Property developer Landsec is planning to build what it expects to be the UK’s first net zero carbon commercial building by going modular. All Construction News modular. The Forge, previously known as 105 Sumner St, is a 139,000 sq ft office development in Southwark, London SE1, behind the Tate Modern. Landsec is aiming for it […] All Construction News Data supplied by a fuel card supplier show the extent to which the construction industry is getting back to its pre-Covid normal working state. Customer data analysis by Allstar Business Solutions reveals that an estimated 43 million extra miles were travelled by construction business on the roads in June compared to May […] Hyperloop is being heralded as the first new form of public transportation in more than a century. Lisa Russell looks at whether Covid-19 might accelerate its adoption The global coronavirus pandemic has led to considerable debate about the future of today’s transport systems. Photographs in the news of crowds using buses, trains and planes jar […] Whether for HVAC, lighting, or BAS, smart options abound these days. Here’s how to narrow down your choices to makes sure you get what you need. By Edward Sullivan, Editor ENERGY EFFICIENCY It seems that every week brings the release of a new smart device or system for buildings. Often, the benefit of the new technology […] All Construction News Geotechnical contractor CAN, part of the RSK group of engineering businesses, has set up a business to serve the renewable energy sector. CAN Renewables isspecifically focussing on wind and solar energy clients. Parent company RSK, which acquired CAN in 2018, has worked on wind farms since the emergence of off- and onshore […] Another manufacturer of wearable tech is repurposing its products for the social distancing, one of Britain’s hottest markets right now. ProGlove, a German company that makes strap-on bar code scanners for warehouse workers, has modified its technology to create a social distancing sensor. ProGlove’s wearable barcode scanners are in the form of a unit the […] Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has announced changes to the planning system to help support ‘safe’ construction. All Construction News These include allowing developers to agree more flexible construction site working hours with their local council. The aim of this is to make it easier to follow public health guidance onsite and stagger builders’ arrival times, […] All Construction News The UK government has announced another three weeks of the coronavirus lockdown but more and more construction companies are deciding that they have been sitting around long enough and it is time to get back to work, albeit cautiously. Most of the major contractors appear to be now back at work on […] The Ministry of Housing has confirmed that sprinkler systems are to be mandatory in all new high-rise blocks of flats over 11 metres tall. An update to Approved Document B is to be published in May that will include increased fire safety measures in high-rise blocks of flats. The measure is part of a package, […] By Greg Zimmerman Though certainly energy efficiency is far from top-of-mind for most facility managers these days, there are still some important steps FMs should take to ensure that even empty facilities aren’t wasting electricity. These measures go way beyond just making sure telecommuting employees have turned their computers off or that lights are off. The Institute […]
Benefits Outsourcing Facilities Management Services by Companies
Many organizations – across a very broad range of sectors – have decided that outsourcing their facilities management (FM) services makes sound, strategic sense. It allows them to maintain maximum focus on their core business, and removes the headaches, not to mention the staff requirements, of managing their own facilities.
The efficiencies from outsourcing can apply to operations from a retail outlet or shopping Centre to a commercial building or manufacturing facility. By selecting the right provider, the outsourcing organization can benefit from a greater focus on managing their core business rather than having to manage their building infrastructure.
There’s also the cost saving involved – not just on labor, but also on specialist cleaning or maintenance equipment. Specialist service providers can not only rationalize staff, but also give you access to leading edge technologies and state-of-the-art machinery for grounds maintenance, cleaning, security, mechanical and electrical services, waste disposal, etc.
A further profit is that, by outsourcing to a properly vetted specialist, you’ll be able to be assured that your service supplier is skilled in attracting and retentive the most effective qualified service personnel, applying business best follow, adopting the newest service enhancements associate degreed making certain compliance with a progressively advanced restrictive setting. If you select to try to to it yourself, however, you may ought to portion enough management time and resources to require care of all of those parts.
THE MULTIPLE FORMS OF OUTSOURCING AVAILABLE TO YOU
You can make a choice from variety of outsourcing models for facilities management services – every with their own distinctive plus-points. the choices receptive you embrace ‘single service outsourcing’, wherever a specialist contractor delivers only 1 service, like cleanup or grounds maintenance, as an example.
But if you’d wish to bundle complementary services like cleanup and security, that can also be simply organized. you’ll be able to prefer to bundle any variety of services that you just want. Some organizations are even choosing ‘total facilities management’, which implies that one supplier provides all of your facilities management services.
WHAT IS RESEARCH TELLING US?
Grosvenor Services commissioned independent research on this issue and the results indicate that, when faced with outsourcing facilities management services, some 65% of managers feel it is important to have a single organization managing all the different elements of service provision. The research suggests that there is a trend towards a ‘total FM’ model.
As to why the trend is gathering pace, some of the reasons include:
dealing with a single point of contact
simpler invoicing and administration
saving time on contract management, with associated cost reductions
With many FM managers struggling to keep on top of multiple service providers, it’s self-apparent that the more streamlined a company’s facility services can be, the greater the operational efficiencies and the cost-savings.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING
Another critically important benefit of the total FM model relates to reporting. The overall contract management process can be streamlined enormously, and online access and automatic tracking of key performance indicators is simplified to a huge degree. The net effect is that the client enjoys greater control, and can easily review the performance of all FM services.
NOT EVERYONE IS OPTING FOR TOTAL FM
All of this can be to not say that there aren’t still some fans of single service outsourcing. a number of these cite considerations around a potential lack of specialist employees, the danger of ‘putting all their eggs within the one basket’ and therefore the potential for multiplied prices.
Over the approaching years, the trend to total FM could nonetheless flip full circle, with a pull back to thus referred to as ‘best of breed’ single service suppliers.
SO WHICH MODEL IS BEST FOR YOU?
Regardless of what the analysis could say, it’s not possible to allow a definitive answer which will work for all shoppers. Instead, it’s terribly undoubtedly a case of distinctive what’s right for your organization, supported your company’s distinctive strategic necessities. whether or not you decide on one supplier or multiple suppliers, the key purpose is that you simply ought to receive the very best levels of support and commitment. Everything ought to be meshed towards creating your life easier.
According to our research findings, areas for improvement which providers need to consider, include:
Consistently maintaining agreed standards: FM managers need consistent delivery of the service level that has been agreed on paper.
The knowledge and ability of staff: They want staff to understand the nuances and the complexities of their business.
Easier access to management: FM managers don’t want to have to contact several different people to find the person who can help with an issue. They need a single point of contact – and easier access to higher level management.
Provision of electronic data entry and real-time reports: FM managers want to limit the amount of physical paper flow, and also need real-time reports to help them make informed decisions.