13 November), we sat down with IWFM’s Head of Workplace, Donna Walker (DW), for a
Using one or more of the following tips can make it much easier to get rid of bed bugs and other pests, and there are many reasons for doing so. Let’s take a look at them and find out how they can work for you. Getting rid of these pests
RFM Group, the property maintenance company, is rolling out a high tech mobile workforce management system. Supplied by BigChange, the cloud-based system provides a complete business solution incorporating back office management software that synchronises in real time with rugged tablets used by RFM’s mobile workforce. BigChange provides is a single platform CRM,
As of January 2021, ISS will provide integrated facility services for an international industry and manufacturing client. The partnership involves facilities management of sites across the United States, Canada and Latin America. The five-year contract, once fully operational and phased in, will be one of the largest contracts in the United
The sequins may have been in shorter supply at this evening’s virtual 2020 IWFM Impact Awards, but the star quality shone out as an online audience of hundreds celebrated the gamechangers whose extraordinary achievements were honoured at the most unusual ceremony in the flagship event’s twenty-year history. Transmitting from home,
Fusion21 has launched a £1.1bn workplace & facilities framework, to meet the facilities management needs of a range of public sector organisations Designed to meet the facilities management needs of a wide range of public sector organisations in the blue light, central government, education, health, housing and local authority sectors,
Arthur McKay, a leading building support services provider in the UK and an Atalian Servest company, has appointed Steve Wallbanks as Managing Director to spearhead growth. With more than 30 years’ experience in the FM industry, Steve will be responsible for steering the strategic direction of the company and expanding
BDC 322 : Nov 2024
SD Sealants, one of the largest cosmetic finishing groups in the UK, has launched a new repairs service dedicated to the facilities management sector. This new facilities management offering is the latest in a line of new services launched by the company, following the launch of its insurance claims department in August this year and its marine repairs service in late 2019. The new repairs division will focus on working with housing associations, hospitals and care homes as well as schools and universities. “This is an important launch for the business and we are really excited about the benefits we will be able to offer some of these sectors and in particular, housing associations and care homes. The impact of Covid this year means that a lot of these associations are months behind on their repairs. We will be able to assist with these repairs and help clear the backlog. Longer term, this will improve sustainability as it will be less likely that fixtures will need to be replaced,” said Nick Jones, Managing Director of SD Sealants, on the launch. “By assisting with these repairs, we are hopeful that we can help make cost savings of up to 80% for housing associations. The company can also provide a slip resistant coating for baths and shower trays which it hopes will prove a benefit to care homes in increasing health and safety. Nick continued: “Hospitals and care homes will continue to see a lot of footfall in 2021 so keeping on top of repairs will be imperative. Again, we can help these organisations rescue fixtures and fittings, without the need to replace,” added Nick. Launched in 1973, SD Sealants originated as a family run business in Somerset that specialised in the supply and application of sealant. Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of the UK’s largest repairs and sealant companies, with nine offices across England, Scotland and Wales.
So you’re thinking about renovating your home, that’s great! In these times when everyone’s been pretty much homebound, it can be a good idea to invest in some quality renovations. But before you start, we suggest you run a thorough check of your home, just to avoid any future (unpleasant) surprises. Hire a pest control company before redoing your home – here’s why! You might be thinking that you don’t need pest control services because there are no pests in your home. Or at least… none that you know of. In actuality, there might be bats living in your attic even now, or perhaps a snake nest underneath your home – who knows? To put it simply, it’s not unusual for a home to have pests, without the owners even knowing it. Pests could really mess up your renovation plans. Even the nicest of contractors probably won’t take kindly to finding a family of opossums living on your property mid-job. Such an occurrence will no doubt halt the work for at least a couple of days while you get rid of the unwanted pests. In the meantime, of course, you still have to keep paying your work crew, and might even have to pay something for the inconvenience. And if you don’t find the pests during renovation, that’s even worse! Not all pests will pop up during a home redo. Let’s face it, these creatures aren’t stupid. They’re not going to just pop out when everyone’s focused on the house so that they can get killed! Quite the contrary. The pest in question will stay carefully hidden until things go back to normal, and then it’ll come back… to your freshly redone home! Whether it’s termites, bats, or raccoons, these pests will do considerable damage to your home, by chewing on the wood structures, electrical wires, messing up insulation, or who knows, maybe even endangering the home’s stability. And aside from the obvious health and safety danger this poses, we’re also looking at some serious money you’ve just thrown down the drain. Pests won’t care if you’ve just renovated your home, they’ll mess it up just the same. And then you’ll be back at square one, not only having to pay for pest control, but also for a work crew to come back and renovate your house… again! To avoid all these headaches, look through this informational source for help dealing with wildlife pests. Preventive pest control could also help you fix things before they become a problem! If you hire a pest control company to come in and do a quick and thorough assessment of your property beforehand, they will be able to highlight any potential weak points on your property. Pros like Orlando Rats offer many different services. They’ll look for holes in the wall or crawl spaces under your property, or any such things that could become a pest entry point. And you’ll be able to fix these things before they become a problem, during the renovation. In the end, hiring a pest control company to run a check on your home is the smart and budget-friendly thing to do!
Are you frustrated with the reappearance of rodents and ants after you’ve cleaned up your house? Well, before you feel hopeless, consider this. Pests like rodents, ants, or moles don’t appear because of the lack of sanitization at your home. They can occur in the cleanest of places and wreak havoc. So, you don’t have to blame yourself. Instead, you can get a solution to this issue in the form of pest control. At Empire Pest Control London, professionals take up the challenge to remove all traces of pests at your place and ensure that the pests don’t reappear in the near future. They use products like sticky fly traps, chain door curtains, fly machine bulbs, wasp nests, and various rodent proofing methods for pest control. Pests tend to get comfortable at your place, be it a home or an office space. That is the reason why they are hard to get rid of. But, with a professional team like that of Empire Pest Control, it becomes easy to get rid of pests within 24 hours. So, if a rat has been bothering you all night, then you don’t have to let it destroy another night of yours. Now you have an effective solution at your disposal. Just make a call and get consultation with the Empire Pest Control team. The same day pest removal services can be availed at any time and is available across London. Besides, you can make a call even in the middle of the night, and the pest control specialists will be there at your doorstep at the designated time. Which Sectors Do Empire Pest Control Serve? Empire Pest Control serves various sectors across London, including both residential as well as commercial sectors. This diverse range of sectors includes food retail, transportation services, food production, commercial premises, industrial premises, private property, logistics, and more. You can call up the experts at Empire Pest Control and seek advice from them anytime. And if you want, they can come to your place, inspect it thoroughly for pests, and then offer you practical advice. What Pest Control Solutions Are Adopted? At Empire, professionals usually stay away from the usual practice of using a chemical-based pest control method. Having said that; it’s not always possible that the professionals would use organic pest control. Some pests are stubborn. They intend to stay. And on these pests, organic methods are not very useful. Only chemicals hush them off. Pest Control specialists, at Empire, visit your place and inspect it thoroughly. They identify the perfect solution for the kind of pest infestation at your home/office. These specialists are well-versed with the different types of insects and animal species. Their knowledge of insects habitats, animal behaviours, the likelihood of reappearance, and rates of infestation helps them decide the right chemical/ organic method for pest control. What’s Pest Proofing? If you sign up for a 24-hour pest removal services from Empire Pest Control, you’d be given an additional benefit of pest-proofing or pest prevention. Once you get your house cleaned up, you wouldn’t want the pests to reappear soon. And therefore, getting pest-proofing is vital for you. Initially, the specialists will use their equipment and methods to pest-proof your house or office. However, they would offer you their informative advice to keep your home pest-proof in future.
COVID-19 has challenged us all, testing safety, resilience, finances, and wellbeing alike. At our IWFM Impact Awards 2020 virtual ceremony in September, we celebrated some amazing examples of the powerful influence of our profession and its ability to adapt to these extraordinary circumstances with ingenuity, skill and often compassion. Ahead of Workplace Week International (9 to 13 November), we sat down with IWFM’s Head of Workplace, Donna Walker (DW), for a social distanced chat about her experiences of managing IWFM’s team and head office during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you require any support in managing the impacts of COVID-19 and the return to work, we have a range of resources, including guidance, information and webinars, available here. 1. On 16 March – a week before the Government announced the first national lockdown – IWFM CEO Linda Hausmanis closed head office and moved all employees to remote working. Why did IWFM act at that stage and what were your immediate thoughts and actions in tackling the transition? DW: ‘We were keeping a close eye on developments and had already implemented 14-day self-isolation for anyone travelling internationally. Then I was notified by our landlord that another tenant in our building had sent home an employee who had flu like symptoms. After weighing up the potential risks and vulnerabilities of remaining in the office and reviewing our business continuity plans, we were able to make a decision quickly and act promptly. ‘Although we already had some in our team who regularly worked remotely, the technical infrastructure and system improvements we had invested in over the last two years enabled the whole organisation to work from home very successfully. The health, safety and wellbeing of our team is paramount and we were equipped to make the transition, so that’s why we acted as early as we did: we wanted to and we could.’ 2. What were your biggest challenges and successes when moving all employees to remote working? How well set up was IWFM for this transition? With uncertainty about the duration of the lockdown, what were your priorities in ensuring the maintenance, safety and preparedness of the building? DW: ‘We felt really well prepared, so the biggest challenges we faced were the factors outside of our control, particularly around connectivity: the reliability of our team’s home internet connections when millions were working from home and likewise for our key communication platform, Microsoft Teams. However, it all worked remarkably well and we were able to deliver the majority of our products and services with limited downtime or interruption. ‘Although our building was unoccupied, it remained open due to other tenants who faced different challenges and needed to access the building. We continued with our usual cleaning, maintenance and auditing with slight schedule changes to ensure we were working within the parameters enforced by lockdown. During the first national lockdown, we also had to undertake some repairs to our office space that were identified during an audit, so although everyone else was working from home, there were times we had to be in the office to resolve issues. Such is the non-stop nature of workplace and facilities management!’ 3. After the first UK national lockdown ended in June and organisations began welcoming people back into buildings, how did you go about ensuring that IWFM head office is a safe environment? DW: ‘We followed the guidance provided by government and tailored it to our situation. Our local BID (Business Improvement District) network provided free signage and touch-free devices for our team. We ensured our temperature control and air handling system was being maintained in line with new findings and worked with our cleaning providers to ensure they were operating in accordance with the new infection control guidance. We introduced a booking system for our people to work from the office where they needed to in line with official guidance that people ‘should’ work from home where possible. Seating arrangements remained at two metres throughout. Hand sanitiser stations were setup throughout the office. ‘People were advised not to visit the office if they displayed any symptoms and in any case to take their temperature before setting off. As an additional check, their temperature would be taken on arrival at the office. We also ensured that our team mainly accessed the office to collect equipment or complete a task that required office use, which resulted in minimal occupancy and reduced our risk considerably. When people use the word ‘safe’ or the term ‘COVID-safe’, I wince because how can anyone guarantee a 100% safe environment? You can implement measures with what is reasonably practicable, but you can’t account for behaviours being in line all of the time.’ 4. This year has been marked by uncertainty: we’ve experienced a three-month national lockdown, relaxed social distancing measures, local lockdowns, and now national lockdown again. What have been your biggest challenges and successes throughout this changing situation? DW: ‘Keeping teams motivated during the pandemic has to be one of the biggest challenges for any manager who would normally engage teams through physical and social interactions that help to bring about a familiar and tangible culture. The usual in-person conversations and moods that would take place or be picked up in the office can be missed when working remotely. ‘However, we have been able to maintain engagement levels through a variety of tactics, including regular all-team surveys and risk assessments, fortnightly all-team briefings, CEO coffee catch-up sessions, celebrating events like Mental Health Awareness Week, continuing with our quarterly training window, offering flexible working arrangements for those who care for the vulnerable, and celebrating personal anniversaries and achievements. We have also had a programme delivered through our social committee with activities like a virtual running club via Strava, virtual yoga and meditation, and ‘pub’ quizzes.’ 5. Beyond the immediate health risks of COVID-19, the subject of wellbeing has been a major concern throughout the pandemic. How has IWFM managed and monitored wellbeing during mass remote working? DW: ‘It was fortuitous that I had delivered health, safety and wellbeing recap training to our entire management team in January, so it was at the forefront of their minds when communicating with their teams. These conversations helped us to be proactive in supporting team members who were considered vulnerable in line with pandemic guidance. As a management team, we made it a priority to have regular interactions with team members via our virtual platforms and in person when lockdown rules were eased through socially distanced meetings in open spaces. ‘During remote working, the team were and continue to be surveyed at regular intervals by way of risk assessment and any concerning findings are addressed, managed and controlled in a timely manner. The team were given regular opportunities to collect furniture or order equipment through our Business Support team, who arranged to have items delivered to their homes. Team members who struggled to work from home due to childcare arrangements had the ability to work flexibly. Once lockdown eased, those who needed a break from their home space were given the option to book spaces to work in the office.’ 6. What lessons will you draw from this year? Have you learned anything that has surprised you? DW: ‘As workplace and facilities professionals, we sometimes don’t give ourselves enough credit for the things we do as normally we’re behind the scenes dealing with issues no one really thinks about until it becomes a problem. However, this unforeseen global crisis propelled our profession into the spotlight and we have managed extremely well considering the circumstances. I have learnt that communicating in different ways, even if it’s the same message, is key (and to repeat it a few times doesn’t hurt either) as
Using one or more of the following tips can make it much easier to get rid of bed bugs and other pests, and there are many reasons for doing so. Let’s take a look at them and find out how they can work for you. Getting rid of these pests doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think. One of the top 5 DIY pest control methods is using an organic approach. You need to make sure you do everything correctly and use the right type of product to get the job done properly. If you don’t want to invest a lot of money in these products then it’s worth looking at some online resources to see what else is available. Natural pest control The other option that you have is to use a natural pest control method. There is a wide range of home remedies that are very effective at killing bugs and keeping them from breeding and causing problems in your home. Some of the most effective include: There are also several natural ingredients that you can include in your kitchen to ensure that you don’t have to deal with the problems associated with using pest control methods. One of the most popular ingredients for bug extermination is lemon juice. If you have an infestation of mosquitoes or cockroaches, then, applying a squeeze of lemon onto the affected area or a jar of yogurt is often enough to kill the bugs without having to resort to any chemicals. If you need further information on any of the top 5 DIY pest control methods, then you can find plenty of information about these methods on the Internet. You must find one that suits your particular needs so that you can ensure that you don’t have to make any long term or expensive mistakes when using them. Use of Baits & Sprays The most popular pest control method in terms of home and property issues is using baits or sprays that are designed to target the bugs and stop them from breeding. You can find a wide range of different types of baits and sprays from reputable sources, including online retailers. 2. Sealing cracks and crevices Another one of the top 5 DIY pest control methods is simply sealing cracks and crevices where bugs have previously been able to travel freely to lay their eggs. This can help stop the bugs from laying their eggs in your home or property and will also ensure that they don’t come back. You must seal up all possible entrances to the home as they will eventually spread through your property. 3. Use of Mesh Use a screwdriver to stuff in copper mesh into various gaps. This will help to keep the pests away Use of acrylic latex caulk You can also fill various cracks with acrylic latex caulk. Always keep a dry napkin to clean extra caulks. 4. Spider solution Use a dehumidifier in your basement. Maintain the temperature at 40 percent. Clean the cobwebs regularly. The spiders will decrease significantly in a week Several other pest control methods involve using chemicals and pesticides. Although it is best to avoid these products if you can, they can certainly help to stop the spread of a problem. As you can see, there are several different pest control methods used by various Pest removal companies out there. Depending on the problem that you have, there are several different ways that you can treat it. Hopefully, this article has helped you to identify which of the top 5 DIY pest control methods will work best for you. With the various pest control methods available on the market, you need to make sure that you research the ones that are right for your particular situation before making a final decision. The more time that you spend researching the options available, the easier it will be to select the correct one for your needs. One of the most popular DIY pest control methods is using chemicals and pesticides on a small scale, to kill pests. If you do use chemicals and pesticides on a large scale, then you need to make sure that you follow the instructions for using the product completely and that you keep away from any products that may be harmful to you and your family and pets. You also need to research the different pest control methods available before deciding on the method that is right for your needs. For example, there are pest control products that are effective at killing cockroaches, but not so good at killing mosquitoes. So take a look at the product reviews and ensure that you find one that will get the job done properly. You can also hire a pest control services to get rid of pests smoothly and safely.
RFM Group, the property maintenance company, is rolling out a high tech mobile workforce management system. Supplied by BigChange, the cloud-based system provides a complete business solution incorporating back office management software that synchronises in real time with rugged tablets used by RFM’s mobile workforce. BigChange provides is a single platform CRM, Job Scheduling, Mobile App Tracking and a Customer Portal. RFM are property experts that consult, build, manage and maintain all types of property and the company has built a reputation as a pioneer in the use of technology. The switch to BigChange has been timed to support ambitious expansion plans for the business. RFM had grown out of a server-based system and needed to overhaul their IT; over 12 months the company reviewed 15 different systems. “In the end only one met our needs and that was from BigChange,” says Mark Flanagan, Client Services Director, RFM Group. “We realised we could replace 4 separate systems with 1 completely integrated solution that was also very affordable. We were very impressed with how easily it could be customised and therefore meet our needs across the company now and in the future.” “BigChange gives us an IT solution that is completely scalable and it will make it relatively easy to bring new acquisitions onboard. Adoption is very straightforward as anyone will be able to go online and access the system instantly anytime from anywhere – plus it is very easy to use,” Flanagan adds. Initial implementation of the system is within social housing where RFM are the appointed maintenance contractor for Housing Associations Railway Housing and Habinteg Housing. BigChange provides an all in one system incorporating CRM, job booking and scheduling, mobile working and financial control and with planned integration with Sage, the company will have a single system replacing 4 disconnected systems. RFM’s mobile operatives, who provide a full range of services from plumbing to electrical and other trades, have been equipped with rugged tablet devices. These devices run the JobWatch app to replace all paperwork in the field with electronic job sheets, health and safety workflows, certifications, inspection reports, backed with job-linked photographs from site. BigChange vehicle tackers meanwhile give RFM a real time view of worker movements and tracking logs support job records. “Previously we had little insight into ongoing work and records were limited and not very accessible,” Flanagan comments. “With BigChange that’s all changed and the system is already having a big impact and we now have levels of management control, whether our own maintenance teams or those of our contractors.” Another key benefit for RFM was the way JobWatch mobile app can be used by contractors allowing third party operatives to simply access the app on their smartphones. It means contractor work is seamlessly integrated into RFM operations, reporting on jobs in the same way as their own operatives. Flanagan also sees BigChange providing a platform for expansion into new sectors. “With greatly improved and electronic reporting we can meet the stringent demands of the biggest operators in areas such as facilities management and insurance. It means we can expand to new areas and with such a powerful cloud and mobile working solution, there are no longer barriers to expanding nationally.”
As of January 2021, ISS will provide integrated facility services for an international industry and manufacturing client. The partnership involves facilities management of sites across the United States, Canada and Latin America. The five-year contract, once fully operational and phased in, will be one of the largest contracts in the United States and amounts to an annual revenue of approximately 1 per cent of the 2019 Group revenue. The contract covers more than 63 sites, including offices, warehouses, production and research facilities across the United States, Canada and Latin America. Wide Range of FM Services Jacob Aarup-Andersen, Group CEO, ISS, commented: “We are excited and look forward to building this strategic, long-term relationship. We will work closely with our customer to ensure compliance, reduced complexity and cost leadership in their workplace, while at the same time delivering a safe working environment and a fantastic workplace experience for all their employees, visitors and partners on sites.” Dan Ryan, CEO Americas, ISS, said: “Our customer intends to transition from a local sourcing model in facility management to a regional and centralized setup and ISS will be the primary supplier of integrated facility services. “ISS will use its proven technology and hygiene solutions and leverage best practices from our global COVID-19 service experience to provide the highest standards of service to our customer. With high levels of self-delivery, our trained and engaged colleagues within ISS will be on sites to serve our customer and their end-users.” ISS will deliver a wide range of services, including facility management, food services, cleaning and hygiene, security and reception, waste management, technical maintenance, engineering support, landscaping, mail and parcel services, amongst others. Operations will go live starting in January 2021, and new sites will be onboarded throughout the year.
The sequins may have been in shorter supply at this evening’s virtual 2020 IWFM Impact Awards, but the star quality shone out as an online audience of hundreds celebrated the gamechangers whose extraordinary achievements were honoured at the most unusual ceremony in the flagship event’s twenty-year history. Transmitting from home, in full tuxedo, IWFM Chairman Martin Bell said: ‘This year, workplace and facilities professionals have been helping their organisations confront unprecedented challenges. Yet we have also been at the forefront of new opportunities around the evolution of work and workplace during and post-pandemic. ‘I would like to thank all of the organisations that entered across all of our categories this time, when everyone was managing significant challenges in their organisations or with their clients; without you, the impact on society from COVID-19 is unthinkable, and we must recognise our relevance and our impact.’ Eleven winners, representing teams and individuals from across the sector, were revealed via video-link by the lead judges whose independent teams had scrutinised and shortlisted scores of entries they whittled down to thirty-seven finalists across the diverse categories. A further four winners were also announced, chosen by public vote from a second shortlist of twenty finalists in an additional ‘COVID Response’ category. Launched in the summer, the new category was devised to recognise the contribution made by workplace and facilities managers in the wake of the pandemic. The award proved so popular it was divided into four discrete awards to recognise the scale and variety of initiatives. Chair of Judges Julie Kortens said: ‘It has been an absolute privilege to be involved in the COVID Response Award. It acts as a true reminder of how special workplace and facilities management really is. Whether it’s maintaining safe, productive and connected working environments, supporting the wider community, responding directly to the pandemic or adapting to new realities; every single one of you is a true FM hero.’ A new Trailblazer Award, recognising an individual who is a leading light and inspiration to others and for the positive and profound impact they have on the workplace and facilities management profession, went to Steve Gladwin. Describing Gladwin as a quiet, distinguished pioneer of all matters relating to workplace and facilities management, IWFM CEO Linda Hausmanis said: ‘In recent years, [he] has been at the heart of these very Awards, but that is only one of the contributions that this industry titan has made. He is a well-recognised figure, both in the UK and on the world stage. He has been a Board member of BIFM, as we once were, Chair of the Facilities Management Association in Australia, Chair of the umbrella organisation, Global FM and, of course, Chair of Judges for these, Awards.’ The winners were: Workplace Experience: Office/Corporate Environment Edinburgh Park Office, Diageo & Sodexo Workplace Experience: Non-Office/Corporate Environment 12 Day Mobilisation of all FM Services at NHS Nightingale North-West, Interserve Group Positive Climate Action Barings Social Value Homeworks Garden and Home Improvement Service, PM Training Technology Matrix Booking, Hubs Network Collaboration Collaboration ‘WeCo’ – at the leading edge of Vested partnership, Johnson & Johnson together with Sodexo Wellbeing Authentic Wellbeing, EMCOR UK Newcomer of the Year Jack Flanagan, Pareto Facilities Management Manager of the Year Stephanie Welch, Ove Arup & Partners Team of the Year (Private sector) Yorkshire Ambulance Service Interim FM Team, Sewell Facilities Management Trailblazer Award Steve Gladwin. The COVID Response winners were: COVID-19 Response Award: Keeping Good Work Going Covid-19 Response, Lloyds Banking Group and Mitie COVID-19 Response Award: Supporting the Community Edmonton Green Shopping Centre – Supporting the Community throughout COVID-19, Ashdown Phillips & Partners COVID-19 Response Award: On the COVID Frontline Facilities Management Team, NHS Property Services COVID-19 Response Award: Adapting to New Realities University of Greenwich IFM Mobilisation, Sodexo, The University of Greenwich and Gardiner & Theobald LLP Read the winners’ stories here.
Fusion21 has launched a £1.1bn workplace & facilities framework, to meet the facilities management needs of a range of public sector organisations Designed to meet the facilities management needs of a wide range of public sector organisations in the blue light, central government, education, health, housing and local authority sectors, the framework is aligned with market requirements. Opportunities are available for both large organisations and SMEs. Lots 1 and 2 are multi-sourcing options that allow the appointment of a service provider to deliver multiple services (bundled or TFM) incorporating elements of physical asset management, service management and process management. Lots 3 to 6 offer individual services and will allow interested suppliers to bid for lots specific to their capability. The full lot structure includes: Lot 1 – FM principal contractor Lot 2 – FM managing agent Lot 3 – Cleaning & washroom services Lot 4 – Security services Lot 5 – Waste management Lot 6 – Building engineering services (M&E) The framework includes flexible call-off processes with options for both direct awards and further competitions. ‘In response to market demand’ Peter Francis, director of operations at Fusion21, said: “Set for launch in February 2021, this framework has been developed in response to market demand – reflecting feedback provided from both our members and the supply chain. “It marks the next stage in developing Fusion21’s FM offer which has grown from strength to strength over recent years. “Fusion21 is an established framework provider that is well respected throughout the public sector. “Our procurement teams are experienced technical experts in their fields that understand the needs of suppliers when tendering and a contributor to our success is how we work for the mutual benefit of our suppliers and members. “We welcome applications from interested organisations that meet the criteria set out in the tender documents are now available on the Delta e-Sourcing Portal. The submission deadline for the framework is 9 December at noon.
Arthur McKay, a leading building support services provider in the UK and an Atalian Servest company, has appointed Steve Wallbanks as Managing Director to spearhead growth. With more than 30 years’ experience in the FM industry, Steve will be responsible for steering the strategic direction of the company and expanding the its service offerings. He brings a wealth of knowledge and technical expertise that will be fundamental in improving service quality. Steve joins Arthur McKay following his role as Integration Director UK, US & Asia at parent company Atalian Servest for the last two years. Prior to this he worked for Servest SA, in Johannesburg, as CEO South Africa & Africa Business. Steve Wallbanks said: “I’m pleased to be joining the Arthur McKay team and I am excited about heading up this growing business. Having worked with Atalian Servest for the last two years I have a clear understanding of the proposed development initiatives for Arthur McKay and I’m proud to be driving these forward with the rest of the team.” Commenting on Steves’ appointment, Daniel Dickson, CEO UK & Ireland, Atalian Servest said: “Steve brings with him the expertise to really drive forward new projects for Arthur McKay, challenging traditional service approaches to enhance customer experience in the process. I know Steve and his team will continue to deliver the highest standards of operation that the company is known for.”
