The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) defines Facilities Management (FM) as:
‘The integration of processes within an organisation to maintain and develop the agreed services which support and improve the effectiveness of the client’s primary activities.’
FM can also be defined as the provision of services that support a client’s wider business activities, and allow that client to concentrate on its core competencies.
For example, as a company grows, expanding its operations from a small, single site firm into a multi-site, multi-disciplinary organisation, the needs of its employees, customers and building users will naturally change. These requirements – for example, for adequate, safe and comfortable office space, or reception teams, security or regular cleaning, can quickly become a major issue for a growing organisation.
Companies start to address this issue by engaging with suppliers of the services they need – a cleaning company, a security provider, a recruitment agency and a waste management provider for example. As the complexity and cost of their requirement grows to match their business’ expansion, however, maintaining these relationships – not to mention legislative
compliance and safety – becomes a significant drain on existing teams, as well as a source of often unpredictable costs.
A solution to this issue is to outsource the support functions to a single provider, who can create cost-certainty over a number of years, a single-point of contact for the client organisation, and can guarantee that the client’s estate is managed in the correct manner.
FM Providers:
FM providers bring high levels of expertise to areas of a company’s operations that they may not necessarily possess as part of their in-house teams. Providers of FM services can deliver facilities services and energy solutions that support Customers’ activities, drive cost savings, environmental compliance and operational efficiencies from their businesses. FM providers enable client’s teams to concentrate on their business activities and commit to adding value and innovation to their operations.
Larger FM companies manage and operate TFM functions and categories within hard and soft FM, either separately or as a bundled service package. Within the hard FM sphere they can offer the full scope of mechanical and electrical maintenance, refurbishment and repair services, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, public health services, lifts, fire protection, lightning protection, power supplies and fabric.
Other areas in which a FM service provider could add value to your business include:
Hard Services
- Technical Services
- Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance
- Construction projects
- Maintenance and inspections
- Space management
- Porterage
Soft Services
- Supply of Energy
- Reception & concierge
- Housekeeping, janitorial, logistics & porterage
- Grounds maintenance & landscaping
- Helpdesk operation & management
- Cleaning services
- Catering
- Security & vehicle parking.
- Operation & maintenance
- Critical engineering
- Fabric maintenance
- Refrigeration & cooling
- Building systems management
- Automation & process systems
- Installation & projects
- Asset management
Energy Services:
Energy procurement, supply and generation are increasingly pivotal to organisations given the importance of a sustainable, low-carbon energy solution. Leading FM providers can also offer energy procurement solutions and carbon-reduction strategies to transform the environmental performance of your estate, and can manage all aspects of Customers’ energy and sustainability needs from procurement onwards..
Energy service areas include:
- Energy consultancy
- Utility procurement & risk management
- Energy management
- Energy performance contracts / ESCOs
- Renewable & low carbon solutions
- Co-generation & tri-generation
- Utility asset management
- Energy networks & district energy.
Business Processes:
FM providers can also offer the following advantageous solutions:
- Transactional services
- Information technology
- Customer contact centres
- Mailroom & digitisation
- Human resources & payroll
- Regeneration & planning
- Architectural design
- Supply chain management.
Written by: Shatrughna Sonar, Recruitment & Talent Sourcing Specialist/Facilities Management