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What a week that was...
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Smart Building And Space Saving Priorities
Over one third (37%) of facilities managers interviewed by Cloudbooking at the Facilities Show in London’s ExCel last month revealed that smart building technology is the key focus for their business this year, while 21% are prioritising space saving initiatives.
Conversely, Cloudbooking’s recent research of 1,000 office workers found that 72% of employees already struggle with the amount of space they have to work in and are unsatisfied with the experience this creates.
Eco-Friendly Cup
Bartlett Mitchell has launched Huskup - an eco-friendly reusable coffee cup that will support the community that produces Perkee - its premium coffee.
The Perkee Foundation Huskup cup is made from rice husk instead of plastic. The agricultural industry produces around 125 million tonnes of rice husk each year that is usually burned but reusable cup producer Huskup uses the abundant by-product to make lightweight coffee cups with a premium, ceramic-like texture that are both dishwasher and microwave-friendly.
Unlike plastic, these cups are biodegradable and can ultimately return to the soil at the end of their life, taking just 90 days in an industrial composting plant to fully break down.
The Perkee coffee brand is a collaboration with female-run co-operative Soppexcca in Nicaragua. When the company learned that the women who rake the coffee beans during harvest refer to the rest of the year as ‘skinny season’ due to their seasonal employment, they pledged to help through sales of the new reusable cup.
All profits from the sales of the Perkee Foundation Huskup cup will contribute to building a biscuit factory in Nicaragua that will give the Soppexcca women the opportunity for a year-round income.
Modern Slavery Act - Only 8.7% Of Organisations In Scope Meet Minimum Compliance
The TISCreport (Transparency In Supply Chains Report) can now not only identify the organisations with no locatable Modern Slavery statements (currently holding steady at 26.7%) but can also now automatically assess the compliance of the Modern Slavery Statement itself using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies they have developed.
The TISCreport AI found that only 8.7% of companies in scope meet minimum compliance criteria being measured. Better practice statements, where companies meet statutory guidance criteria as set by the Home Office, are currently at 6.3%.
Menu At The 148th Open
77,000 slices of bacon, 28,000 beef burgers, 14,000 fillets of MSC haddock, 1,000 rolls of butter, 220kg of sliced ham and 200kg of artisan cheese along with delicacies such as dulse and eels are just some of the ingredients that have been locally sourced by Sodexo for The 148th Open at Royal Portrush.
It’s the twentieth year for Sodexo looking after The Open. The team has been planning for the Royal Portrush venue for over 18 months. All the public retail, on-course and hospitality catering went live on Sunday July 14 through to July 21.
1,200 staff from Northern Ireland, Scotland and England have been recruited to serve more than 215,000 expected visitors over the seven-day major Championship.
Fife College Contract
Mitie has secured a five-year contract with Fife College, with the option to extend for a further three years. The contract includes the provision of cleaning and waste management services.
As part of Mitie and Fife College’s sustainability initiatives, environmentally friendly cleaning products will be used on the contract, conducive to 100% biodegradability. Further to this, Mitie will be introducing one of its first electric vehicles to the contract, allowing for zero carbon emissions on travel between the five sites.
As part of the waste management contract, Mitie will agree new recycling targets with Fife College and review avenues for change to increase the amount of material being recycled. Mitie will focus on reducing the amount of single use plastics and packaging at the site by introducing compostable materials at catering facilities and re-evaluating the current recycling facilities to allow for greater capacity.
Harrogate Contract
A Harrogate company has clinched a major contract to look after more than 60 public buildings across its home town district.
After winning a competitive tender, Robinsons Facilities Services has been appointed to carry out maintenance to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning in premises owned or managed by Harrogate Borough Council, as well as a 24/7 emergency repairs service.
Among the landmark buildings in its care are Harrogate Convention Centre, the Royal Hall, Harrogate Turkish Baths, Harrogate Theatre, the Royal Pump Rooms, the Mercer Art Gallery, Knaresborough Castle and Museum, and Ripon Spa Baths.
The contract, awarded for up to five years depending on performance, represents one of the biggest ever secured by Robinsons Facilities Services, which is headquartered at Bishop Thornton.
London Bridge Station Rebuild
The rebuilding of London Bridge station has been awarded top marks in the prestigious CEEQUAL scheme.
The £1 billionn project, delivered as part of the government sponsored Thameslink Programme, received a 97.3 per cent CEEQUAL score.
CEEQUAL is the evidence-based sustainability assessment, rating and awards scheme for civil engineering, infrastructure, landscaping and public realm project. The scheme operates alongside BREEAM – bringing together the world’s leading sustainability assessment methods for buildings, master planning, and infrastructure.
The rebuild has also landed London Bridge station a place on the Stirling Prize shortlist.
Café GEC Northern & Shell
Workplace dining specialist, The Good Eating Company, has opened a new restaurant, Café GEC, at the iconic Northern & Shell building on Lower Thames Street, London.
Café GEC is open 8:00am to 10:00pm and offers a bistro-style menu from breakfast through to dinner as well as a licensed bar for the building’s tenants as well as members of the public.
The menu will include some of The Good Eating Company’s popular dishes using natural ingredients sourced from carefully selected suppliers. Dishes include the GEC scotch egg and sausage roll; Mr C’s chilli paneer; lobster & cray fish mac ‘n’ cheese; grilled salmon with freekeh pilaf and pomegranate and Korean style BBQ pulled pork burrito.
BNP Paribas Security
Corps Security has won a three-plus-two-year contract to provide security services to French international bank BNP Paribas in London.
The deal involves manned guarding and event guarding services together with close protection services and systems monitoring from Corps’ monitoring centre in Glasgow.
Energy & Resources
Sodexo Energy & Resources has been awarded three new FM contracts, worth a combined £6.5 million a year. The three contracts are with Total E&P UK Ltd, Doosan Babcock Ltd and a major player in the energy market.
Total E&P UK Ltd has appointed Sodexo to provide a range of FM services to over 1,200 employees at three sites in Aberdeen and the Shetland Islands as part of a new five-year contract.
Doosan Babcock Ltd, has also awarded a new three-year contract to Sodexo to provide multiple FM services to over 1,200 employees at six locations in the UK. This contract will see Sodexo’s brand-new Let’s Eat food offer introduced.
Building on an 18-year relationship the third new contract is with an existing client in the energy sector and sees Sodexo providing offshore hotel services on an accommodation vessel where a 46-strong Sodexo team support the 300 personnel based onboard the vessel.
SIG
Mitie has been awarded a five-year multi-service facilities management contract with SIG plc, a European supplier of specialist building materials.
Under the contract, Mitie will provide engineering, front of house and mail services. The agreement has been set up on a framework which will allow additional facilities management services to be rolled into the multi-service contract over time.
Mitie’s Engineering division has undertaken a full survey of SIG’s assets across its 200 buildings, stretching from Aberdeen to Plymouth, including warehouses, offices and large-scale manufacturing facilities.
All Aboard For Flex
MP Helen Whately used a 10 Minute Rule this week to request support for her idea that flexible working should be the norm for all employees.
On Wednesday, Whately argued that flexible working should only be denied by an employer could prove they had a good reason to demand specific working hours.
Losing Your Bottle
Environment Secretary, Michael Gove has again said in a speech this week that it is time to enforce a deposit scheme on plastic bottles.
He also said he wanted to impose new legislation to control other environmental issues and take tough action on reducing carbon emissions so that Net Zero 2050 is a realistic target. Office of Environment Protection with tough powers to take legal action on a range of environmental issues, including reducing carbon emissions.
Toying With The Environment
Marks & Sparks got themselves in a bit of bother this week. They are 'giving away' with every £20 spent a tiny plastic replica of one of their food products.
But you could end up with 'doubles' so it will take years to collect the lot - or the collector will get bored and chuck them in the bin...and there lies the furore.
Milking It
25% of British people now drink a plant based milk with 33% of 16-24 year olds foregoing a dairy pinta.
So it is clearly time for all properties that offer catering facilities to embrace the coconut, soya, alomond etc phenomenon.
Cover Up
Skin cancer rates are going up and up in the UK Cancer Research UK has warned.
The charity recommends that workers are reminded of the dangers of staying in the sunshine too long and not applying appropriate sun cream.
Men are particularly prone to the disease on their faces, necks and torso while the incidence is greater on women's legs.
Please Take Care
TfL, the Met Police and Campaign Groups are reaching out to motorcyclists following five recent fatalities.
16 motorcyclists have already lost their lives this year.
Three other people have also been killed in collisions in the last week, one car driver, a person cycling and another killed while walking.
TfL and the Mayor of London offer a range of measures to improve the confidence and skills of the capital's motorcyclists, as well as raise standards within the motorcycle delivery industry. This includes a course for delivery riders, teaching them vital skills, including how to secure deliveries, plan routes and more about the Highway Code and a free two-hour one-to-one session with an instructor, designed to improve confidence on a specific route.
TfL and the Metropolitan Police are also working with campaign groups to raise awareness of the work being done to enforce dangerous driving, lower speed limits and publicise the range of motorcycle training courses now on offer.
IWFM Awards
The finalists for the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Awards 2019 were announced on July 17.
There are 12 categories and three themes - Impact, Innovation and People.
Impact
For those making a difference to the workplace, FM and social value.
Impact on the Customer Experience
FM Helpdesk Transformation, NHS Property Services
The customer experience partnership, ENGIE and Biffa
Customer Service Programme, Emaar Asset Management
Savills RISE, Savills UK
Impact on Organisational Performance
EDGE, Heathrow Airport
UK Operations Team, Rolls-Royce and Mitie
Improving employee satisfaction and office design through the introduction of height-adjustable desks, Skyscanner Edinburgh
Transforming a national broadcaster in Scotland, Interserve and the BBC
Impact on Organisational Performance
Standard, Chartered Bank, Mace Macro and Leesman
Impact on Society and Social Value
Sodexo Public Service Pledge, Sodexo
Eric Wright Group Creating Profit for a Purpose, Eric Wright FM
Junior Engineering Engagement Programme, ABM UK
A best practice social value framework for lasting legacies for communities, VINCI Facilities
Impact on the Environment
Fuel switch - moving from coal to turmeric and chilli, GSH India and Kaleesuwari
ISO 50001, An Garda Síochána
Future proofing FM at Regent Street and St James, Demand Logic with JLL (RSMD) and BNP Paribas Real Estate
Project Ceres, EY with ISS
Innovation
Innovation in People Development & Empowerment
Building Your Leadership Signature Development Programme, Bouygues Energies and Services UK
Empowering people through ENGAGE, Interserve and E.ON UK
EDGE, Heathrow Airport
CARES, Sodexo
Innovation in Products and/or Processes
Superproof, SafeGroup
The IMPACT Programme, OCS Group UK
Property/Workplace Integrator, Sodexo
Evidencing compliance on-site via the 'Customer check in check out' app, VINCI Facilities
Innovation in Supplier Relationships
Property Team, Direct Line Group
Together Stronger Partnership, AstraZeneca and Sodexo
Heathrow Engineering & Asset Management - Supplier Relationships, Heathrow Airport
Innovation in Technology
My Day - Workplace Experience App, EY and ISS
Delivering world-class VIP visitor experiences, Gregory Blondeau
Waterless Urinal Technology, WhiffAway Group
Enterprise Control System, Sainsbury's
'Customer check in check out’ app, VINCI Facilities
People
Manager of the Year
Fiona Stewart, Student Living by Sodexo
Gaetano D'Altrui, CNCP soc. coop. Facility Management Rome, Italy
Eng.Vazeer Husain, Adeeb Group, UAE
Newcomer of the Year
Aimilia Marnerou, ENGIE
Maddie Hayes, Mace Macro
Jonathan Hill, ENGIE
Team of the Year
Lantei
Leading the Way - Churchill North East & Yorkshire
Engineering & Asset Management Facilities Team, Heathrow Airport
AstraZeneca Macclesfield Campus FM Team
The Performance and Digital Team, VINCI Facilities
1Team, Vodafone and Mitie
12th July 2019
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank is likely to be downsizing in the City of London. The bank has their largest investment banking operations at 1 Great Winchester Street.
The bank directly employs a facilities management team and outsources to CBRE Global Workplace Solutions.
Deutsche Bank also occupies two properties in Birmingham (Broad St and Brindley Place) and has offices in Bournemouth. The employs over 8,000 people in the UK and is one of the largest employers in the City.
To Read more on ThisWeekinFM's - Click Here
Castle Takes Mitie
Mitie has secured a five-year contract extension with Historic Environment Scotland. The contract includes the specialist cleaning of Edinburgh Castle.
The extension comes after nine years' of Mitie's service. However, this time around the company will be expected to focus on sustainability. Mitie will be introducing the first electric vehicles at Edinburgh Castle.
EV100
EV100 aims to make electric transport the ‘new normal’ by 2030 and Mitie has committed to transitioning its 5,300 strong fleet to electric by 2030.
This is in addition to a commitment to ensure 20 per cent of its small van and car fleet is electric prior to the end of 2020.
New Hard FM Delivery Model
Graham FM has formed an agreement with regional property asset manager, Place Partnership to be the single point service partner for hard facilities management services until 2023.
This will include building fabric maintenance and the repair of essential systems such as heating and ventilation, all of which comprise a significant proportion of Place Partnership’s services.
Through its relationship with Place Partnership, Graham has committed to the provision of around £7 million of social value and will engage with the local workforce and supply chain to ensure delivery of services.
Brendan Devlin, Graham Facilities Management MD, said: “We are engaging local or existing suppliers and have already hosted an engagement day which saw around 100 companies expressing an interest in joining us.”
Trust's New £2.3m Cleaning Contract
Norse Group Cleaning has been awarded a £2.3 million cleaning contract by the Inspiration Trust.
The three-year agreement covers daily and periodic deep cleaning at the Trust’s thirteen academies across Norfolk and North Suffolk.
Norse Group’s UK cleaning business is now worth over £50 million a year and provides employment for over 4,000 people across the UK.
Under the new agreement, which covers receptions, classrooms, staff rooms, communal areas, toilets and shower and changing facilities, 110 people TUPE transfer into the group when the contract starts in August 2019.
Vegan Chef Appointed
Bartlett Mitchell caterers has announced a new partnership with top vegetarian and vegan chef Andrew Dargue of restaurant Vanilla Black.
In his role as consultant chef, Dargue will provide chef training, masterclasses and events for BM customers and pioneer chef tables and pop-ups featuring his blend of plant-based cuisine. The collaboration supports the growing demand for quality and innovative vegetarian and vegan cooking.
Through its work with Dargue, Bartlett Mitchell aims to inspire its chefs to create original meat-free dishes that offer customers new menu options beyond the stereotypical vegetarian and vegan fare.
Mountjoy Maintenance Contract
Mountjoy has agreed a new and expanded housing maintenance contract with Vectis Housing Association which started on the July 1.
The new contract will see Mountjoy provide servicing and repairs to all gas boilers and appliances across Vectis’s 400 homes – this is in addition to the building maintenance, void property refurbishments and planned works that the company have been providing to Vectis since 2014.
The new contract will be entirely self-delivered by Mountjoy who have expanded their existing team of trade staff on the Isle of Wight to take on the additional work.
King’s Contract
Independents by Sodexo has been awarded a five-year contract to manage the catering and cleaning services at The King’s School, Worcester.
The new £4.25 million deal will see Independents introduce a wide range of dishes with a focus on fresh, nutritious and seasonal food from 1st September 2019.
A 29-strong cleaning services team will use environmentally friendly cleaning solutions around the schedule of The King’s School.
Sceptre Awards
Axis Security’s Security team at The Mercury shopping centre in Romford has been awarded ‘Security team of the Year’ at the Sceptre Awards 2019.
The Sceptre Awards promote excellence by recognising best practice and the best people operating within the shopping centre industry and receives thousands of national entries.
The Axis team is credited by the Centre Manager, Spencer Hawken, with maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for the trouble-makers who are the elderly during the week and teens who visit at the weekend.
Digital Innovation
ENGIE has been named as overall winner in the Digital Innovation category of the Business in the Community Responsible Business Awards 2019. The company was also a finalist in the Connected Places category.
The award reflects ENGIE’s use of digitalisation to boost customer satisfaction and investments in new digital offerings such as smart buildings and advanced Robotic Process Automation to optimise operational effectiveness, reduce costs, reduce environmental emissions and boost social wellbeing.
Workplace Week London Is Back
Workplace Week London is returning for its ninth year this November (11-15) and tickets are already on sale for the first wave of tours and events.
Bringing an extra touch of coolness to the winter months – and having already raised more than $100,000 since its debut launch in 2010 - this year’s line-up will feature the latest names to top the ‘Coolest Offices for 2018’ polls (alongside some previous favourites) including LinkedIn, Lego, Hearst, Photobox, Asos, Dr. Martens, Skyscanner, Framestore, Lloyds Of London, Frank Pr, Pwc, Innocent, British Film Institute, Jellyfish and more!
Howzat - River Boat Party Is Catch Of The Day
The ThisWeekinFM Facilities Industry Annual Summer River Boat Party - Thursday July 11.
Balmy weather, a massive pre-drinks turnout and England reaching the Cricket World Cup Finals were the backdrop to a marvellous evening of socialising.
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