EFM Blogs

As a busy Facilities Management professional you don’t always have time to check what is happening in the world of FM and Maintenance. Here is a roundup of the hot topics that the FM and Maintenance community are talking about. It’s definitely been a busy month in the world of Facilities Management. Below is a quick round-up of the hottest topics that Facilities Management and Building Services Professionals like you (and my team) have been talking about this month. Joanne Crampton, Head of Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance 10 Ways Engineers and Their Managers Can Maintain a Great Work-Life Balance Are you struggling to maintain a good work life balance? Working in the Facilities Management and Building Maintenance industry often comes with the expectation to work long hours to get those all-important deadlines and service level agreements completed. This article looks at ways you (and your Manager!) can make sure that you reduce your stress levels both at work and home by setting realistic boundaries and whilst this focus on engineers it is easily applied to those working in Soft Services and Support roles too! To read the 10 ways Engineers and their Managers can maintain a great work life balance click here. Why Are so Many Companies Struggling to Hire Engineers? We all know there is a skills shortage across the board in the Facilities Management and Building Maintenance. My team and I set out to discuss this with the companies at the leading edge of the Facilities Management and Building Maintenance industries in the UK, and talked to the Hiring Managers to get their opinions on what has caused this skills shortage. You can read about what other industry professionals (like you) thought by clicking here 8 Things That Brexit May Mean for FM Whether you like it or not, you can’t ignore the fact that Brexit will have an impact one way or another on all aspects of our lives, and that includes the Facilities Management and Maintenance industry in the UK. This article was written back in 2016 and still applies now as the looming uncertainty continues – depending on whom you work for (a major corporation in London or an SME in the Midlands for example), there are some good indications here of what Brexit could mean for your employer. Here at Thorn Baker EFM, we work with businesses who struggle to hire every day, understanding what a business needs is what makes us great at what we do. If you'd like to discuss your current recruitment needs you can contact the team here Want the latest Facilities and Maintenance industry news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here​

I know that as a busy Facilities Management or maintenance professional your maintenance and repair team needs the very best support from its helpdesk operators and office support staff – and that’s where we come in! Joanne Crampton, Head of Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance The beating heart of every facilities and maintenance operation is the Helpdesk and Office support staff that ensure the contracts and SLA’s are fulfilled and the clients are kept well informed and happy. We know how important it is to get the right people in these seats – you can be sure you’re in good hands when you work with us. The Facilities Management and Maintenance providers that we work with say they trust us to find the best Helpdesk & Support candidates because of our specialist industry knowledge, our in-depth interviewing and vetting and our ability to provide candidates to interview within the specified timescales. Introducing your specialist Helpdesk Operator & Office Support Recruiter Sophie Butcher is your Thorn Baker EFM specialist Helpdesk & Support Recruiter and is your go-to recruiter for the following roles: Helpdesk operators. PPM schedulers. Reactive helpdesk operators. Contract coordinators. Accounts/invoicing administrators. Contract compliance administrators. Helpdesk supervisor/manager. Technical support operator. Facilities administrator. Facilities assistant/reception staff. Post room operative. Reprographics assistant. Read more about Sophie here… ‘I have a wealth of experience in office support and commercial roles, and I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in! I spent the last seven years in the motor trade and investments, so recruitment was the logical next challenge for me. I cover all office based and support roles across the UK so no two days will ever be the same. My favourite part of the job is definitely the diversity of everyone that I speak to on a day to day basis... I love a good story or two. I love being out and about, trying new things (mainly food). I am also a massive Marvel and Harry Potter geek; some may even go as far as to call me a recruitment wizard…’ At Thorn Baker EFM we’re absolutely committed to finding our clients the very best Helpdesk Operatives. We work with businesses who struggle to hire every day, understanding what a business needs from their support team is what makes us great at what we do. If you'd like to discuss your current Helpdesk & Support recruitment needs with Sophie you can contact her via email: sophieb@thornbaker.co.uk or you can give her a call: 0844 406 0086 Want the latest Facilities and Maintenance industry news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here

We’re delighted to have been awarded a three-star accreditation by Best Companies recognising our extraordinary levels of staff engagement. This is the highest level of accreditation that can be achieved and is the outcome of staff surveys that saw over 85% of our staff complete. Paul Jackman, Thorn Baker Group Chief Executive Officer I’m delighted to be able to share the news that we’ve been awarded the highest possible accreditation with Best Companies which demonstrates that our people have ‘Extraordinary’ levels of engagement within our business. What makes the award especially pleasing is that when our staff filled the survey it was towards the end of the largest programme of change that we’ve ever undertaken. The result is 100% derived from these staff surveys and builds on our 2-star rating from the previous year. So what does this mean? To give you some context with the Best Companies methodology and structure, the scoring covers 8 key areas which are Leadership, My Company, My Manager, Personal Growth, My Team, Wellbeing, Fair Deal and Giving Something Back. We improved our scores in 7 out of 8 areas. So what have we actually done that allows me to boldly say ‘the largest programme of change ever undertaken’ – here’s just a sample of what we’ve achieved in the last 12 months. Evolved to become one Group with three distinct Brands, Thorn Baker Construction, Thorn Baker Industrial Recruitment and Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance. It’s been a big structural and mental shift from what was previously Thorn Baker Recruitment with separate Divisions. Re-branded using the fantastic team at Yellowstep to support the evolution Launched four new websites thanks to Volcanic and their marvellous tech We also squeezed in our 30th anniversary in July with a week-long celebration that involved lots of cake, and more cake, and beer and more beer. Launched new core values – Positive-minded, Solution-Focused and People-Driven Changed how we run our company – our Operating System, by adopting Traction. This really is the closest you can get to a secret sauce for a complex UK wide recruitment firm and until now I didn’t want any competitors to know how this can transform your business, it’s the best takeaway anyone business owner will get from this blog. Making a plan for the future The planning for 2018 goes further back, to roughly May 2017, and we can pinpoint our Annual Managers meeting when Kevin Green made a guest speaker appearance with impact – it really got us thinking about moving to this new structure and realigning what we do. Not everything went to plan – It was particularly painful to have to close a branch in Manchester. Our High Flyers trip to Milan in June 2018 didn’t take off thanks to the Italian air traffic control strike, so we rearranged for September and all was good. As for GDPR, what joy; thanks to our Chairman John Robinson for the diligent project management and training that keeps us (and our clients and candidates) incredibly compliant. So back to engagement, If you’re still reading you’re possibly wondering if a more engaged workforce has actually increased sales? Increased the bottom line? It’s a big tick in the box for both. With the same headcount as the previous year, our sales are up around 10%, GP up around 8% and this is starting to wash through on the bottom line. Our Brands are at your service… Fundamentally I believe if our people are happy in their work then our clients and candidates directly feel the benefit. Engagement without capability isn’t much use, and our capability led to the adoption of the ‘know-how you need’ to help better communicate our offering in an incredibly competitive sector. If you’re interested in working for us then please contact Matthew Dann (Thorn Baker Industrial Recruitment) Rob Ford (Thorn Baker Construction) or Joanne Crampton (Thorn Baker Estates Facilities & Maintenance) Want the latest Facilities and Maintenance industry news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here

As a Facilities Management professional, Building Services business owner, Operations and Managing Director who can’t hire enough qualified engineers quickly enough to deliver your service level agreements (SLAs) you will find this blog useful. It will help you see why the people we have surveyed think there is a skills shortage issue, and a list of solutions that can help you in both the short and long term. Joanne Crampton, Head of Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance A skills shortage within Facilities, HVAC, Electrical and Property Maintenance is a topic at the very heart of the facilities management and building services maintenance industry. Taking an outside view you could see many reasons as to why the industry is facing such a shortage of Hard Services Engineers. There’s been no end of speculation and debate across the sector as to what is causing the shortage – looking at it from a recruitment agency point of view, our aim is often less of the “Why is there a shortage of Engineers?” and more of the “How do we help solve the Engineer shortage problem?” My team and I have spent the last four weeks surveying the opinion of those at the forefront of the FM industry staffing problems – the Maintenance and Facilities Contracts Managers who are directly responsible for recruiting and managing maintenance engineers. Expecting the responses to be a lot more about Brexit and millennial attitudes, the answers and opinions I received were pretty surprising. What do Facilities Management and Building Services professionals think is causing the skills shortage? “Whilst they might be great joiners and carpenters, taking a 6 week electrical install course doesn’t make them an electrician.” Chris Atkinson, the Mechanical and Electrical Manager for Prime Repair & Maintenance (part of Acis Group) is just one of the hiring managers we spoke to who pinned it down to the rise in ‘short course’ availability, with too many tradesmen being encouraged to do an intense short training course to bring their electrical skills up to 17th edition standards, without going through the rigours of a full apprenticeship. Does the Facilities and Building Maintenance Industry Have the Same Pull These Days? “People no longer find it as appealing to do a trade and work with their hands.” Like Richard Birtwhistle, Contract Manager at Servest Arthur McKay, many others we spoke to feel that the pull of the Facilities and Building Maintenance industry just isn’t what it used to be. Whilst they agree that the number of people taking up apprentices has fallen overall in the last 20-30 years, there are more fashionable and appealing options for apprentices these days. The trend towards studying academic courses at University has been well documented and discussed, and not just in the Hard Services industry. Are Training Courses Readily Available for Hard Services Engineers? “Within refrigeration there is a huge lack of training colleges, so if you’re not local to a college there’s not likely to be any engineers in the area.” Andy Holmes, Service Delivery Manager for LH plc, a specialist Refrigeration company in London, feels it can be a bit of a postcode lottery for some trades, with a lack of support for those wanting to train to be a refrigeration engineer. When we looked to find a refrigeration training course in Cambridge for example, the only obvious example was a distance learning course. This poses a hiring headache for those of you trying to support your facilities clients based in these low-density training areas, unless they are lucky enough to find an engineer to relocate or travel extended distances to site. Download our full infographic below: Thorn Baker EFM Hard Services Skills Shortage Survey Infographic.png Size: 506 KB Could Brexit Affect The Hard Services Skills Shortage? What really surprised me was the lack of comments about the effect of Brexit. Whilst most agreed that their workforce has become increasingly multi-cultural and international over the last 20 years or so, since the Yes vote there has not been the mass exodus of engineers that some feared, and has been reported in the national press about skills shortages post Brexit. Less than 8% of the Facilities, HVAC, Electrical and Property Maintenance professionals we spoke to believed that Brexit was adding significantly to the skills shortage, and maintain that this is a problem long in the making rather than a knee jerk reaction to the referendum. What Next for Busy Facilities Management Business Owners and Maintenance Operations Managers? One thing is clear from the conversations I’ve had with my facilities and maintenance contacts in the Hard Services industry; the industry needs to make itself more attractive, and it’s not just about putting a few more pounds on the hourly pay rate of a Commercial Gas Engineer. To attract the next generation of Hard Service Engineers, there needs to be an image overhaul within the Hard Services industry – IWFM (previously known as BIFM) has already recognised this and have gone through a name change and re-brand exercise. Now it’s time for the Industry leaders to follow suit. As a result of this survey we’ve identified a few things that everyone can do to help with their recruitment in both the long and short term: Short-Term Solutions for the Hard Services Skills Shortage : When you are advertising a job vacancy focus on why working for your company is great: the support, flexibility, improved technology, training budget etc. Whatever it is you are doing really well – shout about it! Spend some money on your recruitment – whether that is with agencies like us, advertising, specialist job boards, sponsored Facebook adverts or an internal refer a friend scheme etc. A free advert on Indeed is not going to get you the Engineers you want. Working with an agency? Make sure they are promoting your business (not just the job). At Thorn Baker EFM we’re focusing more and more on what Engineers are looking for – so if you want your agency to promote you to their Candidate base, give them the information they need to do so. Remember that Candidates are now in control – they have choices. If you want to hire the best, you’re going to have to treat them with respect, flexibility and sensible job offers. Long-Term Solutions for the Hard Services Skills Shortage: Talk to Colleges and Schools close to your office locations. If they know that there is demand for Engineers there is a greater chance of them offering the courses. Promote the positive image of our Industry to the next generation of Engineers on Social Media – make the most of Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram - talk about why being an Engineer is such a great career. Invest in training. There’s a wealth of excellent Candidates out there with the right attitude and the wrong qualifications. At Thorn Baker EFM we’re absolutely committed to improving the recruitment process for Hard Services Engineers – understanding where the problems lie helps us to be better recruiters. We work with businesses who struggle to hire Hard Service and Maintenance Engineers every day. Contact the EFM team today Want the latest Facilities and Maintenance industry news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here

I know that as a busy facilities management professional you don’t always have time to check what is happening in the world of FM on LinkedIn and Twitter. Hence why our FM network values our quick round-up of FM News. A lot has been happening over the last month in the world of Facilities Management. Below is a quick round-up of the hottest topics that Facilities Management and Building Services Professionals like you (and my team) have been talking about this month. Joanne Crampton, Head of Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance 1. Peter Booth kicked off his fantastic initiative #noVANber click here to watch the video. The loss of a van and/or tools can severely impact on a tradesperson – if you haven’t read about the petition that is calling for an investigation into what more can be done to tackle van theft and van tool theft you can read about the petition by clicking here. 2. DMA Group Managing Director Steve McGregor celebrated the hire of Paul Dudley to lead their sales team in Solutions Development. As specialist Facilities Management and Building Services recruiters we know how great it is when you find the very best person for your team. I’d like to wish Paul the very best of luck in his new position. 3. Just about everyone in Yorkshire (myself included!) is chuffed with Channel 4’s choice of Leeds for their new National HQ. This is fantastic news for the city which came out ahead of Manchester and Birmingham in the selection process, it will create 300 new jobs by 2023. 4. David Woodford at Spie Facilities showcased their latest raft of apprentices and the importance of future proofing, training and mentoring. The Hard Services Skills Shortage is a huge topic for our industry. We recently surveyed Facilities Management and Building Services professionals to find out what they thought were the causes of the Hard Services skills shortage. 5. Jeff Dewing, CEO of Cloudfm Group went on the road with some of his Engineers and got back to maintenance basics. Jeff was getting stuck in and helping to reduce waste in breakdowns across their clients’ sites. 6. And finally, Sonia Sotoudeh showed that Integral Birmingham can put the Bake Off contestants to shame with her fantastic cakes in aid of Alzheimer’s Society. We received some fantastic feedback on last month’s #FMBuzz – be sure to read about Cloud FM’s 12 new apprentices and one of the funniest installation fails we have seen in a while here. Want the latest Facilities Management and Maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

Well, the last few weeks have certainly been busy in the #facman community! We've rounded up for you below some of the hot Facilities Management topics that you have been talking about, and a few that have been a discussion in our office. 1. Kath Fontana, Managing Director of ISS Technical Services: Championing the new professional statement on procurement in FM by RICS. 2. Andrew Morris from FM Voice reports on the new exec board for Atalian Servest UK. 3. Laurence Allen from TWinFM reports on the comings and goings of Mitie’s pests and security businesses. 4. Jeff Dewing, Chief Exec of Cloud FM celebrates meeting his 12 new apprentices and their collaboration with Essex County Cricket Club. 5. Looks like the ladies and gents at Jaguar Building Services Ltd had a smashing end of Summer boat party. 6. And last but not least, one of the funniest installation fails we’ve seen for a while... Don't forget to read our round-up of The Best Facilities Management Events in 2018 You Can Still Attend. ​Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

The year may be past the halfway point, but there’s still time to catch some of the best Facility Management events in 2018. These events bring together professionals and experts in the field and aim to foster the sharing of experiences in various networking moments. Check out below our the list of events that you still can attend and you certainly will not want to miss. 1. UK Construction Week: 9th - 11th October 2018 UK Construction Week (UKCW) is the UK’s largest built environment event; bringing together 35,000 construction professionals and 650+ exhibitors at the NEC Birmingham. Free to attend and consists of nine shows: Timber Expo, Build Show, Civils Expo, Plant & Machinery Live, Energy 2018, Building Tech Live, Surface & Materials Show, HVAC 2018 and Grand Designs Live. Showcasing innovation from all sectors, and making it easier for any professional to update their CPD, get inspired by amazing people and projects, and walk away with practical information on new technologies, systems, products and collaborations from around the world that would otherwise take months to research. 2. BIFM Awards Ceremony 2018: 15th - 16th October The BIFM Awards recognise and showcase best-in-class facilities management (FM) and evidence its impact on business, the economy and society. As the industry-leading Awards, the BIFM Awards seek out the gold standard across FM and beyond. Entries come from a cross-section of organisations regardless of size, type and sector from all across the world. This means that being a finalist, or a winner, is a true achievement and testament to the great work carried out by the individual, team, project, collaboration or organisation. 3. Digital Construction Week - Partner Event: 17th - 18th October 2018 Digital Construction Week is an event series in the UK, which is dedicated to innovation and technology in the built environment. The event series features a two-day exhibition with interactive, hands-on demonstrations, free to attend seminars, workshops and classes. networking events, and a full two-day thought leadership conference programme. 4. Smart Buildings: 7th - 8th November 2018 The Smart Buildings Show will cover all key aspects of creating and managing a smart building, including; Building automation systems, energy efficiency, lighting and controls, security, HVAC, smart meters and monitoring, networks and wireless, software, services and support, building automation and design, building energy management, regulations and consultancy. 5. University & Healthcare Estates and Innovation 2018: 27th - 28th November 2018​ UHEI is a unique event which covers facilities & estate managers across 2 sectors Higher Education and the NHS and is the only national conference and exhibition to bring these two sectors together under one roof which includes everything from design, build and maintaining Higher Education and NHS facilities. 6. International Security Expo (ISE): 28th - 29th November 2018 International Security Expo (ISE) provides a unique platform for the entire security industry to come together to source products, share experience and gain the knowledge needed to address current and emerging security challenges. Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

Here at Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance, we are supporting Gas Safety Week: 17th-23rd September 2018. The eighth annual Gas Safety Week sees organisations from across the UK working together to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. This year, Gas Safety Week is addressing a whole range of gas safety matters throughout the week, from tackling illegal gas work to reminding people to avoid DIY when it comes to gas appliances and instead leave it the experts – registered engineers who are legally qualified to make sure your appliances are working safely and efficiently. Jonathan Samuel, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, said: “It’s great to see so many people supporting Gas Safety Week this year to help spread important and, in some cases, lifesaving advice about gas safety. It’s so vital that we help people to know not to cut corners with gas and always ask a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer to work on gas appliances at their home to stay gas safe.” Keep up-to-date with Gas Safe Register’s updates and advice throughout Gas Safety Week by following them on social media (@GasSafeRegister) and search #GSW18. To keep you and your family safe, follow Gas Safe Register’s top tips: Know the symptoms of CO poisoning; headaches, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, dizziness and loss of consciousness. If you smell gas or think there might be a gas leak, call the free 24-hour national gas emergency number immediately on 0800 111 999. Never attempt to work on a gas appliance yourself, always seek the help of a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer who can work on your gas cooker, boiler or fire in a safe way. ‘Don’t cut corners’ and always ask to see your engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. Make sure you check the back of the card, which will state which gas appliances they are qualified to work on. Only employ a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer when having gas work carried out in your home. Gas Safe Register is the official register for legally qualified engineers. You can find a registered engineer in your area by visiting the Gas Safe Register website at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or by calling on 0800 408 5500. Do you need Engineers? Or maybe you're looking to change contracts... Experts within their field, our Consultants have the know-how to match companies with the Engineers, and Engineers to great companies. Whether your site is static, mobile, or critical, we’ll find the candidates who’ll fit right into your working environment and interact well with your existing team. Contact your specialist Consultant today on 0844 406 0086 or by email efm@thornbaker.co.uk Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

Welcome to Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance: Andrew McCafferty Andy joins our growing team as your specialist Estates and Property Consultant, with a wealth of previous experience (in another life, he was a Facilities Manager!) we're sure he'll have no problem helping you with all progressing in your career. A specialist in identifying quality candidates across the Facilities and Property sectors, he’ll work with you to understand exactly what and who you’re looking for. We asked him some questions to help you get to know him better: Why did you choose Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance? ''Having worked as a Facilities Manager and within Education Recruitment previously, joining Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance was a perfect fit for me.'' What were you doing before? ''Prior to working in Recruitment, I was a Facilities Manager for a specialist Fit-out Construction company which gave me great insight and wealth of knowledge of how things work in the facilities world. I'm focused on resourcing and placing facilities professionals on a permanent basis, specialising in internal facilities functions and public sector establishments.'' What do you get a kick out of the most in your job? ''The greatest thing about my job is that I am helping people into their dream career and finding companies fantastic new employees to enhance their business.'' What do you get up to outside of work? ''I have a deep passion for sports - all kinds. Most Saturdays I frequent the local rugby/football clubs in the winter and cricket clubs in the summer. Nothing better than watching great sport with a glass of something possibly alcoholic in my hand.'' If you'd like to discuss your current Estates and Property recruitment needs with Andy you can contact him via email: andym@thornbaker.co.uk or you can give him a call: 0844 406 0086​ ​​​Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

Approximately one in three companies (32 per cent) believe that business use of artificial intelligence (AI) will be commonplace within the next decade, according to research from TomTom Telematics. Its study found that 22 per cent believe that virtual reality will be in wide use, while around one in five anticipates the prevalence of in-vehicle working owing to the development of autonomous vehicles. But almost a third of companies (32 per cent) fear they may struggle to keep pace with the rate of technological change. Are you, as a business, already thinking about technology in your future plans? Moreover, about one in two (49 per cent) believe those that fail to embrace digitalised processes and the Internet of Things are at greater risk of going out of business. Beverley Wise, director UK & Ireland at TomTom Telematics, said: “Companies should be mindful of the pace of change and keep a close eye on the solutions and processes that will help ensure a competitive future – from smart mobility and connected tech to advanced manufacturing and design systems. Many of today’s new emerging technologies will disrupt and revolutionise commerce, and in the process become the standard for tomorrow.” Almost half of companies (46 per cent) believe that remote working has or will become the norm within the next 10 years. Remote working is currently proving more prevalent among larger companies (58 per cent) than their SME counterparts (37 per cent). Wise added: “The onus is on businesses, both large and small, to adapt to this new era of hypermobility and connected working that is being ushered in by advancements in areas ranging from telematics and the connected car to iPaaS and blockchain solutions.”​ Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

A recent article by The Telegraph has discussed how businesses are being urged to take more notice of older staff as a growing number of EU jobseekers steer clear of UK-based roles in the wake of Brexit. Millions of over-50s feel unsupported by their employer despite rising living costs and insufficient pension savings meaning they plan to retire later than once hoped, research shows. Have you been thinking ahead for your future recruitment plans, how could this affect your business? The study, conducted by Aviva, found over 6m over-50s currently in work planned to retire later than they thought they would a decade ago, but more than two-fifths felt that their career ambitions were not being taken ­seriously. In comparison, just 25pc of those aged between 25 and 35 said they felt the same way. “Employers risk creating a disheartened and discouraged over-50s workforce,” the insurer said. “With a third of the UK workforce set to be aged 50-plus by 2020, businesses are being urged to increase their commitment to older employees.” The findings coincide with a report from the CIPD, which found that employers faced a “supply shock” of staff as significantly fewer EU nationals came to Britain looking for work. According to its latest quarterly report, just 7,000 EU-born workers came to the UK between the first quarter of 2017 and 2018 compared to 148,000 the year before, representing a fall of 95pc. “There has been a significant slowdown in the number of EU nationals coming to work in the UK over the past year. This is feeding into increasing recruitment and retention challenges, particularly for employers in sectors that have historically relied on non-UK labour to fill roles,” said Gerwyn Davies, a CIPD analyst. The research, based on responses from over 2,000 employers, said 40pc of those surveyed were finding it more difficult to fill vacancies compared to a year ago due to a combination of fewer and less suitable candidates. The Government is already fighting to close the country’s widening skills gap by urging firms to fill jobs with more older workers and tackle ageism. Co-op, Boots, Barclays and Aviva are among the businesses which last year promised to increase the number of over-50s they employed by 12pc before 2022. However, Aviva’s research suggests progress has been slow in terms of the support UK companies are offering the older generation. The ability to work flexitime has only increased by 2pc since 2012, for example. “Our findings suggest that older employees have a lot to offer at work, despite the challenges they face around workplace support. To make the most of this, employers need to provide rounded support for this generation where their well-being and work-related needs are considered alongside the financial challenge of saving for retirement,” said Lindsey Rix, Aviva’s savings and retirement director. ​Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

The FMJ reported earlier this month about how Cleaners at the Ministry of Justice and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea were planning to strike for the first time over low pay and unfair working conditions. The strikes affected Kensington and Chelsea Town Halls, which took place on Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th of August and at several Health Care America locations at the end of August. Have you prepared for potential strikes in your business? The workers, who are mostly Portuguese and Spanish speaking Latin Americans and Africans from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome & Principe are members of the United Voices of the World (UVW) trade union. Currently, workers involved in all three disputes share three common grievances and have three common demands: An occupational sick pay scheme as currently workers rely on Statutory Sick Pay. SSP is unpaid for the first three days of illness. Thereafter workers will receive just £18 per day from the fourth day of sickness onwards. This means workers are being forced to come to work when sick in order to meet their living costs. Parity of terms and conditions with directly employed staff in terms of holiday entitlements, hours and overtime pay. A two-tier workforce leads to undercutting, a race to the bottom and exploitation say UVW. Payment of the London Living Wage with guaranteed annual increments. The London Living Wage is currently £10.20p/h – compared to the National Minimum Wage, which is £7.83p/h. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) cleaners work under the OCS contract at three MoJ sites including the Headquarters at Petit France. The strike ballot and vote there saw a 100% turn out and a 100% vote in favour of industrial action. UVW members employed by Compass for Health Care America (HCA) clean eight hospitals and care centres including The Shard, Guy’s Cancer Centre and Harley Street Clinic. HCA is the biggest private healthcare company in the world. Dave Wilson IFMA Fellow and a Director at Morphose commented; “When contractors are prepared to pay minimum wage and clients are prepared to let them, it’s no surprise we have had a race to the bottom on staff wages from outsourcing. This has to stop if we want good service and staff retention.” He added: “Since RICS launched its FM procurement guidance with an emphatic on ethical buying, I firmly believe that fair pay for staff is a critical issue for our industry. It is, in my view, as much of an issue as making sure that contractors don’t routinely underbid and then go bust.” Read the full article from The FMJ here Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

The latest REC/Markit Report on Jobs showed that permanent placement growth had softened to a nine-month low, while temp billings increased at a faster pace. In addition, it highlights that staff vacancies expanded at the quickest rate since last November, there was a decline in candidate availability but there was a rise in permanent staff appointments. Have your recruitment needs been affected by the candidate shortage? Permanent placements continued to rise sharply in July, though the rate of expansion was the softest recorded since last October. Temp billings also increased strongly, with the rate of growth picking up from June’s recent low. ...as supply of candidates continues to drop markedly Recruitment agencies indicated that candidate shortages weighed on permanent staff appointments. Notably, the supply of both permanent and temporary candidates fell sharply in July, despite rates of decline easing to the weakest in three months in both cases. Staff vacancies rise at quicker pace... Demand for staff strengthened further in July, with overall job vacancies expanding at the quickest rate for eight months. Growth was led by the private sector, with demand for both permanent and temporary workers continuing to rise at rates that comfortably outstripped those seen in the public sector. ..maintaining upward pressure on pay Low candidate availability and robust demand for staff led to a further steep increase in salaries awarded to permanent starters. At the same time, temp pay rates rose at a marked and accelerated rate that was close to April’s two-year record. Regional variation Permanent placements rose at faster rates in the Midlands and the South of England, but growth softened in the North of England. In contrast, permanent staff appointments fell slightly in London. Growth of temp billings was broad-based across the four monitored English regions during July, with the sharpest rate of increase seen in the North of England. Sector variation July data indicated that demand for staff continued to increase at a considerably stronger pace in the private sector than in the public sector. The strongest increase in staff vacancies was seen for permanent private sector workers, while the weakest rise was signalled for public sector permanent roles. IT & Computing was the most in-demand category for permanent staff in July. Nonetheless, steep increases in vacancies were also registered in the remaining nine job categories. The slowest rise in demand was reported for Retail workers. Temporary staff vacancies rose across all of the ten monitored job categories in July, with the sharpest increases seen across Blue Collar and Nursing/Medical/Care. The slowest, but still marked, rise in short-term roles was signalled for Executive/Professional. Sophie Wingfield, REC Head of Policy says: “The rise in interest rates for only the second time in a decade may leave some people feeling the pinch. But a new job is one way people can ease the burden on their finances. With our data showing starting salaries continuing to rise, the latest official government figures suggest that we are finally seeing the effects of a tighter labour market feed through to pay. “Following a period of turbulence and big name closures, the World Cup and heatwave had retailers enjoying a ‘summer bounce’ and basking in the sun with demand for temporary staff on the up with many businesses positively revising their hiring plans. Right now students on their summer break can make the most of these opportunities and cash-in while gaining valuable experience and new skills.” Paul Jackman, Thorn Baker Group CEO comments: “There’s nothing in this report that would come as a surprise to any forward-thinking business who are recruiting, it’s a basic supply and demand issue that’s exacerbated by the rate of change in some of the more advanced industries. If clients want to grow in the near future they’ve got a battle on two fronts. Firstly, retain your good people – and that’s not just about remuneration, they’ll need to be engaged, developed and treated well, with sufficient opportunities for progression; if you can’t retain them you’ll do well to maintain headcount. Secondly, when looking to expand your workforce you need to be able to communicate a compelling reason why someone should join you and be able to back it up with a substance that goes beyond even the most powerful brand. Our client’s benefit from what we call recruitment ‘Know-how’ – our ability to effectively give employers access to the type of individuals that will give them a competitive advantage if you’d like to discuss further contact your local team today.” ​Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

The Dragon Boat Challenge took place on Sunday 5th August 2018 and the Thorn Boaters were among the 50 crews battling it out over the 200m race course on the River Trent at the Victoria Embankment watched by thousands of spectators. Dragon boat racing is an ancient Chinese tradition and the fastest growing water activity in Britain today – as well as the most fun! We had 10 people paddling our 30’ boat with a drummer (Samie) at the front beating time and our helm at the tail steering a straight course. The day is always a popular event for our staff and this year was no exception, with lots of food (Aqsa our IT Systems manager has the best chicken recipe!) lots of sunshine and team building we might not have won but we definitely all had a fantastic day! Managing the day Gable Events joined with Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People for the 10th dragon boat challenge to be staged as part of the Nottingham Riverside Festival, this year we helped to raise over £11,000 which is amazing. Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People Rainbows is the only hospice in the East Midlands that provides vital care and support to children with life-limiting illnesses from across the region. They also look after the wider families – mums and dads, brothers, sisters and grandparents – because life-shortening illnesses affect everyone. The money raised will help allow these families to make the most of the time they have together, making precious happy memories they can treasure forever. Tom Stanyard, Corporate Partnership Fundraiser at Rainbows said; “The Dragon Boat Challenge is an amazing event. With up to 50 companies competing for a number of prizes the day has a great atmosphere. More amazing than the event however is what Rainbows is able to do with the fundraising support we receive from the crews taking part. With only a small amount of guaranteed funding, your support at events like this makes it possible for us to help and care for those families who need it most.”​ Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

FM World has summarised this week the chairman of BIFMs response to members voting at yesterday’s AGM in favour of a special resolution to become the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management. How did you vote, are you happy with the outcome? Stephen Roots told members that in voting for the new name, “you have also approved the direction we have set out for the next phase of our proud and progressive professional body”. “IWFM will be the professional body for the facilities and workplace profession – working to advance the profession representing those who contribute to workplace productivity and to operating and optimising our built environment.” The four-month long debate over the institute’s ‘Manifesto for Change’ proposals set in train a debate that, said Roots, “has been hugely informative and has engaged our members with our future direction in a way which is a first for us”. To receive special resolution approval, the vote in favour of the name change required three in every four votes – a figure it achieved. “To have achieved that must, I think, be regarded as a resounding endorsement for our new direction,” said Roots. To those who voted against the proposal, or otherwise expressed concerns about it, Roots said that the institute “is today and will remain in future, fundamentally the professional body for all facilities managers”. “What we will now do both in name and indeed is to reframe expectations of the FM role, adding to it without taking anything away – and that includes our Britishness. “We are changing our name, not our geographical focus, but we do acknowledge that many of our members, including those overseas, have broader outlooks and we will continue to work closely with them as we have done for many years. ”We have been preparing the ground for some time to strengthen our foundations and fit ourselves for a future of sustained development. Our plans to refresh our brand and systems are already in progress and now that you have decided, we will adopt our new name and our new look before the end of the year.”​ Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

The Facilities Management Journal has reported on the six months post the collapse of Carillion. New data obtained by the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has revealed that almost nine in 10 (89 per cent) local authorities are not monitoring if their supply chain is getting paid within 30 days for construction work. Are you seeing similar issues in your contracts? The freedom of information request also revealed almost half (49 per cent) of local authorities do not have, or don’t know whether they have, a built-in contractual requirement for 30-day payment. Almost one in five (18 per cent) councils also say they have no intention of building in contractual requirements for 30 day payment. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 state that 30 day payment down the supply chain is mandatory, and that public bodies should take steps to ensure this takes place. The FoI data therefore shows that many councils are not meeting their legal requirements. Alexi Ozioro, Public Affairs and Policy Manager at the BESA, commented: “There has been much talk of the payment culture change needed in the industry, and public bodies need to lead by example. The industrial strategy calls for a fairer payment system, the Chancellor has highlighted the need to tackle late payments and a Crown Commercial Services consultation even poses excluding bad payers from public contracts. We applaud the Government for engaging with the poor payment debate, but it is about time action matched words.” Rob Driscoll, Deputy Director of Business and Policy at ECA, commented:“Non-compliance by the public sector with the Public Contracts Regulations is unacceptable. This is especially significant given the cautionary tale of the collapse of Carillion – one of the key strategic suppliers to Government – which ultimately had a wider impact on SMEs. If Government purports to support fairer payment practices, these findings show that there is work to be done. ECA and BESA will continue to work with industry and Government to deliver a fairer payments system in construction.” Carillion, a strategic supplier to Government, went into compulsory liquidation on 15 January 2018. It was later revealed Carillion owed suppliers tens of millions of pounds in unpaid fees and cash retentions. ECA and BESA are calling for Whitehall to take steps to enforce the Public Contracts Regulations. In addition, both trade bodies are supporting the progress of a parliamentary bill, launched by Peter Aldous MP, which calls for cash retentions to be held in trust. Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

This Week in FM has reported about the Government releasing its update on 2014's Estates Strategy. Oliver Dowden, the Minister responsible for its implementation, said: "This strategy will transform how we use land and property – away from the opportunistic realisation of savings, to a more proactive approach that considers property as a platform for the delivery of government’s wider objectives." Have you read the report yet, how could the updated strategy affect your objectives? According to Dowden, the key element of estate planning over the next five years will be flexibility - citing a need to respond to how technology changes the workplace and looking to Brexit and a need to repatriate jobs from Brussels and creating new jobs here in the UK - which may reverse the steady decline in the number of civil servants. "We therefore need to ensure we manage the overall asset portfolio efficiently but also flexibly to enable us to contract or expand the supply of property as demand changes," said Dowden. "One of the ways we are learning to match supply and demand better is to share space between a wide variety of organisations - single occupancy is fast becoming a thing of the past. "The creation of the Government Property Agency means that we can build on these ambitions with a more commercial and professional approach than ever before, providing new financial tools and a more proactive approach to risk and opportunity. This in turn will provide a property model that allows for the relocation of civil servants to well-connected Government Hubs both in London and beyond, to deliver our longer term ambition of accommodating those that need to remain in Whitehall to no more than 20 core buildings that operate as a single campus." The 2014 Government Estate Strategy promised that by 2020 it would reform how the state uses its property, by: Removing artificial boundaries between departments, local authorities and other public bodies. Working in ways that minimise the need for office space. Using property more efficiently and disposing of surplus to maximise receipts, boost growth and create new homes. The government has raised £2 billion in sales and saved £300 million per annum in running costs through the disposal of over 1,000 properties and reduced the vacant space within its central estate to only 1.5% (the private sector average is 7.5%), with an average property cost of £493 per sq m (£40 per sq m less than the average for the private sector). To read the July 2018 Government Estate Strategy - Click Here Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

This week we have been celebrating our 30th Birthday, and it’s been a great one… From Monday's office decorations to Tuesday's breakfast and day-long raffle, 'Cake' Wednesday, Thursdays lunch and TB Quiz through to today's afternoon drinks and extra day’s holidays - it's been a great week. We’re rounding up the week with a big thank you to all of our staff for all of their hard work in helping us to reach this important milestone. Celebrating success has always been important in our business and this week has shown just that. Our Group Chairman, John Robinson shares his thoughts with us about reaching this important milestone; ‘I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone for their efforts this week in helping to celebrate our 30th birthday and of course for playing a hugely important part in our journey as a business. All businesses are only as good as their people and I'd like to say thanks again to everyone for your contribution to our success. We have always tried to 'do the right thing' by our people and to create an enjoyable environment and culture and I am immensely proud that a good many of you have been here a long time - indeed many shared our 20th anniversary too! I've seen many changes in recruitment over 30 years of course but despite of the transformation in how we do business and the 'speed to market' we all now enjoy, the fundamentals of what we do continue to be the same - understand the needs of candidate and client, treat them all with honesty and respect and deliver a great service to meet the need. Whatever comes our way in the future, I'm sure that these will still be the foundations of our business for the next 30 years too. Thanks once again and I hope you’ve had a great week.’​​ Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

How Will This Impact on FM Contractors? The Facilities Management Journal recently reported that a decision by the Supreme Court regarding the rights of a self-employed contractor is expected to have huge implications for the gig economy. With such a groundbreaking decision being made are you thinking about how this could affect your clients? Pimlico Plumbers lost its appeal this morning against a Court of Appeal ruling that one of the plumbers, Gary Smith, was a worker rather than self-employed. Smith, who had worked exclusively for Pimlico Plumbers between August 2005 and April 2011 claimed to have been dismissed following a heart attack and the Tribunal found in his favour, meaning he was entitled to worker rights and benefits, including access to sickness and holiday pay, and reasonable adjustments. In February 2017, the Court of Appeal found that Smith was a worker because he was required to use the Pimlico branded van for work and cover a minimum number of hours a week. Commented Tar Tumber, Director of Employee Relations International Workplace: “More and more people’s working lives resemble Mr Smith’s and are therefore increasingly difficult to define. Generally, there are three forms of employment status: employee, self-employed and something in between, called a worker. The latter have some rights, but not as many as employees. Self-employed contractors have the bare minimum.” Today’s decision will therefore have huge ramifications for anyone employing contractors. Said Philip Richardson, Head of Employment Law at Stephensons: “While stopping short of setting a precedent, the Supreme Court judgement has nonetheless applied pressure to legislators to ‘sort out’ the growing confusion surrounding the gig economy. “While some employers will argue that these casual working arrangements promote greater flexibility and independence, there appears to be growing alarm at the frequency with which these cases are coming before tribunals and the courts. Mr Smith’s case is one of a number of high profile disputes which have put the employment practices under the spotlight. “In my view, given today’s decision and the ongoing Taylor Review into working practices, it is now a matter of ‘when, not if’ legislation is brought in to prevent employers from using these gig economy models.” Added Michelle Morgan senior associate at Gardner Leader solicitors: “This decision will undoubtedly result in massive changes to the way in which the gig economy is run. Businesses will need to alter their models to minimise the risk of worker status being invoked and the rights that accompany such status. “The decision is an important one as on the one hand there is the need to protect the rights of those who work in the gig economy, whilst preserving the ethos of such a business model; with flexibility being at the heart of it.” Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

At Thorn Baker EFM we have introduced a flexible working pattern for our consultants so that they can choose to work any time from 7.00am to 7.00pm Which means we can speak to our clients and candidates outside of normal working hours without simply putting extra hours in behind a desk. Better service for our customers and better work/life balance for our consultants = happier people all around! An article published on FM World recently talks about how companies are increasingly recruiting more flexible workers says a report by International Workplace Group (IWG). The global operator of co-working office space spoke to 1,800 professionals at the start of 2018 from a range of industries in 96 countries about how they use the flexible workspace. From this sample 91 per cent assert that flexible workspace enables employees in their company to be more productive while on the move. The survey shows 89 per cent believe that flexible working helps their business grow (compared with 68 per cent in 2016). Have you introduced flexible work and seen a rise in productivity? Another 87 per cent think flexible working helps their business to stay competitive. From the sample, 83 per cent believe that flexible working helps their business to maximise profits (compared with the 67 per cent who say it improved sales in 2016). Eighty per cent of respondents state that enabling their company’s employees to work from anywhere helped them to recruit and retain top talent (64 per cent in 2016). The report can be accessed here. ​Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

Your latest EFM newsletter is out now It's been a busy month for the FM sector; with GDPR, World FM Day celebrating everything that's great about our industry, ISO 41001 arrived - how have the changes affected your business? Joanne Crampton, Head of Estates, Facilities & Maintenance rounds up the last month for you... ''It’s been another busy month for you FM professionals. Whilst we’re still dealing with the fall out of the Carillion collapse and its impact on the industry, the discussion has now moved on to other potential disruptions to facilities management. The big talking point this month is GDPR and what its effects will be across the facilities and property sector; the emergence of ‘workplace’ as part of facilities management and a potential name change for BIFM, and the new ISO management systems standard for Facility Management. We’re also talking to hard services/building services maintenance businesses about their plans for the new 18th Edition electrical changes (published in July) and how this affects their businesses.'' Read your news in full by clicking here What else has been happening in the FM sector? ISO 41001 is here. Do you currently outsource FM? How will this affect not only your approach to compliance but your process as well? Requirements, with guidance for use, have been published to help FM teams achieve more efficiency in their work. Drawing on international best practice, the new management system standard constitutes a benchmark for developing and driving an effective strategic, tactical and operational FM regime. World FM Day 2018. My team are celebrating World FM Day - are you? World FM Day will be celebrated on the 16th of May the day celebrates the importance of not only the FM profession but the people that work in it (you!). This years theme will be highlighting how facilities management plays an integral role in positive customer, client and employee experience in all sectors, whether it is residential, sport, workplace, healthcare or any other. How are you planning to celebrate do you need some inspiration? Leaner and meaner estate management. Did you know that the government central estate vacancy rate has been reduced by 40% over the past 5 years? With a combination of vacancy reduction rate as well as a reduction in the size of the central estate the team will have seen some exciting changes in their operating costs, but how much? The State of the Estate 2016/17 report looks at all of the key numbers and facts, click below to read more. Read your news in full by clicking here ​Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!

Italy, I hope you're ready..! These two have just bagged themselves a seat on the plane for our High Flyers Club all expenses trip to Milan! Well done Jade Sims and Laura Billinghurst - massively well-deserved for all your hard work and effort this year. The Thorn Baker High Flyers Club is an all-expense paid, a luxury weekend that rewards stand-out performances from the company’s most successful consultants. This year they will be flown to Milan where I’m sure Jade and Laura will make the most of Italian shops, sight-seeing and maybe a few Aperol Spritz’s! They’ve both worked really hard over the past year and going on this trip really is proof of that. Jade Sims – An amazing performance, finishing the year as the Top New Biller across the company. Laura Billinghurst – An excellent first-year performance, finishing 2nd in the Perm Biller category and 3rd in the New Biller category. I know they’ll have a great time and I’m looking forward to seeing the photos, buon lavoro! If you have the drive and energy to do well, we can give you the guidance you need to fulfil your goals, including great training programmes, and the support and advice you require. Want to join our fantastic team? Get in touch with me today joanne@thornbaker.co.uk Want the latest facilities management and maintenance news, jobs and updates? Subscribe here!​