The FM industry continues to step up to the challenge set by COVID-19, with ISS UK taking on the soft services contract at ExCeL exhibition centre. ISS will deliver cleaning, portering, waste management and other soft FM services at the new hospital which will provide support for thousands more patients with
NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has today announced changes to the way it delivers hard facilities management services (‘Hard FM’), which will see the government-owned company take direct control of selected services. Responsible for the management and maintenance of 3,500 properties across England, encompassing 7,000 tenants, NHSPS has one of the
VINCI Facilities, a major provider of FM to the NHS, has announced it is diverting volunteers from its mobile repair teams (MRTs) to support existing facilities management services across several hospitals in the North West, Midlands and South East. As well as supporting with the ongoing repair and maintenance of
Leading UK commercial retail and property company Landsec has dished out a total facilities management (TFM) contract worth £18.5 million per annum. The company has selected Interserve to deliver the contract at seven of its major retail centres across the UK. Both companies have worked together since 2015, with this
There is no doubt that keeping one’s home clean and tidy is a pretty strenuous and challenging endeavour. There are parts of each property that are being inhabited for a prolonged period of time and are generally harder to clean and keep organised than others. So, you are going to
Apleona HSG Facility Management UK has secured a multi-million pound FM services contract with Siemens Mobility Limited. The three-year deal with one of the UK’s largest transport technology organisations will see Apleona deliver services including mechanical & electrical, fabric maintenance, reactive works, grounds keeping, winterisation, and projects at 35 locations
GRAHAM has secured a “Building Repairs and Maintenance and Minor Works” contract with Worcester City Council. The leading contractor will deliver reactive maintenance, planned maintenance, minor works projects and out of hours emergency works over an initial five year term, with the potential for a further two-year extension. Worcester City
Leading energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE has been appointed to provide a £67 million repairs and maintenance service on behalf of Tamworth Borough Council. As part of the council’s ongoing commitment to provide high standards of affordable housing for local residents, the contract – which begins on 1st April 2020 –
Parr Facilities Management Limited has announced an exciting contract win to kick off 2020 after being named a trusted maintenance provider by Co-op across their Food and Funeralcare estate. The Maintenance Framework Agreement which will apply to Co-op sites across the UK and Northern Ireland will cover sites spanning across
Wates FM has secured a contract extension with mass media company, Discovery Communications, to provide 24/7 critical engineering cover and fabric maintenance for two locations in Chiswick, including the organisation’s live broadcast premises. Having run for three years, the contract will be extended for a further year due to team
The FM industry continues to step up to the challenge set by COVID-19, with ISS UK taking on the soft services contract at ExCeL exhibition centre. ISS will deliver cleaning, portering, waste management and other soft FM services at the new hospital which will provide support for thousands more patients with Coronavirus at the end of March 2020. Based at the ExCeL conference centre in East London, the hospital will initially provide up to 500 beds equipped with ventilators and oxygen. The capacity will then continue to increase, potentially up to 4,000 beds. On 24 March, it was announced that the exhibition centre was to be temporarily converted into a hospital, with the help of trade contractors and the military. Soft FM for Nightingale Hospital Matthew Brabin, CEO, ISS UK & Ireland commented, “We’re honoured to help our nation in these extraordinary times and I’m doubly proud of our great people who have made this possible.” Craig Smith, Head of Corporate Affairs at ISS, said: “As market leaders in the provision of healthcare services, ISS is proud to have been asked to provide the Soft FM staffing for the Nightingale Hospital. “ISS Healthcare professionals will be managing the cleaning, portering and waste management, whilst working with fellow FM providers to deliver a seamless service into the NHS. “At this stage the workforce is being drawn from around the country, starting with contracts the company holds with the NHS. Additional staff will be recruited from other areas that are currently on furlough.” FM Resource Bank During these challenging times, please consider contributing to our FM Resource Bank. As a leading voice in the facilities management, workplace and built environment industry, we have started this resource to facilitate an area for service providers to exchange details and ask for support. The aim of this is to help reuse or repurpose resources or labour, that would otherwise go to waste for the common good of the FM community and the country at large.Through this, we hope to create a flexible pool of additional resources.
NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has today announced changes to the way it delivers hard facilities management services (‘Hard FM’), which will see the government-owned company take direct control of selected services. Responsible for the management and maintenance of 3,500 properties across England, encompassing 7,000 tenants, NHSPS has one of the largest portfolios in the UK, valued in excess of £3bn and representing approximately 10% of the total NHS estate. The move to insource Hard FM services, i.e. those that relate to the maintenance of the physical materials of a building, follows a detailed review by NHSPS. This has determined which services should be delivered directly by NHSPS instead of the current provider Mitie. These include plumbing, electrical, mechanical, water systems, fire safety systems, lighting and building inspections. Other selected services such as air conditioning, heating, and gas will continue to be provided by Mitie or transferred to trusted partners. The change will take place on 1 April 2020 when approximately 140 Mitie employees affected by the decision will transfer to NHSPS’s employment. Martin Steele, Chief Executive Officer of NHSPS, said, “This decision supports our business strategy to deliver improved value for the NHS and is part of a wider program to rebalance our service delivery model. By taking these elements of facilities management in-house, we will have greater control over the standard and flexibility of service we provide our NHS customers. Given the scale of this service nationally, we will also be able to achieve significant cost efficiencies, to be reinvested back into the NHS.”
VINCI Facilities, a major provider of FM to the NHS, has announced it is diverting volunteers from its mobile repair teams (MRTs) to support existing facilities management services across several hospitals in the North West, Midlands and South East. As well as supporting with the ongoing repair and maintenance of hospital wards and essential services to keep wards going and back up clinical staff, VINCI Facilities engineers and teams are going to be working to help with reconfiguration of other wards in the hospitals to re-purpose them to support the effort against COVID-19. Its teams will be bolstered by the engineers that usually work in the retail sector supporting charity and large chain store contracts bringing with them much needed extra help in maintaining electrical services and systems, air conditioning, heating and ventilation as well as building repairs and joinery work. The MRTs will be providing cover for staff who are unable to attend work through illness or self-isolation as well as add depth to the existing numbers of engineering staff giving further, much needed support.
Leading UK commercial retail and property company Landsec has dished out a total facilities management (TFM) contract worth £18.5 million per annum. The company has selected Interserve to deliver the contract at seven of its major retail centres across the UK. Both companies have worked together since 2015, with this new contract reflecting Interserve’s ability to deliver successful FM services for the firm. This new four-year contract embraces project management, engineering and fit out services as well as existing service lines such as: cleaning, security and customer services. Lynn Mawdsley, Interserve’s Managing Director Support Services, said: “We are delighted to win this contract for the delivery of complex national total facilities management services for Landsec. “We provide commercial property companies such as Landsec with leading capabilities in hard and soft FM services such as cleaning, security and engineering which help our customer achieve their strategic objectives. “With a dedicated management team that is committed to the Landsec contract we look forward to being able to continue to offer them an unparalleled level of service across their estate.” The contract begins in March and will include the provision of services at Landsec’s sites in Oxford, Leeds, London and Cardiff.
There is no doubt that keeping one’s home clean and tidy is a pretty strenuous and challenging endeavour. There are parts of each property that are being inhabited for a prolonged period of time and are generally harder to clean and keep organised than others. So, you are going to out in a little more persistence and effort in order to make them look as good as you want and need them to be. Fortunately, if you come prepared with the right tools and supplies, and you know what you are going to have to do, you should not have as much trouble achieving your goals as you may think. Let us take a look at some of the parts of your home that require the most diligence and energy to maintain in their best possible shape and condition. The place where you prepare your food Arguably the most important part of almost any household is the kitchen. It is the place where you are most likely to spend the majority of your time when at home – cooking, eating, or simply sharing time with your family. As the spot in which you prepare the food that sustains you and your family, it is of utmost importance that you keep it immaculately sanitised at all times. The kitchen is one of the few places that you might have to clean daily if you want to maintain it in a condition that is acceptable. The area around the oven and the oven itself are the two toughest places to keep shiny, especially if you do not wipe and wash them after the preparation of every meal. Many items can compromise the sanitary standards there, including but not limited to: Grease Food splatter Spills Dust Insects attracted by the organic matter Wiping every surface as soon as it gets even a little bit dirty is your best course of action in order to maintain a beautiful, clean kitchen that is safe to operate in. Pay attention to the fridge at least once a week too, and wipe the inside of all cupboards monthly for optimal results. Carpets – everywhere Carpets and area rugs are beautiful, for sure, but they are also a nightmare to keep clean and healthy. Dust and other types of dirt tend to build up deep into the fabrics of carpets and rugs that are not cleaned properly. Dog hair and pet stains of various nature can also cause problems such as allergies, asthma attacks, etc. So, do not wait too long to vacuum your carpets – do it at least a couple of times a week if you cannot spare the time to vacuum daily. Stains are also to be removed right away – baking soda, white vinegar and water concoction is a good homemade solution for nearly all stains that you can think of. Have the number of a reliable carpet cleaning service in London for really tough cases in which conventional methods do not work. Mattresses There is no need to tell you that the place where you lay your head at night is crucial not only for the quality of your sleep but for your health in general as well. Mattresses are a hotbed for bacteria and allergens and the only way to prevent damage to your overall health condition caused by dirty mattresses is to clean them. Unfortunately, many people overlook this until it is too late, which makes mattresses pretty hard to keep clean. Vacuuming and dusting them is a must, as well as the removal of any stains that may occur while you are using them. Flipping the mattress once every couple of months is also a pretty good idea. You might need some specialised tools or better yet, professional cleaning service to achieve the best results that you hope for. The area around the shower There is a popular misconception that the toilet bowl is the dirtiest place in one’s home. Surprisingly for some, this is far from being the case. Due to the frequency with which most people clean their toilets, and the heavy-duty products that are being used, they are actually relatively clean. This is rarely the case with the shower and the area surrounding it. Scum and other unpleasant entities tend to build up there, mildew is formed on the shower curtain and they silently but rather truthfully endanger your health. Make sure to roll up your sleeves and carefully and thoroughly clean every corner in your shower at least once a week. The process is strenuous and might take you up to an hour for even a relatively small area because you will have to scrub every inch in there to make sure the scum is gone. Don’t forget to open a window or to at least keep the ventilation system on because the fumes of commercially-made detergents might pose considerable risks to your health. Table: Important chores and when to do them* Daily Vacuum carpets, wash the dishes, clean table tops in kitchen Weekly Wash floors, laundry, dusting, change bed sheets, scrub toilets Bi-monthly Deep clean appliances, arrange wardrobe, clean inside of furniture Monthly Dust ceiling fans, clean light fixtures, clean air vents, wash windows *May vary depending on your household’s size and specific requirements Windows The windows in one’s home are often overlooked, simply because window cleaning is not among the chores people are used to doing often. In order to properly clean your windows – thus improving the quality of light and air entering your household, you need proper access to them, and a safe one too, which can be a problem if you live on a high floor. Using tools such as ladders and long-handled brushes and clothes is what makes cleaning windows so tough. Also, it usually goes with curtain cleaning which can be a drag especially since a few households have access to tools such as those used by professional cleaners – that allow curtain cleaning without taking down the curtains themselves. Of course if you consider your time of higher importance and you reside in London you can always book with trustworthy London cleaners such as Johnson’s in London In any case, even the toughest spots to clean should
Apleona HSG Facility Management UK has secured a multi-million pound FM services contract with Siemens Mobility Limited. The three-year deal with one of the UK’s largest transport technology organisations will see Apleona deliver services including mechanical & electrical, fabric maintenance, reactive works, grounds keeping, winterisation, and projects at 35 locations ranging from Dundee in Scotland to Poole on the south coast of England. Siemens Mobility Limited supplies smart solutions for rail and road transport, including trains, traffic management systems and rail signalling and electrification, focussing on supporting passenger and freight services.
GRAHAM has secured a “Building Repairs and Maintenance and Minor Works” contract with Worcester City Council. The leading contractor will deliver reactive maintenance, planned maintenance, minor works projects and out of hours emergency works over an initial five year term, with the potential for a further two-year extension. Worcester City is the county town of Worcestershire and covers an area of circa 33 square kilometres. It is situated in the West Midlands, approximately 17 miles southwest of Birmingham. Commencing on April 1st, 2020, GRAHAM will be responsible for over 70 properties and sites within the Council’s local government boundaries, ranging from public buildings and associated structures, to depots, offices, community centres, historic parks, allotments and communal areas. The buildings include the Grade I listed Guildhall, dating back to 1721, and the Museum and Art Gallery, which was established in 1833. The measured term partnership with Worcester City Council will be managed from the newly opened GRAHAM office in Wythall, bordering Solihull and Birmingham. Commenting on the contract award, GRAHAM Operations Director, Gareth Smyth, said: “This latest success is another important milestone for GRAHAM in the Midlands and reflects our quality delivery, professionalism and expertise in the area. Worcester is a beautiful cathedral and university city with a suite of historic buildings.” “We look forward to bringing our collaborative approach to facilities management to Worcester City Council in support of the local community and over 100,000 residents.”
Leading energy and regeneration specialist ENGIE has been appointed to provide a £67 million repairs and maintenance service on behalf of Tamworth Borough Council. As part of the council’s ongoing commitment to provide high standards of affordable housing for local residents, the contract – which begins on 1st April 2020 – will see ENGIE provide responsive repairs, adaptations and estate management services to more than 4,200 homes across the borough over a ten-year period. In addition, ENGIE will also provide gas maintenance work, day-to-day and out of hours emergency repairs and the servicing of void properties. Martin Smithurst, Divisional Chief Operating Officer at ENGIE, said: “We are extremely pleased to be working once again with Tamworth Council – a partner that so closely shares our core values. “ENGIE has a proven track record of providing an excellent repairs and maintenance service, as well as helping our partners across the UK address their housing, social value and climate emergency-related priorities, and we’re looking forward to demonstrating that in Tamworth.“ Cllr Michelle Cook, Tamworth Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing Services and Communities, said: “ENGIE was selected after a robust, two-stage procurement process which included external legal and consultative support, interviews involving tenants and detailed assessments of all elements of the bids submitted. “All submissions were of a high standard and the winning contractors demonstrated an understanding of our needs and instilled confidence in their ability to deliver the service.” As part of the contract, ENGIE has commited to a number of social value measures which will benefit the wider community. These include training opportunities and the creation of apprenticeships for local people, as well as improvements to council-owned facilities such as play areas and community buildings.
Parr Facilities Management Limited has announced an exciting contract win to kick off 2020 after being named a trusted maintenance provider by Co-op across their Food and Funeralcare estate. The Maintenance Framework Agreement which will apply to Co-op sites across the UK and Northern Ireland will cover sites spanning across the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A significant new client for this company on the rise, the partnership between Parr FM Limited and Co-op will encompass facilities management works across a diverse range of disciplines including fabric, mechanical and electrical management services as well as specialist services where required. Speaking on behalf of Parr Facilities Management Limited, Ivan Morley, Facilities Management Director, said, “Parr Facilities Management boasts a wealth of experience providing electrical and mechanical management services to retail, healthcare and hospitality sectors throughout the UK and Ireland. Winning another contract with one of the UK’s most trusted brands was certainly a highlight of 2019 and reinforces our continued growth across mainland UK. We look forward to supporting the team at Co-op sites across the UK and Northern Ireland beginning this month to enable them to maintain their excellent standard of customer satisfaction and experience.” Parr Facilities management launched in Belfast in 2007 and chose Greater Manchester as its base for their UK-wide operation. Systematic of Parr Facilities Managements recent growth, the organisation has invested heavily in new offices located in Bolton, staff and infrastructure across the UK, with an estimated 60% increase in its workforce over the past year to support a number of big business wins within its FM division including contracts with Co-op, BUPA & Whitbread. These contracts have contributed to a quadrupled turnover within this period of growth. Parr Facilities Management Limited currently employs over 100 members of staff across its Belfast and Manchester operational bases.
Wates FM has secured a contract extension with mass media company, Discovery Communications, to provide 24/7 critical engineering cover and fabric maintenance for two locations in Chiswick, including the organisation’s live broadcast premises. Having run for three years, the contract will be extended for a further year due to team resilience, the application of innovation and continued excellence in fabric service. James Gregg, Managing Director of Wates FM, commented: “Our contract extension with Discovery Communications, is a huge testament to the expertise of our team and our position as a trusted and reliable FM partner to our clients. “Wates FM is heading into 2020 with a very healthy work pipeline but of course our growth must be steady and sustainable to ensure that we continue to deliver exceptional services to our clients, both existing and new.” Formerly operating as Wates Smartspace, Wates FM forms part of Wates Property Services alongside the Group’s Living Space business and currently manages over 350 commercial properties.
