Grapevine

13^th November 2026

Welcome to this week’s Grapevine, the place to get your bitesize FM updates in one place, in a handy five-minute read.

Got a story for us? Please send news stories & press releases to: newsdesk@twinfm.com

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Thank you for joining us, we’ll jump right in...

Built environment consultancy Ridge has appointed Oliver North as Partner and Head of Cost and Commercial Management to strengthen its senior leadership team and expand its capabilities across major infrastructure, investment, and national programmes.

Oliver brings 20 years of experience across property and infrastructure, having previously led a team of 600 professionals across 15 countries in the UK and Europe. In his new national role, he will drive team growth, expand client relationships, and enhance Ridge’s position on strategic frameworks.

Bishopsgate Group has appointed Ryan Smith as its new Managing Director to lead the company's next phase of growth in the contractor market. Having served as Commercial Director for the past five years, Ryan brings deep industry experience and business understanding to ensure a seamless leadership transition for clients, contractors, and employees. His focus will be on maintaining high service standards, improving operational efficiency, and fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture.

Ryan succeeds Luke Shannon-Little, who oversaw this transition and has been promoted to Director of Compliance at Bishopsgate’s parent company, the Munnelly Group. In his new role, Luke will support consistent compliance and governance standards across all eight Munnelly Group businesses.

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If you are budgeting for FM appointments in 2027, recruitment specialist, Maxwell Stephens, has published three guides designed to save you time:

- FM Recruitment Trends 2026: Explains why FM hiring is currently a candidate-driven market, why top talent is often not actively looking, and why slow hiring processes lead to missed opportunities – read more here,

- Facilities Manager Salary Guide: Provides salary ranges broken down by role and seniority – read more here

- Facilities Director Salary UK: Outlines compensation expectations for senior-level positions – read more here

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Royal London Asset Management Property launched ConnectIn on November 12, 2026, in partnership with JLL as a new operating model to manage a £10.3 billion commercial real estate portfolio.

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The City of London has approved plans for the proposed £500m, 36-storey landmark tower near Liverpool Street. The project, led by developers Sellar and Obayashi, is scheduled to begin construction in 2026 once the existing building is vacated, with targeted completion in 2029.

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Andwis Group has extended its partnership with Simpro, making andwis its top UK compliance and specialist technical services customer and a top-tier global strategic partner.

Building on an existing deployment used by over 1,500 andwis team members, the renewed agreement focuses on leveraging technology, data, AI, and automation. This collaboration aims to improve customer outcomes with faster response times and clearer visibility, enhance the employee experience by reducing administrative tasks, and enable more efficient service delivery.

"The point of technology is simple: it should make things better for customers, easier for employees and more efficient for the business,” said Phil Greenwood, CEO of andwis Group. “Our partnership with Simpro gives us a strong platform to do that."

This extended partnership supports andwis Group’s broader investment in technology and infrastructure to drive sustainable growth.

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Tendra Technical Services acquired Dale Building Maintenance Ltd, marking its sixth acquisition since December 2025. Financial terms remain undisclosed.

Backed by the Triton Smaller Mid-Cap Fund II, Tendra unites UK technical services businesses across critical infrastructure and controlled environments.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Cardiff with seven offices across Wales and South-West England, Dale provides maintenance, reactive repair, minor works, refurbishments, facilities, and insurance management to commercial clients in the insurance, finance, and care sectors.

This acquisition establishes a strong platform for Tendra in the South-West region while giving Dale access to Tendra’s central services, expanded capabilities, and client base to drive future growth.

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A North Yorkshire construction installation business, NJW Composite Doors, has entered liquidation with debts approaching £300,000.

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The Molson Group and its UK subsidiaries entered administration on Friday, November 6, 2026, following prolonged financial difficulties and challenging trading conditions. Joint administrators from PwC (Tom Crookham, Mark Banfield, and Ross Connock) have been appointed to oversee the process.

As a result, 203 of the company's 345 UK employees have been made redundant. The construction equipment and plant dealer had operated sites and services across England and Scotland.

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Following an open tender process, Let's Go Glasgow Business Improvement District (BID) has appointed ABM to deliver its Clean Team across Glasgow city centre starting 1 December 2026. This expansion will add a second team, extend daily operating hours, and introduce a full-time contact for local businesses.

Building on the pilot active since April—which completed over 900 jobs, 3,600 cleaning hours, and 250 rapid business requests—this service acts as an addition to Glasgow City Council's standard provisions. The team focuses on business-reported issues and tasks outside council scope, such as lane clearing, flyposting and graffiti removal, and fly-tipping clearance.

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Mitie has been named as a supplier across all 11 lots on the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) RM6378 Facilities Management and Security Services Framework.

This framework replaces both RM6232 (Facilities Management and Workplace Services) and RM6257 (Security Services), shaping how the UK Government procures specialist services in the coming years.

As a key strategic supplier, Mitie will build on its existing portfolio and pursue new public sector opportunities, providing expertise in engineering, security, and energy management to deliver safe, efficient, and sustainable environments.

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Last month saw PTSG launch its "Spot the Pink" campaign in support of Breast Cancer Now, deploying three specially wrapped pink vans to travel the UK over the next three years.

Members of the public, customers, suppliers, and colleagues are invited to safely photograph these vans and share the photos on social media. Tag PTSG and include #SpotThePink along with the location. For every qualifying photo shared, PTSG will donate £5 to Breast Cancer Now, up to £1,000 in the campaign's first year. Each person may submit one photograph per calendar month.

Greg Ward, Group CEO of PTSG, highlighted that this three-year initiative aims to create a lasting reminder of the cause, keep the conversation going, and raise vital funds for research and support. This follows PTSG’s Wear It Pink activities, which raised £1,700 in 2025. To make a donation, click here.

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ThisWeekinFM CEO Christmas Lunch Tickets - Sold Out!

ONE Sponsorship Opportunity available!

With under two weeks until the ThisWeekinFM CEO's Christmas Lunch at Gaucho Tower Bridge, we have only one sponsorship package available with all individual tickets now completely sold out!

Taking place on Thursday, 26th November, this exclusive event connects company directors and owners with senior-level in-house clients and consultants. Individual tickets are sold out, and we have just one sponsorship package remaining. Sponsorship is limited to non-competing organisations.

We encourage you to enquire soon to secure your place and discuss your requirements: laurence@twinfm.com.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Headline: Andwis Group

Asset Management: Verixo

CAFM: Singu

FM Services: Westbury FM

Mechanical and electrical consultancy: PGSO

Robotic Façade Cleaning Services: Towercraft

Security Services: Classic Services Group

Sustainability and Waste Tracking: Green Space Innovations

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Friday, 6^th November 2026

Welcome to this week’s Grapevine, the place to get your bitesize FM updates in one place, in a handy five-minute read.

Got a story for us? Please send news stories & press releases to: newsdesk@twinfm.com

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Thank you for joining us, we’ll jump right in...

Compass Group UK & Ireland appointed Michael Lambourne as CEO of Compass One. In this role, he will oversee all public-sector business and facilities management operations across the UK & Ireland, including ESS, Medirest, Chartwells Schools, and the Cuisine Centre.

Michael joins the UK & Ireland Executive team and reports to Interim CEO Charlie Brown. He brings over nine years of experience at Compass Group, most recently serving as Executive Director for ESS, Chartwells, Medirest, and Morrison Living in Australia, following a career in senior finance and strategy roles across mining, manufacturing, and distribution.

Matt Forbes has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer, Bellrock, effective 2nd November 2026. He succeeds Carlo Alloni, who will remain with the business until the end of November to ensure a smooth transition.

Matt brings over 25 years of experience across the built environment asset lifecycle, having previously held senior leadership roles at CBRE, AECOM, and Balfour Beatty.

NIC Services Group has announced the appointment of Matt Chapman as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Matt joins the business as part of a planned leadership transition, with former CEO Kevin Grace moving into the role of Deputy Chairman. Matt brings extensive leadership experience within the facilities management sector, having previously been named CEO of the Year in 2025 and Social Justice Leader in 2026.

Bidvest Noonan has appointed Chris Berry as Director of Operations for Logistics and Warehouses to support its ongoing growth strategy.                                           

Chris brings over 15 years of leadership experience from senior roles at National Express, HCT Group, and Arriva. Reporting to Keith Middleton, Managing Director for Transport, he will oversee the Logistics and Warehouses portfolio, focusing on service excellence, operational performance, and strategic growth.

Munnelly Group appointed Luke Shannon-Little as Director of Compliance to lead its compliance and governance at the board level.

Luke joined Bishopsgate in 2019 with extensive industry experience across various umbrella organizations as a founder, managing director, and supplier. In his new role, he will focus on reducing operational risk, supporting group-wide growth, and collaborating closely with managing directors across the organisation.

A process is currently underway to appoint his successor as Managing Director at Bishopsgate, with Luke actively involved in the selection.

The Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) appointed Dr Kirsten Oliver, Managing Director for Energy at WSP, as chair of its newly established Energy Group.

Kirsten brings more than 25 years’ experience across conventional and renewable energy, having worked on complex programmes in the UK and internationally. She will lead ACE members in addressing industry challenges, promoting collaboration and helping shape policies to unlock investment and accelerate energy infrastructure delivery.

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Congratulations to Westbury FM’s Managing Director, Sonia Murton, for winning the Business Owner 2026 award at the Women in Construction Awards.

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The Crown Estate has launched the search for a main contractor to deliver the £322 million second phase of St James’s Market in London’s West End. The office-led redevelopment will provide approximately 312,500 sq ft of commercial space, alongside retail and restaurant facilities and improvements to the surrounding public realm.

Contractors will compete for a £222 million construction package, with a further £100 million potentially available for the redevelopment of neighbouring 130 Jermyn Street. The project will retain the existing Charles II Street façade and incorporate the refurbishment of the Carlton Cinema, alongside the installation of new electrical substations and improvements to the surrounding public realm.

Up to four contractors are expected to be shortlisted for the scheme, which marks the next major phase in The Crown Estate’s regeneration of the St James’s Market district.

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For 30 years, the RIBA Stirling Prize has recognised architecture that makes a meaningful contribution to the built environment - read more here

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Frasers Property UK has achieved a 5-star rating in the latest GRESB Real Estate Assessment for the third consecutive year, securing its highest-ever score of 91.5.

The result, up from 90.4 in 2025, significantly exceeds the 2026 global average of 80.9 and places the business among the top 20% of participants worldwide. It was also the only participant in its UK peer group of non-listed industrial and office property companies to achieve a 5-star rating.

The assessment recognised strong performance across energy, greenhouse gas emissions and waste, alongside perfect scores of 100 in several categories, including leadership, reporting and risk management.

Frasers Property UK continues to invest in energy efficiency and decarbonisation across its portfolio, supporting the Group’s ambition to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

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Environmental compliance specialist Tersus Consultancy Services (Tersus), part of Marlowe Environmental Services and Mitie, has secured an 18-month contract worth £1 million with Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) at the Dounreay site in Caithness, Scotland.

Under this agreement, Tersus will support decommissioning activities by providing specialist asbestos surveying, air monitoring, and independent inspection services to ensure safe removal and clearance verification. This contract builds on an ongoing relationship between the organizations that dates back to 2021.

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On Saturday 31 October, ISS marked 60 years of operating in the UK, alongside its 125th anniversary as a global business in 2026.

Founded in Copenhagen in 1901 as a night watch company, ISS pioneered contract cleaning in the 1930s before expanding to the UK in October 1966. The UK became a major growth market, partnering with the NHS in 1989—a relationship that continues today.

Following expansion into Ireland in 1994, the UK & Ireland has grown into ISS’s largest global region and a key hub for workplace innovation.

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KeyTracker is celebrating its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of growth and innovation in secure key and asset management systems.

Alongside its commercial growth, KeyTracker remains dedicated to its Midlands roots through long-standing apprenticeship programs and a recent shortlisting for the Black Country Chamber of Commerce's Bostin' Business campaign.

"Reaching 30 years in business is a milestone to be celebrated," said Andy Smith, Director at KeyTracker. "Our success is driven by our ability to innovate, respond to changing customer needs, and continually improve what we do. We're looking forward to continuing to develop our solutions, invest in our people, and build on our success over the next 30 years."

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JLL has acquired VIPA Digital, a London-based data centre consultancy, strengthening its expertise in the fast-growing sector.

Founded in 2018 by Vijay Mistry and Paul Cranfield, the 17-strong VIPA team has delivered 168 data centre projects across 31 countries. The financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

The full VIPA team will join JLL Work Dynamics to provide client support across the data centre lifecycle. JLL will initially retain the VIPA brand and operate the business semi-autonomously to preserve its independent positioning and technical focus.

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Work-related stress remains one of the leading causes of work-related ill health. Left unaddressed, it can affect workers' health and wellbeing, increase sickness absence and impact workplace performance. 

HSE's Working Minds campaign provides free tools, guidance and resources to help employers and managers start conversations, identify the causes of stress and support good mental health.

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ThisWeekinFM CEO Christmas Lunch Tickets - Sold Out!

ONE Sponsorship Opportunity available!

With under three weeks until the ThisWeekinFM CEO's Christmas Lunch at Gaucho Tower Bridge, individual tickets are now completely sold out!

Taking place on Thursday, 26th November, this exclusive event connects company directors and owners with senior-level in-house clients and consultants. Individual tickets are sold out, and we have just one sponsorship package remaining. Sponsorship is limited to non-competing organisations.

We encourage you to enquire soon to secure your place and discuss your requirements: laurence@twinfm.com.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Headline: Andwis Group

Asset Management: Verixo

CAFM: Singu

FM Services: Westbury FM

Mechanical and electrical consultancy: PGSO

Robotic Façade Cleaning Services: Towercraft

Security Services: Classic Services Group

Sustainability and Waste Tracking: Green Space Innovations

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Friday, 30th October 2026

Welcome to this week’s Grapevine, the place to get your bitesize FM updates in one place, in a handy five-minute read.

Got a story for us? Please send news stories & press releases to: newsdesk@twinfm.com

Thank you for joining us, we’ll jump right in...

Knight Frank Promise has announced the appointment of Jason Taylor as Managing Director from April 2027. Currently serving as Head of Commercial Facilities Management – read more here

Platinum Facilities has appointed Chris Mowat as Managing Director.

Chris has worked in partnership with the business over the last five years in a non-executive capacity. During this time, he worked closely with the Owner and CEO on the strategic direction of the business, while providing independent challenge and support to the Senior Leadership Team.

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FM Conway has become headline construction sector sponsor of The Big Goal, the Street Soccer Foundation’s national initiative supporting homeless and vulnerable young people through football, mentoring and employability programmes.

FM Conway has supported the Foundation since 2016, becoming its first corporate sponsor and founding commercial partner. During the 2025/26 season, it sponsored 10 Street Soccer Academies, supporting 82 young people and delivering around 480 hours of education and mentoring. More than 80% of participants completing the programme progressed into employment, education or further training.

Under its new agreement, FM Conway will sponsor up to 12 Academies during the 2026/27 season while encouraging greater collaboration across the construction industry to create employment opportunities and develop skills.

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Envirotech FM announced Managing Director Pinder Singh Hujan has completed the buy-out of all remaining shareholders, taking 100% ownership of the business.

As a B Corp-certified, family-owned business, Envirotech FM is focused on building a sustainable, generational company rather than preparing for a sale.

Pinder and the team extend their sincere thanks to co-founder and original investor Paul Harrison for his eight years of support. Pinder looks forward to continuing to work directly with Paul and leveraging their project capabilities.

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Construction recruitment company Sphere Solutions Ltd is moving into Facilities Management with the launch of its dedicated Facilities Management division, expanding its recruitment expertise to support clients with permanent, temporary, and specialist staffing needs. 

The new team includes Jamie Alexander – Director, Joanne Cabannes – Associate Director and Richard Carey – Principal Consultant.

"Our ambition is to build a specialist FM brand that is recognised across the UK for quality, professionalism, and delivering on its promises," noted James Hughes, Managing Director. "The facilities management sector is built around long-term relationships, high service standards, and the ability to provide the right people and solutions for increasingly complex environments."

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GRAHAM’s Interior Fit-Out division has been appointed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to fit out the new Ireland House premises at 10 Spring Gardens (The Crown Estate’s West End portfolio).

Work across the five floors will begin shortly and is scheduled for completion in summer 2027. Once finished, the diplomatic facility will house the Embassy of Ireland (including the Citizen Services Office) alongside State Agencies Bord Bia, Enterprise Ireland, and IDA Ireland, with a main entrance foyer and reception located on the first floor via Carlton House Terrace.

GRAHAM will deliver office accommodation for each partner, including new workspaces, storage, kitchen facilities, meeting rooms, event space, and updated mechanical, electrical, and public health systems.

This project expands GRAHAM's fit-out portfolio following recent projects at London Business School’s Regent’s Park campus, the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park Estate, and a 16,000 sq ft workspace in Dublin.

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Facilities management poised to become boardroom priority as AI adoption accelerates, JLL report reveals

Global research finds AI adoption, workforce shortages and growing investment are reshaping facilities management worldwide – read more here.

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Dalkia UK’s Scottish team has secured an £11 million contract for Penicuik High School in Midlothian, delivered alongside main contractor Morrison Construction.

Dalkia will provide the full Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) package for a new three-storey extension—serving nearly 1,000 pupils with modern teaching, sports, dining, community, and wellbeing spaces—while supporting the refurbishment of the existing 1930s building.

The MEP solution balances preserving the 1930s heritage structure with modern, sustainable building services. By using high-efficiency Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems and intelligent controls, the project improves energy performance, supports Midlothian Council’s Net Zero objectives, and complies with the Learning Estate Investment Programme.

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Independent, B Corp-certified contract caterer Houston & Hawkes has been appointed as the catering partner for VodafoneThree following a competitive tender. Expanding on their four-year partnership with Three UK, Houston & Hawkes will now provide staff dining, hospitality, events, and café services to approximately 7,000 daily customers across VodafoneThree’s London, Newbury, and Stoke sites.

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Churchill Group has been awarded the Menopause Friendly Workplace Accreditation by Henpicked. This follows an independent assessment across culture, policies and processes, training, engagement, and workplace environment, recognising 18-month effort to normalise menopause conversations and support colleagues across 11,000+ client locations.

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A new dinosaur species, Paludohadros proudlovii, has been discovered at Wienerberger’s Ewhurst brickworks in Surrey and named in honour of former site manager Will Proudlove.

Excavated in 2001 and recently identified by Natural History Museum scientists in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, the Early Cretaceous herbivore lived 125 million years ago in the same muddy wetlands as Baryonyx walkeri, which was found just 100 metres away at the same site in 1983. Will’s family has welcomed the news, celebrating it as a lasting tribute to his legacy.

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ThisWeekinFM CEO Christmas Lunch Tickets - Sold Out!

Limited Sponsorship Opportunities available

With just under five weeks until the ThisWeekinFM CEO's Christmas Lunch at Gaucho Tower Bridge, individual tickets are now completely sold out!

Taking place on Thursday, 26th November, this exclusive event connects company directors and owners with senior-level in-house clients and consultants. Individual tickets are sold out, but we have a few sponsorship packages remaining. Sponsorship is limited to eight non-competing organisations.

We encourage you to enquire soon to secure your place and discuss your requirements: laurence@twinfm.com.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Headline: Andwis Group  

Asset Management: Verixo 

CAFM: Singu

FM Services: Westbury FM

Robotic Façade Cleaning Services: Towercraft

Sustainability and Waste Tracking: Green Space Innovations

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Friday, 23rd October 2026

Welcome to this week’s Grapevine, the place to get your bitesize FM updates in one place, in a handy five-minute read.

Got a story for us? Please send news stories & press releases to: newsdesk@twinfm.com

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Thank you for joining us, we’ll jump right in...

Congratulations to Theresa Bell on her appointment as Chief Executive Officer, Arcus FM, effective 1 October.

Theresa joined Arcus in 2021 as Chief Commercial Officer, bringing extensive industry experience from senior leadership roles at Sodexo, ISS, and CBRE across EMEA. During her time at Arcus, she has driven significant growth by expanding services into corporate, logistics, and hospitality sectors—notably securing a five-year contract with Santander—and strengthening the company's nationwide self-delivery technical services.

Theresa succeeds co-founder Chris Green, who served as CEO for 17 years and now transitions to Executive Chair. In his new role, Chris will oversee the Arcus board and lead the development of the renewables maintenance proposition.

ISS UK & Ireland announced the appointment of Antony Collett as Managing Director of Technical Services, effective immediately. Antony joins the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to Graeme Cameron, Chief Operating Officer, Operations Performance.

In this role, Antony will oversee the function's strategic development, operational performance, and customer outcomes. He joins ISS with extensive leadership experience in technical services and operational management across organizations including Integral, Wates, Mitie, and Compass Group.

Corps Security appointed Deborah Rabey to its Board as a Non-Executive Director. This addition strengthens the organisation's leadership as it continues to expand as one of the UK’s leading security services companies and a committed social enterprise.

Deborah brings over 30 years of experience across the retail, wholesale, and consumer sectors, with a proven track record in driving growth and transformation in low-margin sectors. Her background includes roles as Chief Customer Officer at Wilko, senior leadership at Tesco, and her current positions as London Sector Director at Acentis and Non-Executive Director at Smiths News plc.

Ronan Brennan has been promoted to Facilities Manager for the City Portfolio at BNP Paribas Real Estate.

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ABM has been appointed to the Government Commercial Agency’s (GCA) Facilities Management and Security Services framework (RM6378), covering Hard FM (Lot 2a) and Security Officer Services (Lot 4b). This provides central government, the NHS, local authorities, and other public bodies a direct route to ABM’s engineering and security services.

This appointment marks the latest expansion in ABM’s public sector footprint, which includes work for the London Fire Brigade, Transport for London, and HSE hospitals in Ireland. Supported by 17,500 team members across the UK and Ireland, including over 1,000 engineers, ABM offers tailored building maintenance, technical services, and intelligence-led security solutions across both public and private sectors.

Richard Sykes, SVP and President at ABM, noted that the framework appointment streamlines access to ABM's services and supports the company's ongoing public sector growth.

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Rockpool Investments has backed the management buyout of Industrial Door Systems Limited (IDS), a UK compliance-led technical engineering services provider focused on maintaining and repairing commercial and industrial access equipment. Founded in 1986 by Jeffrey Barnett, the Manchester-headquartered company operates nationally with nearly 100 staff across hubs in Manchester, the Midlands, and London.

IDS provides 24/7/365 coverage for commercial, industrial, and public sector sites. Its cross-trained engineers service roller shutters, pedestrian and industrial doors, gates, barriers, loading-bay equipment, and fire doors. The business holds key industry accreditations, including CHAS, SafeContractor, ADSA, and DHF, providing statutory compliance for long-standing clients via a single point of contact for multi-site accounts.

Rockpool's investment supports the existing management team—CEO Claire Harrison, Sales Director Darren Clarke, Finance Director Euan Henderson, and Operations Manager Katie Willott—to execute a buy-and-build strategy in the fragmented UK market. Ex-Marlowe Fire and Security Group CEO Rob Flinn joins as Chair to support integration and scaling.

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After the huge rise in homeworking following the Covid-19 pandemic, some businesses are pushing back, reports BBC Politics East - read more here.

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Great Portland Estates plc (GPE) announced the redevelopment of its Soho Square Estate, W1, delivering a c.90,000 sq ft scheme comprising 75,000 sq ft of Grade A offices and 15,000 sq ft of prime Oxford Street retail space. Located near Tottenham Court Road station, the development complements GPE's existing Soho portfolio, including 141 Wardour Street and 16 Dufour’s Place.

The office space features ~12,000 sq ft floorplates, extensive outdoor space, premium amenities, and strong sustainability credentials. Demolition will begin shortly, with completion targeted for summer 2030.

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LS Estates appointed RED Group's London division as Construction Managers to complete the £50m commercial redevelopment of 5 Chancery Lane in central London, following the demise of the previous main contractor. Working alongside Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors Gardiner & Theobald, RED is scheduled to finish the prime office project in Q1 2027.

Located between Holborn and Fleet Street, the 105,000 sq ft scheme retains the 1910 building's façade and 86% of its original structure, saving 4,800 tonnes of embodied carbon and reducing construction waste. The retrofit features a new glass dome to increase natural light on the upper floors, is pre-assessed for BREEAM Excellent, and is projected to save 540 tonnes of operational carbon annually.

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For many years, the real estate industry has embraced net zero ambitions. However, different organisations have adopted different methodologies, reporting approaches and definitions, making it difficult to compare assets or assess the credibility of competing claims – read more here

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The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) has launched a new campaign, “Our Standards. Your Guarantee,” demonstrating the commercial value of membership.

Featuring members such as Evans Vanodine, Robert Scott, Greyland, and International Tissue Company, the campaign highlights how CHSA Accreditation provides independently verified assurance. It showcases how membership helps businesses compete on quality, innovation, and ethical practices rather than price, giving customers full confidence in their supply chain.

According to CHSA Chairman Nick Thompson, the campaign aligns with the Association's broader initiative to deliver clear commercial benefits by strengthening competitive advantage, supporting business growth, representing member interests, and enabling industry networking.

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Experts from the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) hosted the Home Stage at this year’s Home, Life & You Show at ExCeL, London.

During the two-day event, BICSc led knowledge-sharing sessions and panel discussions featuring experts and content creators. The sessions focused on practical household topics, including home improvements, floorcare, and organisation, alongside brand demonstrations.

Alongside the stage, the BICSc exhibition stand hosted an interactive "spin the wheel" activity to demonstrate their colour-coding system, helping visitors understand how using designated cloths reduces cross-contamination and improves hygiene standards. 

BICSc Group Managing Director, Neil Spencer-Cook, noted that the show was a valuable opportunity to share professional expertise with a consumer audience and engage in positive conversations about raising hygiene standards in everyday life.

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ThisWeekinFM CEO Christmas Lunch Tickets - Sold Out!

Limited Sponsorship Opportunities available

With just under six weeks until the ThisWeekinFM CEO's Christmas Lunch at Gaucho Tower Bridge, individual tickets are now completely sold out!

Taking place on Thursday, 26th November, this exclusive event connects company directors and owners with senior-level in-house clients and consultants. Individual tickets are sold out, but we have a few sponsorship packages remaining. Sponsorship is strictly limited to eight non-competing organisations. We encourage you to enquire soon to secure your place and discuss your requirements: laurence@twinfm.com.

Thank you to our current sponsors:

  - Headline: Andwis Group
  - FM Category: Westbury FM
  - Robotic Façade Cleaning Services Category: Towercraft

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16^th October 2026

Welcome to this week’s Grapevine, the place to get your bitesize FM updates in one place, in a handy five-minute read.

Got a story for us? Please send news stories & press releases to: newsdesk@twinfm.com

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Thank you for joining us, we’ll jump right in...

Bidvest Noonan appointed Brandie Deignan to the newly created executive role of Managing Director, Strategy. This appointment aims to strengthen the company’s long-term growth agenda, accelerate innovation, and keep the business ahead of evolving client expectations across the UK and Ireland.

Reporting to Chief Operating Officer Cormac Sheils, Brandie will focus on identifying emerging trends, anticipating customer needs, and aligning strategic priorities with operational delivery. She brings over 20 years of senior leadership experience across healthcare, hospitality, aviation, and retail, with a strong track record of driving transformation and performance improvement in large-scale organizations.

Waterman recently announced the appointment of Jonathan Purcell as Managing Director of Strategy and Growth. The company is now further strengthening its UK Leadership Team with the appointment of James Bland, Director of HR; Stephanie George, Director of Legal; Rob Chandler, Director of Finance; and Susan Nilsson, Director of Communications.

Briggs & Forrester Group announced several leadership appointments taking effect on 1 January 2027 as part of its planned executive evolution as the company enters its 80th year.

Current CEO Paul Burton will step down to serve solely as Group Chairman. He will be succeeded as Group CEO by Duncan Benedetti, the current Managing Director of the Living business and Group Board member, who will oversee operational performance and strategic direction. Consequently, Matthew Orme will step up from Operations Director to Managing Director of the Living business.

Habinteg Housing Association appointed Monika Liskiewicz as Executive Director of Resources, overseeing finance, governance, people services and IT/data.

Restore Information Management appointed Douglas Rimmer as its dedicated business development manager for heritage, as demand for specialist storage solutions and information management from museums, libraries and other organisations continues to grow.

Core Integrated Group appointed Tom Carter as Senior Project Manager, a newly created role leading mechanical works and turnkey projects within its Core Maintenance Services division.

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We attended the IWFM Strategic Leaders Forum for a discussion on effective asset management.

Thanks to Steven Gladwin for chairing the presentations and panel debate alongside Chris Jeffers, Joanna Harris, Gordon Mitchell, and Anna Williamson.

We had insightful, senior-level discussions covering everything from the risks of running assets to failure and the role of the Golden Thread, to sustainability, compliance, and the application of data and AI.

A key recurring theme was the importance of knowing what assets we have, their condition, and how they support building occupants. Technology certainly has a vital role to play, but only when it provides information that leads to better decisions regarding maintenance, investment, and risk.

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David Stevens, Director of Estates, Facilities & Capital Development at East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), and Vice President of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), has won IWFM Leader of the Year and Executive Leader of the Year at the Engineering Talent Awards 2026 – read more here

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Congratulations to Jamie Harris, Donna Currie and the Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland - Flooring Solutions Scotland team on their 3rd birthday!

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Three years after adopting an employee-ownership model, Churchill Group has fully repaid the loan used to fund the share purchase for its Employee-Ownership Trust (EOT), reaching its "financial freedom" milestone.

As of October 2026, over 70% of staff across its specialist businesses are employee owners. Annual staff turnover has dropped by 17%, and the average length of service for both management and frontline staff now exceeds five years.

To maintain colleague involvement, Churchill Group has launched a 23-member Employee Transition Council, chaired by COO Darren Read and Co-Chair Hannah Bridgman. The self-nominated council aims to represent colleague interests, guide leadership decisions, and evaluate the creation of permanent employee voice councils tailored to its specialist businesses.

CEO James Bradley noted that reaching financial freedom and establishing the council are key steps in keeping colleagues at the center of the business as it continues to evolve.

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Mitie has secured a three-year extension to its integrated facilities management (IFM) contract with the Cumbria Consortium, including Sellafield Ltd. Mitie will continue providing engineering, maintenance, cleaning, waste management, grounds maintenance and catering services across sites in Cumbria and Warrington, with an option to extend for a further two years.

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Nearly 1000 professionals from across the workplace and facilities management industry gathered in London on Thursday (8th Oct) to celebrate the 2026 IWFM Impact Awards. The awards recognise the people, partnerships and projects making a lasting difference across the profession - read more here

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Pareto has partnered with GLP Training to launch the Group’s first Level 4 Associate Project Manager apprenticeship programme. This initiative supports career development and strengthens project delivery across both the Pareto and Sowga businesses.

The programme began on 14 October 2026 and includes the APM Project Management Qualification. Participants will develop their knowledge of project planning, commercial management, risk, and stakeholder engagement, applying their learning alongside their existing responsibilities.

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Joint administrators from PwC UK have completed the sale of National Car Parks Limited (NCP) to NCP UK Trade Co Limited, part of the Martin Property Group. The transaction secures the future of the business, transferring the NCP brand, 276 staff members, and the majority of its 145 operational UK car parks to the buyer.

NCP entered administration on 16 March 2026 due to sustained financial difficulty, leading to site reviews, closures, and transfers to other operators. The administrators continued trading the business to achieve the best outcome for creditors and save jobs. Over the coming months, the joint administrators will assist the purchaser with operational transitions and work to either complete the transfer of the remaining sites or return them to landlords.

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The Morris & Spottiswood Group has opened a new office in Inverness to support Scotland’s growing energy grid investment and expand its UK-wide footprint.

Newly appointed Divisional Director Martin Bell, a chartered electrical engineer with nearly two decades of local experience, will lead the Highland expansion. The new location consolidates the Group’s integrated end-to-end service offering in northern Scotland—recently demonstrated by a multi-disciplinary CAT B fit-out for Apache in Aberdeen—while serving diverse sectors including retail, defence, commercial, and public infrastructure. Moving forward, the Group plans to build a full local team and offer apprenticeships in the region.

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The latest insight into empty property was revealed following a survey of 350 UK commercial property owners commissioned by SafeSite Facilities and carried out by Censuswide – read more here.

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The Cleaning Show will return to ExCeL London from 16–18 March 2027, bringing together suppliers, buyers, and operational leaders as cleaning teams face rising expectations around hygiene, staffing, sustainability, and cost control.

The 2027 event follows a record London edition in 2025, which welcomed more than 8,000 visitors. Its return comes as the UK cleaning and hygiene sector approaches £72 billion in value (British Cleaning Council, 2026), with cleaning recognised as a critical component of infection control, workplace experience, environmental performance, and efficient building management. For more information and to register your interest to attend, please visit The Cleaning Show website here: https://cleaningshow.co.uk/london

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ThisWeekinFM CEO Christmas Lunch Tickets - Sold Out!

Limited Sponsorship Opportunities available

With just under six weeks until the ThisWeekinFM CEO's Christmas Lunch at Gaucho Tower Bridge, individual tickets are now completely sold out!

Taking place on Thursday, 26th November, this exclusive event connects company directors and owners with senior-level in-house clients and consultants. Individual tickets are sold out, but we have a few sponsorship packages remaining. Sponsorship is strictly limited to eight non-competing organisations. We encourage you to enquire soon to secure your place and discuss your requirements: laurence@twinfm.com.

Thank you to our current sponsors:

  - Headline: Andwis Group
  - FM Category: Westbury FM
  - Robotic Façade Cleaning Services Category: Towercraft

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08^th October 2026

Welcome to this week’s Grapevine, the place to get your bitesize FM updates in one place, in a handy five-minute read.

Got a story for us? Please send news stories & press releases to: newsdesk@twinfm.com

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Thank you for joining us, we’ll jump right in...

Fisher German has made four promotions within its Commercial Property Management (CPM) division following a successful six months.

Zoey Collis (South West), Zain Daniels (South East), and Lucy O’Hare (Midlands) have been promoted to Associate. Additionally, Marcus Vernon has been promoted to Senior Client Accountant in Liverpool

Freedom, an NG Bailey Group company, has announced two key appointments to UK energy and utilities leadership groups: Rob Thompson (Managing Director of Design & Advisory) joins the Energy & Utility Skills Partnership (EUSP) CEO Council and Ross Warne (Digital Transformation Manager) joins Nima’s IM4Power Supply Chain Leadership Group.

These roles will allow Freedom to actively contribute to industry discussions on skills, workforce development, digital transformation, and information management across major UK energy and infrastructure programmes.

WPS Facilities Management has expanded its facilities management (FM) business with the acquisition of Calibre Building Services (CBS) today.

As a specialist FM provider, Calibre brings significant commercial building management expertise and a team of approximately 200 employees, growing the WPS national workforce to around 3,400 people.

The Clean Group has announced that Sam Pinnick is joining the company as Managing Director, moving from Mitie. Following this transition, John Chidlaw will step into the role of Chief Executive Officer, having previously served as Managing Director.

John noted that Sam brings extensive leadership experience, fresh thinking, and a strong passion for people, culture, and service delivery. His appointment strengthens the leadership team as the business works to expand its national presence and build long-term partnerships with leading UK organisations.

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Sodexo has acquired Olive, an independent UK catering business founded in 2004. Based in Atherstone, Warwickshire, Olive employs approximately 1,000 and provides tailored, on-site catering services to around 150 contract clients across the UK.

Olive's strong food concept and client-first approach complement Sodexo's workplace go-to-market strategy and existing brand portfolio.

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Waste to Wonder Worldwide was formally presented with The King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainability 2026 on 25 September at Fairfield College in Dilton Marsh. Presented by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Dame Sarah Troughton, the organisation was the sole Wiltshire recipient of the prestigious award this year.

The celebration was attended by the full Waste to Wonder team, including Alan Cooper OBE, along with clients, partners, and charity representatives. Fairfield College, a past beneficiary of Waste to Wonder’s ethical reuse program, provided a fitting venue to highlight the company's work in transforming redundant workplace furniture into environmental and social value.

The accolade grants Waste to Wonder Worldwide the use of The King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

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Axil has been named among the UK’s 150 fastest-growing companies in the inaugural Financial Times and Statista 2027 ranking, which recognises businesses with the highest revenue growth between 2022 and 2025.

This recognition reflects Axil's expansion in waste and resource management across the UK and Ireland. Since 2018, the company has grown from 35 to over 300 employees, supporting nearly 300 customers with a 29.98% CAGR.

Axil achieves this by embedding on-site expertise, specialist capabilities, and data to help businesses reduce costs, manage compliance, and optimize waste operations through improved material recovery and hazardous waste management.

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Cardo Group has acquired Norfolk-based roofing, renewables, and building maintenance specialist Aspect Group Services. Founded in 1972, Aspect provides pitched and flat roofing, property maintenance, and renewable energy solutions across the private, commercial, and public sectors.

The acquisition expands Cardo Group’s national service offering and strengthens its presence in East Anglia. Managing Director Matt Dillon and CEO Liam Bevan both expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting plans to invest in service delivery and expand capabilities while maintaining regional focus and trusted quality.

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Paul Castle, Chief Sales Officer at NIC Services Group Ltd, announced on LinkedIn that NIC has secured a major new contract with Asda.

Described by Castle as “groundbreaking”, the contract is set to transform the delivery of cleaning services across Asda’s extensive and complex retail estate, creating what he says will be a “paradigm shift” in how, why and when cleaning services are delivered.

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BGIS has been awarded a long-term contract to oversee Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) operations for H&M Group across 241 stores in the UK & Ireland. The portfolio includes H&M, ARKET, COS, and & Other Stories.

This partnership expands BGIS’s retail presence in the region. BGIS will deliver a coordinated IFM model supported by account leadership, national operational capability, technical expertise, and a centralized technology platform to ensure compliance, consistency, and clear governance.

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Churchill has been named as a supplier on the Government Commercial Agency’s (GCA) Facilities Management and Security Services framework (RM6378), specifically for Lot 3 (Soft Facilities Management).

Under Lot 3, Churchill will deliver cleaning, front-of-house, waste management, grounds maintenance, and hygiene and safety services. To secure this appointment, Churchill met mandatory service management criteria, including performance monitoring, quality management, social value delivery, carbon net zero initiatives, and workforce management.

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Sunbelt Rentals  announced a new partnership with Primary Engineer® as the London regional partner for the "If You Were an Engineer, What Would You Do?®" competition.

As part of this initiative, Sunbelt Rentals engineers and technicians will volunteer in schools to share their career journeys and demonstrate practical problem-solving. The partnership aligns with Sunbelt Rentals' 4.0 growth strategy, aiming to connect industry with education and inspire young people to pursue engineering careers.

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West Sussex manufacturer Forza Doors launched a recruitment drive to fill around 20 roles across various departments and levels, including continuous improvement, AI and automation, production operatives, technical and product development, sales, and estimating. Recruitment will remain a key focus through 2026 and into 2027 to meet ongoing high demand.

Based near Horsham, the UK’s manufacturer of bespoke timber fire doors and joinery has grown from 12 employees in 2010 to over 230 today, expanding its team by over 18% in the past two years and investing over £200,000 in staff training and qualifications.

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Congratulations to David English from Metric Office Furniture & Interiors on his nomination for Businessperson of the Year at the Surrey Business Awards 2026 and also to Sophie Forrest-Lavery from Forrest Group, who has been shortlisted as a finalist for Business Woman of the Year at the Kent Business Awards.

Good luck to you both!

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On 6th March 2027, Chris Thomas, Managing Director at JV Price Ltd, will be competing in Ironman New Zealand—a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle, and 26.2-mile run—to raise funds for the ME Association.

This cause is deeply personal to Chris. Ten years ago, just before their wedding, Chris and his wife were in a car accident. Since then, Victoria has lived with ME/CFS, which has had a devastating impact on her, their family, and their life together. At 43, Chris wants to be as fit, healthy, and strong as possible—not just for himself, but to be in the best position to look after Victoria.

Chris will be traveling to New Zealand on his own to take on the challenge. If you can donate, share, or simply help raise awareness of ME, he would be incredibly grateful for your support. You can support Chris through his JustGiving page.

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Join our CEO on 26th November for his exclusive Christmas Lunch event
for FM & Workplace professionals.

The Facilities & Workplace Networking Club, organised by ThisWeekinFM, hosts something for Christmas every year, from three course lunches to full-on Christmas Parties. Our CEO, Laurence Allen, always starts the seasonal celebrations early with a Christmas Lunch for a selection of Company Owners or Directors that are actively involved in the procurement of goods and services. This year the event is being opened up to a limited number of the Facilities & Workplace Networking Club members and non-members.

Thank you to our sponsors for their support: Headline Sponsor: Andwis Group; FM Category: Westbury FM

Other sponsoring opportunities are available. More details available here.

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30^th September 2026

Welcome to this week’s Grapevine, the place to get your bitesize FM updates in one place, in a handy five-minute read.

Got a story for us? Please send news stories & press releases to: newsdesk@twinfm.com

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Thank you for joining us, we’ll jump right in...

Cushman & Wakefield has appointed Arron Browne as Head of Flexible Offices London to strengthen its flexible workspace capabilities.

Browne joins from WeWork International, where he was Director of Business Development for EMEA and APAC. He brings extensive commercial real estate and flexible workspace experience, having held senior leadership roles in business development, operations, and asset management at Flux HQ, KAIZEN Asset Management Services, and a private family office.

In his new role, Browne will lead the Flexible Offices business, working with occupiers, landlords, and operators to deliver strategic flexible workspace solutions across the UK and expand the firm's offering.

Mark Wolverson has returned to Willmott Dixon as Director of Construction for the North East region.

Bringing over 16 years of industry experience—including 14 previous years with Willmott Dixon and his recent role as Operations Director for the North East at Wates—Mark will lead the delivery of a £58m portfolio spanning civic, defence, transport, and education projects currently on site.

Pareto has appointed Kira Hafner as Commercial Dire

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