As a B2B PR specialist agency, we work for clients in sectors as diverse as law, care, technology, data and food. It’s our understanding and knowledge across multiple B2B sectors that often attract clients to us in the first place. And once we’re part of their team, we continue to develop our knowledge and insights in their sectors. This means we “know an awful lot about an awful lot of industries,” as one of my legal clients (when discussing HR regulations) once mentioned.
It got me thinking about how we could impart some of that knowledge to those in specific sectors in case it helps them as they navigate the current climate. So in no particular order (and of no particular interest if you’re not in this sector), here’s what’s happening in the facilities management sector right now.
The C word
It goes without saying that the pandemic has touched pretty much every sector and that includes FM. With offices closing down in the spring and again in November, facilities managers have had to become adept at remote diagnostics, fixing and management. With often a mere skeleton staff on-site to manage changes or fixes, FM has found themselves deploying masterful communications and negotiation techniques to get problems resolved. And let’s not forget the 100s of new home offices that FM have found themselves supporting while making the established premises infection free and Covid safe for returners.
Commuter management
One of the long term changes caused by the pandemic that’s likely to stick is commuter management – which is widely expected to fall under FM’s remit. Employees are changing their view on the humble commute and looking for safe and reliable transport to return to the office. This makes it an employer issue. In a recent report from ParkOffice.io it argued that companies with high headcounts will need to consider the potential increased demand for parking and e-bikes as employees avoid public transport, while understanding the challenges faced by micro-mobility operators that employees use to complete journeys.
The B word
We can’t not mention Brexit! As I write we’re a month away from the transition phase coming to an end. While there haven’t been any finalised plans announced yet, there are some knowns that businesses need to address. The Home Office’s announcement in February 2020 of a new points-based immigration system could potentially impact FM’s management of cleaning and security personnel. Research from The Labour Force Survey 2019 shows that, in London, 62% of cleaning staff are born overseas. The new immigration system has the potential to create a severe shortage of staff in these key FM positions.
Net carbon zero
As the UK continues its journey towards its net carbon zero targets in 2050, the pressure is growing on companies to deliver against their own KPIs and the workplace is the best place to start. According to the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, every 1,000sq-ft of office space occupied has the equivalent of a 91 tonnes CO2 p/a carbon footprint. If just 2.4m tonnes of CO2 was saved annually by businesses that would represent nearly 25% of the government’s carbon capture target. There’s lots of advice around on how to start on a net carbon journey, start by looking here, here and here.
The ‘Carillion Effect’
The collapse of Carillion undoubtedly shook many organisations’ confidence over their FM providers’ longevity and ability to deliver. While there were specific reasons for Carillion’s failure, the event has led to organisations seeking more outcome-based approaches to FM. It’s becoming less about ‘what jobs can we outsource to FM providers?’ and more about ‘what value can our FM partner provide?’. The result of this is pressure on outsourcers to work to outcome-based contracts and remuneration.
While it’s clear that FM is not immune to the broader changes occurring across all industries, there are opportunities as well. Those operating in the FM sector, whether in-house or an as a provider of an outsourced service, will need to consider the impact that recent events are having but measure these against the broader changes that have happened across the sector over the past five years. These macro level adjustments, such as delivering greater value to the business, will help to support success during the rapidly fluctuating micro level impacts that we’ve witnessed during this past year.
PRIVACY POLICY
This privacy policy sets out how Skout uses and protects any information that you give to us when you use this website.
Skout is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.
Skout may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 10th April, 2018.
What we collect
We may collect the following information:
- name and job title
- contact information including email address
- demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests
What we do with the information we gather
We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons:
- Internal record keeping.
- We may use the information to improve or adapt our products and services.
- We may periodically send you promotional emails about new products, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided.
- From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you by email or phone.
Security
We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent un-authorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.
How we use cookies
A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer’s hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.
We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about webpage traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.
Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.
You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.
Links to other websites
Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.
Controlling your personal information
You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:
- if you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us at info@www.skoutpr.com
We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so.
You may request details of personal information which we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 1998. If you would like a copy of the information held on you please write to Skout PR, 11 Marketplace, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 1EB.
If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible at the above address. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.