Ahead of this week’s UK election, we’ve highlighted four key areas the next Government needs to act on to ‘stimulate and sustain’ the national workplace and facilities management (WFM) profession and sector. The ‘Priorities for the next Government: 2024 general election manifesto’ publication highlights the challenges faced by the next
Leading managing agent Rendall & Rittner is thrilled to have received two prestigious awards at this year’s ACE Awards: ‘Managing Agent of the Year (15,001+ units)’ and ‘Resident Engagement Initiative’. This marks the fifth occasion that Rendall & Rittner has received the renowned Managing Agent of the Year award in
Nearly half of building maintenance professionals state that systems integration is one of their most significant struggles, according to a recent poll by SFG20, the industry standard for facility maintenance specifications. Using this industry insight, SFG20 have developed an Application Programming Interface (API) that streamlines the integration between SFG20 content
New legislation and an increased focus on best practice are leading to heavier workloads and excess pressure on property and facilities managers, according to a new report from health, safety and property compliance firm William Martin. When compiling its first annual property compliance report, the firm examined data from 20,000
Leading property management agent Rendall & Rittner has strengthened its new client service offering, appointing Amaly Hind as New Business and Mobilisation Manager, expanding its team and capacity. With 15 years of experience working in property management, Amaly will support Rendall & Rittner as it continues to expand its growing
OCS, the global facilities management company, has clinched a seven-year contract (with options for clients to extend for up to another two years) to deliver total facilities management services to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), encompassing a combined 74
Leading pub, bar and restaurant chain Mitchells & Butlers have named Milton Keynes-based building services experts Project 1 as their ‘Contractor of the Year’. Specialising in design, construction, refurbishment and ongoing property maintenance services, Project 1 are a long-standing partner of Mitchells & Butlers, contributing significantly to the success of
Cancellation of over 200 repair jobs from initial industrial action set to worsen as more strikes set Pay strikes by London Sanctuary Housing repair workers are to intensify, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said yesterday. Three days of strike action in late February and early March led to more than 200 repair jobs on Sanctuary Housing’s
Leading property management agent Rendall & Rittner has recently promoted Ross Facta to the position of Head of Consultancy. Ross’ role will see him lead on the consultancy of a range of residential and mixed-use projects from concept design through to ongoing management. Ross began his career in property, managing
The last few years have seen significant changes in legislation and regulations within the FM space such as the Fire Safety Act 2021, The Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety Regulations (England) 2022, to name a few. These changes in the industry have forced a shift in priorities
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Ahead of this week’s UK election, we’ve highlighted four key areas the next Government needs to act on to ‘stimulate and sustain’ the national workplace and facilities management (WFM) profession and sector. The ‘Priorities for the next Government: 2024 general election manifesto’ publication highlights the challenges faced by the next Government, including economic malaise, decarbonising the country’s infrastructure and habits, investing in education and health, all in a challenging and persistent negative fiscal environment. The publication also details how WFM is a major contributor to the UK economy; for instance, outsourced sector/service providers represent about 5% of all UK enterprises, of which 250 key WFM enterprises had a turnover of £50 million or more each. Drawing on recent research, IWFM’s Market Outlook Survey 2024 report, five major priorities emerged for our members: 1. Focus on growing the economy 2. Develop a coherent plan to achieve net zero 3. Reduce uncertainly around government policy 4. Provide support to people to help with the cost of living 5. Develop an overarching skills strategy / make it easier to recruit talent from outside the UK / encourage staff back to offices in town centres / reduce business taxes. We identified four key areas to realise these priorities, all of which are cross cutting to a degree: skills; sustainability; building safety; information management, data and technology. Our Head of Policy & Research, Sofie Hooper, said, ‘Along with the UK at large, WFM as a profession and sector are facing seismic challenges which threaten their prospects. However, their contribution represents a huge source of value across broad areas: increasing organisational productivity and providing workplace wellbeing, delivering net zero and mitigating climate change across our buildings, delivering safe homes and providing the right information to the right people at the right time. ‘Fortunately, actionable steps can be taken to address immediate issues and get match fit for future conditions. IWFM calls on the next UK Government to act on this publication and the many resources we’ve created to enhance our sector and profession.’ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading managing agent Rendall & Rittner is thrilled to have received two prestigious awards at this year’s ACE Awards: ‘Managing Agent of the Year (15,001+ units)’ and ‘Resident Engagement Initiative’. This marks the fifth occasion that Rendall & Rittner has received the renowned Managing Agent of the Year award in the 6 years the awards have taken place. This achievement also follows the company’s recent ‘Property Manager of the Year’ award win at the RESI awards, meaning Rendall & Rittner currently holds the sector’s two most coveted awards. The ACE Awards were presented at an awards dinner in London’s Old Billingsgate market on Friday 21st June. Hosted by The Property Institute (formerly ARMA and IRPM), the awards unite industry-leading managing agents, developers, and suppliers to celebrate the ‘leading lights among UK managing agents’. The Managing Agent of the Year Award reflects Rendall & Rittner’s commitment to being a respected, responsible and trusted partner. With a portfolio of over 80,000 homes across the UK, Rendall & Rittner’s people led, technology enabled, service driven approach drives the company forward for the benefit of its customers, clients and residents. With each award entry vigorously scrutinised by an independent judging panel of senior property professionals, Rendall & Rittner’s success amongst such tough competition highlights a clear commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional service levels. Rendall & Rittner was also presented with the inaugural Resident Engagement Initiative award, acknowledging the careful consideration placed on enhancing the experience of residents and developing a greater sense of community at developments across the portfolio. Supported by its Operations Team, Rendall & Rittner organises and runs a wide ranging calendar of activities and events, including festive gatherings, open mic nights, Recycle Week, wildlife photography competitions and F1 simulator events in partnership with Sky. Resident communication is also a priority for the managing agent, ensuring residents are regularly engaged on key topics such as building safety, façade remediation, and the cost of living. Richard Daver, Group CEO at Rendall & Rittner comments: “At Rendall & Rittner, our strategic focus on driving change and innovation for our clients, customers and residents is at the forefront of everything we do. We are therefore thrilled that the ACE Awards judges have recognised the enthusiasm and dedication of our people once again this year as we continue to seek opportunities to enhance our service offering. Receiving both the prestigious Managing Agent of the Year and Resident Engagement Initiative awards is testament to the contribution and effort of all our people, especially so soon after being named Property Manager of the Year at the RESI awards.” For further information please visit: www.rendallandrittner.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Nearly half of building maintenance professionals state that systems integration is one of their most significant struggles, according to a recent poll by SFG20, the industry standard for facility maintenance specifications. Using this industry insight, SFG20 have developed an Application Programming Interface (API) that streamlines the integration between SFG20 content and FM systems used for operational activity. Almost 90% of FM professionals agreed on the benefit of implementing SFG20’s new ‘smart’ software, driven by new features such as automatic notifications that advise users when updates are made to the SFG20 standard. The new API makes SFG20 content available and accessible to all via the common FM systems used for operational activity i.e., CAFMs, IWFMs, CMMS etc. As users are notified of updates to SFG20’s content, they can choose when to accept them. SFG20 guidance will then automatically flow into their FM system. The API is also bi-directional, meaning that once work has been completed this information can flow back to SFG20 who will be able to provide reporting and insight around levels of compliance and value derived from their FM provider. Paul Bullard, Product and Professional Services Director at SFG20, says: “Our new freely available API will allow users to access and work with the SFG20 standard more efficiently than ever. By receiving updates to SFG20’s maintenance schedules and having this content automatically integrated into various FM systems, facility maintenance professionals remove the risk of falling off the standard and becoming non-compliant. The API comes at no cost, and allows any FM system to link in. SFG20 also provides support with the integration process, thereby removing any potential barriers and making it as easy as possible to carry out maintenance work and achieve compliance.” “To find out more about SFG20’s new open API solution, please visit their software integration page, which details the benefits of their open API, from improved efficiency, greater control, and standard compliance.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New legislation and an increased focus on best practice are leading to heavier workloads and excess pressure on property and facilities managers, according to a new report from health, safety and property compliance firm William Martin. When compiling its first annual property compliance report, the firm examined data from 20,000 risk assessments and survey reports that were uploaded to its compliance management software, Meridian, between April 2023 and March 2024. Figures showed almost 327,000 health and safety actions were raised across all disciplines, a 22% increase on the previous year. Commenting on the increase, Phil Jones, Managing Director at William Martin said: “The property and facilities management industry shoulders a huge responsibility when it comes to upholding the highest standards of health and safety. Alongside the introduction of recent laws such as the Building Safety Act 2022, we’re undoubtedly seeing a far greater focus from organisations on ensuring best practice and continuous improvement, rather than just compliance. “I’ve always believed that abiding by legislation should be the minimum benchmark rather than the final goal, so this positive step towards safer working environments is something I welcome. However, the downside is the extra pressure this is putting on those responsible for health and safety, due in no small part to the increased reporting that’s required to demonstrate high performance. But because abandoning best practice is not an option, this is something the industry needs to find a way to deal with.” Beyond this headline increase, the report identifies 10 key health and safety trends, which include: Phil Jones added: “Workload burdens are undoubtedly contributing to some of the more worrying trends identified in our report, such as the unacceptable length of time it’s taking to address Priority 1 actions, and poor record-keeping around lift safety. “Tech and AI can form part of the solution, by reducing the scope for human error, and reducing the chances of risks being missed or reports being misfiled. Using tech to work smarter rather than harder also frees up time to focus on the activities that will actually drive change and reduce risk. “The key trends and insights contained in this report will hopefully inform property and facilities management professionals on what should be the key focus areas within their own businesses. We are already planning to publish this data annually, which will enable longer term industry trends to be identified.” The full report is available to download from the William Martin website here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading property management agent Rendall & Rittner has strengthened its new client service offering, appointing Amaly Hind as New Business and Mobilisation Manager, expanding its team and capacity. With 15 years of experience working in property management, Amaly will support Rendall & Rittner as it continues to expand its growing portfolio. Having started her career at Rendall & Rittner in 2009, Amaly helped establish Rendall & Rittner’s North division, before expanding her knowledge at other firms across the Greater Manchester area. Working for a high-end residential retirement developer, Amaly was responsible for overseeing the company’s portfolio in the Midlands and North, developing an interest in the mobilisation of new schemes. In 2020, Amaly returned to Rendall & Rittner, where she has been managing significant changes to health and safety processes in line with the evolving Building Safety Act legislation. As New Business and Mobilisation Manager, Amaly is responsible for overseeing the acquisition and onboarding of new clients, before handing them over to Rendall & Rittner’s property teams for ongoing management. Amaly’s previous experience in mobilisations, and more recently in understanding new requirements under the Building Safety Act, will allow her to deliver a smooth experience for new clients and developments. Amaly said: “Through my role as New Business and Mobilisation Manager, I am looking forward to applying my existing knowledge of property management in new ways. Over the past 15 years, I have gained an in-depth knowledge of a range of different elements that affect the ongoing management of developments and am keen to use this to ensure that our onboarding and handover processes are as smooth and comprehensive as possible.” Richard Daver, Group CEO at Rendall & Rittner comments: “Through her previous roles, Amaly has repeatedly proven her ability to deliver exceptional results and her experience across the industry will make her a key asset in expanding the capabilities of our New Business and Mobilisation team. Introducing new clients to everything we can offer at Rendall & Rittner, Amaly will be important in helping us grow our business across the UK, whilst also continuing to deliver an unrivalled residential property management service.” For further information please visit: www.rendallandrittner.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
OCS, the global facilities management company, has clinched a seven-year contract (with options for clients to extend for up to another two years) to deliver total facilities management services to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), encompassing a combined 74 sites. SCTS serves as an independent body providing administrative support to Scottish Courts, devolved tribunals, and the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), while COPFS is Scotland’s prosecution service and death investigation authority. This new contract builds on a previous six-year agreement spanning from 2017 to 2023, with an extended term until June 2024. It solidifies OCS’s enduring relationship with SCTS and COPFS, spanning over 13 years. Core services encompass cleaning, maintenance, security, and project management. The latest contract award underscores OCS’s steadfast service delivery. OCS clinched the contract through a competitive tender process, with SCTS and COPFS opting to continue their partnership with OCS, recognising it as the optimal solution for their diverse site requirements. Of the sites managed by SCTS and COPFS, 44% were established before 1960, with 86% predating 1900, categorising them as historically listed sites. OCS faces the challenge of maintaining and future-proofing these sites, enhancing their sustainability while preserving their historical significance. In 2023, OCS completed 15 sustainability projects across their estates and assisted COPFS in securing £10.8 million for retrofitting and decarbonising their buildings. OCS also surpassed its 15% carbon emission reduction target for SCTS, achieving an impressive 27% reduction instead. Under the new contract, OCS will deploy smart building technology to monitor carbon emissions and optimise site productivity. Additionally, they plan to increase the use of cleaning robotics to streamline cleaning processes. In the realm of security, they adopt a “target zero accident” approach, prioritising proactive and de-escalation techniques to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of staff, clients, and the public. In terms of social responsibility, OCS remains committed to supporting Scottish Autism and Women’s Refuge, two charities active in the communities served by this contract. Scottish Autism is the largest provider of autism-specific services in Scotland, while Women’s Refuge is the UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse organisation. Moreover, OCS will back grassroots football teams and introduce annual volunteer days for managers and supervisors. Colin Rushforth, Account Director at OCS, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with SCTS and COPFS for another seven years. Our shared commitment to service excellence, sustainability, and social responsibility has been the cornerstone of our partnership, and we look forward to building upon this legacy in the years to come.” Kate Leer, Director of the Property & Services Unit at Scottish Courts and Tribunals Services, remarked, “Following a competitive tendering process, we have opted to continue our partnership with OCS. Their consistent excellence in service delivery, their innovative approach to sustainability, and their dedication to social responsibility were pivotal in our decision. Our historic sites present a unique challenge, and we are pleased to collaborate with them again to further reduce carbon emissions, building on significant reductions over recent years. We believe OCS will continue to provide the best support for our facilities management needs over the next seven years.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading pub, bar and restaurant chain Mitchells & Butlers have named Milton Keynes-based building services experts Project 1 as their ‘Contractor of the Year’. Specialising in design, construction, refurbishment and ongoing property maintenance services, Project 1 are a long-standing partner of Mitchells & Butlers, contributing significantly to the success of various projects across their esteemed portfolio of brands. This year, Project 1 have been recognised as ‘Contractor of the Year’ for their exceptional performance and outstanding general works, marking their unwavering commitment to excellence within the industry. “We’re honoured to receive Mitchells & Butlers’ Contractor of the Year Award! We’ve been working with the company for two years and it’s brilliant to be recognised for the excellent work we do by such a respected name in the hospitality industry” says Des Brown, Director of Project 1. Project 1’s highly skilled team have provided design, construction and ongoing property maintenance services for Mitchells & Butlers, including carpentry, plumbing and flooring. In addition to the quality of work completed for the pub chain, Project 1 have been commended for their exceptional performance, including their efficiency and a consistently professional team. “This award win is a testament to our fantastic staff! Not only does it highlight the projects we’ve delivered for Mitchells & Butlers, but it showcases our team’s commitment to excellence, quality, professionalism and client satisfaction” adds Des. One of the UK’s largest pub management firms, Mitchells & Butlers’ portfolio of esteemed brands boasts top names including All Bar One, Miller & Carter, Toby Carvery, Harvester and O’Neill’s. Backed by over 20 years’ experience, Project 1 have established themselves as a go-to contractor for design, construction, refurbishment and maintenance projects at pubs, bars and restaurants. As well as the hospitality industry, the building services specialists work on residential and commercial projects across the public, education, leisure and retail sectors. Operating primarily within London, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the East of England, Project 1 continues to set the standard for excellence. “We’re incredibly proud of our reputation for reliability, dependability and excellent service. This recognition from Mitchells & Butlers reaffirms our dedication to delivering projects of the highest quality – on time and within budget” concludes Des. For more information about Project 1, visit: https://www.project1.uk.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Cancellation of over 200 repair jobs from initial industrial action set to worsen as more strikes set Pay strikes by London Sanctuary Housing repair workers are to intensify, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said yesterday. Three days of strike action in late February and early March led to more than 200 repair jobs on Sanctuary Housing’s stock in London being cancelled, Unite understands. A further five days of strike action in March will cause increased delays to Sanctuary’s repair schedule. Around 50 repair workers, who are based in Hackney but carry out repairs across London, are striking over a four per cent pay rise imposed in 2023. This was a significant pay cut, as the real rate of inflation, RPI, at the time was 11.4 per cent. Meanwhile, Sanctuary Housing revenues for last year stood at £943 million, with its surplus increasing by 73 per cent to £101.3 million. Sanctuary Housing’s CEO, Craig Moule, is paid £380,000 a year. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Sanctuary effectively slashed the wages of its workers in one of the most expensive cities on earth during the worst cost of living crisis in living memory. Making matters worse, Sanctuary is refusing to even speak to the workers’ union, Unite. “It is disgusting that an organisation with such a massive surplus and that pays its chief executive such a huge salary treats its workers in this way. Our members are absolutely right to strike and they have Unite’s complete backing for as long as it takes.” Adding to tensions, is the fact that Sanctuary Housing has completely ignored the workers’ requests for their union, Unite, to be recognised and has locked them out of collective pay negotiations. Currently, Sanctuary Housing does not engage in pay negotiations with any union. The workers will strike again on 20, 21, 22, 25 and 26 March. Industrial action will further escalate if the dispute is not resolved. The strikes will impact scheduled and emergency repairs to Sanctuary Housing’s stock in London. Unite regional officer Matt Freeman said: “Sanctuary has needlessly escalated this dispute and caused disruption to its tenants by its appalling behaviour towards these workers. Our members’ resolve is rock solid – Sanctuary cannot keep burying its head in the sand. It needs to enter negotiations with Unite and put forward an acceptable offer.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading property management agent Rendall & Rittner has recently promoted Ross Facta to the position of Head of Consultancy. Ross’ role will see him lead on the consultancy of a range of residential and mixed-use projects from concept design through to ongoing management. Ross began his career in property, managing the acquisition and refurbishment of property investments in cities across the world including London, New York, Chicago and Panama. Following this, Ross joined Rendall & Rittner in 2018 as a Senior Property Manager, before advancing through to positions as Property Team Manager and most recently as Area Director for one of the company’s London divisions. As Head of Consultancy, Ross will build upon his analytical abilities, as well as his desire for detail, to assist clients in the pre-construction stages of development projects. This will include providing guidance on budgets and forecasting, advice on planning requirements and compliance strategies, as well as identifying key considerations for ensuring a smooth customer journey. Ross will ensure that Rendall & Rittner’s development consultancy offering is tailored to a variety of projects from smaller estates to larger, mixed-tenure schemes and optimises every stage of clients’ developments. Ross comments: “When I first joined Rendall & Rittner six years ago, I was attracted by the strong values and the proven ability of the company to go from strength to strength. This felt like a place where I would have valuable opportunities to grow and learn and I am grateful to have been supported to develop and advance in my career. In my new role, I am looking forward to leveraging the knowledge and broad experience that I have gained at Rendall & Rittner to provide practical, value adding guidance for our clients.” Richard Daver, Group CEO at Rendall & Rittner said: “Since joining Rendall & Rittner, Ross has proven to be an exceptional asset with excellent problem-solving skills and his promotion to Head of Consultancy reflects his dedication and hard work. By providing expert advice at every stage of a building or development, we can help to optimise build costs, service charges and operating risks, as well as improving the level of service and customer experience for stakeholders. I look forward to seeing how our consultancy services continue to grow and evolve under Ross’ leadership.” For further information please visit: www.rendallandrittner.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The last few years have seen significant changes in legislation and regulations within the FM space such as the Fire Safety Act 2021, The Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety Regulations (England) 2022, to name a few. These changes in the industry have forced a shift in priorities and duties for those working in facility management in 2024 and beyond. Paul Bullard, Product Director at SFG20, the industry standard for building maintenance, has shared his insights regarding how the facilities management industry will continue to evolve throughout the next year and the changes they believe will be particularly impactful for those working in the industry. 1. Building compliance in the spotlight With the constant evolution of legislations and regulations within the FM industry, uncertainty of what tasks should be completed, how often and by whom is on the rise. 2024 will, therefore, continue to see a greater spotlight placed on proof of compliance. The industry has faced a barrage of new legislation and regulation in recent years, so it’s no surprise that compliance has risen to the top of many priority lists The government has also ensured it will increase the number of buildings that fall within the scope of the Building Safety Act. This will make providing a thorough, digital trail of maintenance tasks a requirement for many more. Many large developers will need to commit to remedying defects in facility constructions dating back 30 years. Building owners, property managers and contractors will need to ensure that statutory maintenance works are being carried out, that the information is up-to-date and that evidence can be provided. 2. Competence is crucial Ensuring that maintenance tasks are being undertaken not only at the right time but also by the right person for the job is a high priority for facility managers this year. This becomes a particular concern when a facility outsources a large proportion of its maintenance. Despite its cost-effective potential and collaboration with industry specialists, outsourcing maintenance tasks makes it more difficult for facility owners to have both visibility and control over the standard to which tasks are completed. Although outsourced maintenance lands in the hands of industry-leading specialists, greater monitoring will be required to ensure that the quality of work will be inline with the expectations of facility owners. 3. Enhanced connectivity Property managers are under the strain of collaborating with multiple stakeholders, from building owners to facility management consultants and engineers, who all play a crucial role in the safe and legal maintenance of a facility. Managing extensive workforces, with a mix of internal and external resources, tends to make streamlined collaboration much trickier. In particular, ensuring the right people receive the necessary information at the right time becomes a challenge. In a recent poll conducted by the experts at SFG20, 66% of asset owners and property managers revealed that keeping a golden thread of information about a facility up to date has been a main concern for their business. This shows that many current FM systems are not aligning in a way that helps facilitate efficient, collaborative working. Developing and providing software solutions that enable teams to share data and work efficiently will continue to characterise industry changes in the near future. 4. AI technology dominance AI in the FM industry offers the potential to enhance rather than replace human roles, unlocking new opportunities and insights. The new technologies available facilitate businesses to work with much larger datasets for predictive maintenance, providing a time-efficient and proactive approach to facility management. Businesses are still under pressure to develop the necessary skills and teams to successfully work alongside AI technology for predictive maintenance, data analysis and a cost-effective allocation of FM budgets. With the current focus on ensuring compliance, facility managers will be faced with the challenge of reducing costs, an obstacle that an effective use of AI could help eliminate. 2024 has already seen a huge push to overcome these challenges and take full advantage of AI assistance within the management of facilities. This will likely continue by the means of thorough training and development opportunities for all those involved in the facility management process, to best integrate new AI technologies into business strategies. 5. Sustainability interventions at the forefront The landscape of the UK’s built environment is on the brink of a profound transformation. The march toward carbon neutrality is poised to accelerate, propelled by technological strides, evolving governmental policies and heightened public climate awareness. The government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution and Net Zero Strategy chart a course for this transition, setting out strategies for bolstering energy efficiency, championing low-carbon heating solutions and encouraging the construction of energy-efficient new homes. As we look towards the future, the need for sustainable facility maintenance practices will only grow. As the global urban population continues to expand rapidly, construction and, ultimately, carbon emissions will follow suit. To mitigate this, we must carefully consider and implement ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings through sustainable maintenance and ensuring that new buildings incorporate this into their initial design. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
