Building Services & Maintenance

There has been a lot of changes to how we work since the outbreak of Coronavirus. For us, it has meant working almost exclusively from home, but also a lot has changed in how we're supporting our clients during the crisis. Joanne Crampton, Head of Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance Jade has taken some time to diarise her experience of a typical day of work during the crisis. 6.30 am - Alarm goes off. I get a bit of a lie-in now that I don’t have the commute into the office! Shower, dress and feed the cats before firing up the laptop and making breakfast. Cereal and coffee this morning. 7.00 am – Start work. Doing the usual checks of overnight emails and text messages. I run a report every morning that tells me which of our temps are working today – this is essential now that we have so many candidates working 24/7. Before COVID-19 the majority of my temps worked Monday to Friday, with hours ranging from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm which was much easier to track. Now, I double-check every day so that I know who is off, who is in, and which shift they are on. This is important not only from a health and safety point of view, but also to ensure that payroll is correct each week. I’ve had a request for three more temps on a night shift cleaning a warehouse in London (starting tonight!). This is my first priority for the day. 8.00 am – Refresh our online job adverts (we always make sure we have a good stream of new applicants so that we are ready to fill urgent jobs) and call through my pre-registered list. These are the candidates that I have already interviewed and got their vetting details, and I’ve put on standby for urgent work. Registering candidates in advance means I can react quickly to fill jobs and today it's paid off as I have three people who are willing to start tonight. 9.00 am – Payroll day. Our team administrator is on furlough so that means it’s all up to me to enter payroll on time, and most importantly, get it right! Our candidates are working so hard for us, and our clients, right now - it’s my responsibility to make sure they are paid on time and correctly. Fortunately, all the timesheets have come in on time. I only have to make a couple of calls to double-check some shifts. 10.30 am – ‘Service visit’ to a client. This now takes place over the phone, usually, it would be on-site but for obvious reasons, this isn’t possible. I’m trying to convince my client to use Zoom for our service visits, but he’s shy (even though I’ve met him face to face before). Today's call is to go over all of the changes to their sites, inductions, and Health & Safety regulations. Lots of social distancing and handwashing rules to discuss, as well as PPE. Discussed how we can sort the logistics of helping to supply temporary workers with PPE – we’re going to look into ordering gloves and masks online for delivery to our temporary workers. We’ll also pass on all of this information to new candidates so that they understand the importance when they start their assignment. 12.00 pm – Lunchtime. I do 20 minutes of yoga every lunchtime, it's been a massive help to my physical and mental health while on lockdown. Spicy prawn stir fry with green veg for lunch. 1.00 pm – Time for candidate check up’s. We take a lot of pride in making sure that our candidates are happy and working in a safe environment, so we check in with them at least twice a week. Today I helped one of our workers to sort out their tax code problem. Resolved a query over missing hours and had several holiday requests to process. No issues on-site, everyone has all of the PPE they need and everyone is (so far) happy with their shifts this week. 2.00 pm – Client catch up calls. So many of my client contacts are on furlough, but I’ve found that they still want to keep in touch anyway. I always try and share as much market information, advice, and news from the industry with my clients and I think that’s even more important now. We catch up on plans for re-opening and re-occupying their buildings, go over who is still working, who is on furlough and discuss what they think will change going forward – for good and bad. 2.30 pm – My plan for this afternoon has gone out the window. One of the candidates I spoke to earlier has called me back to let me know he’s going back to his old job... tomorrow! All hands to the pump as I go back to my pre-registered list and inform the client. They're not happy, but after 15 calls I’ve found someone who can start tomorrow and we get her booked onto the induction. Phew! 4.00 pm – Team catch up on Zoom. I love our team chats. We talk about the business of the day, who we’ve spoken to and what bookings we’ve filled (and what we’ve had for lunch!). It helps to remind me that I’m not alone in all of this and keeps me sane! 4.30 pm – Finish for the day. I pop to the supermarket to do my weekly big shop. 6.30 pm – Halfway through dinner the phone rings. Mark, one of my night shift workers at a site in Birmingham is panicking. He lives with his mum and she’s got Coronovirus symptoms, he’s very upset. I advise him to call 111 immediately and take their advice. I know our client's policy – he won’t be able to go back to work for 14 days, he'll now have to self-isolate. I advise him that he can self-certify for sick pay and that I’ll catch up with him tomorrow. This is the most upsetting part of working through the Coronovirus crisis for me. It’s not just affecting people’s health, but also their families, work and finances - I feel terrible for him. 7.00 pm – The supervisor at Birmingham rings me back. They can cope for tonight but will need someone to cover for the 14 days Mark will be off. That’s my first job for tomorrow morning.

For many people, searching for a job means strictly full-time, permanent positions. Yet taking a temp job can offer many benefits. Businesses have expressed concerns to us including; temp jobs lack stability and Engineers will always be on the hunt for permanent work. But is that how Engineers really feel? This blog will explore exactly that. Joanne Crampton, Head of Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance Research from The Recruitment & Employment Confederation has shown that one in three people in Great Britain has worked as a temporary worker, furthermore, 41% of people would consider working as a temporary worker in the future. So, over the last month, the team and I have been speaking with Engineers to find out (from the horse's mouth) why they choose temporary/self-employed contracts. How Long Have You Worked Temporarily/ Self Employed? Over 50% of the Engineers we spoke with have been working temporarily/self-employed for over eight years, that's quite a strong majority. It's clear from the people that we surveyed that this is definitely seen as a viable career option as far as Engineers as concerned. As a business do you offer temporary/ self-employed options? You could be missing out on hiring some of the best, most experienced Engineers by not making it an option. 'I use agency Engineers (mechanical) as temporary staff due to the fact that I can use them when needed due to workload and also on the odd occasion send them back to the agency without any bother if I find the Engineer not suitable for the role. Also using agency staff while an on-site Engineer is on leave for a period of time as cover.' Mechanical Engineering Manager: County Hall Estate Management Ltd What Is Your Favourite Thing About Working Temporarily/ Self Employed? The top three things that our Engineers favoured were: Flexibility Choice of contracts Being their own boss Work-life balance and flexible working is more than just a trend. Employers have never been more on the pulse with employee welfare than they are right now. This is especially important given that based on CIPD's research three in five employees work longer hours than they would like to. What First Motivated You to Start Working Temporarily/ Self Employed? Their motivators clearly back up the work-life balance thought. Commuting time can also add a significant additional burden on the time of many workers, equating to an additional work-related time of 3 hours 45 minutes on average per week. Commuting time is longest for workers in London (on average 78 minutes a day). We're working with our Clients to not look at a temporary/self-employed as a last resort, or not even considering an Engineer because they're not looking for permanent, the key to approaching temporary work is to change your mindset. Focus on the benefits. If you'd like to discuss the benefits of hiring temporary Engineers contact us today on 0844 406 0086 or by email here.

It's hard to believe we're halfway through November already, it's almost the end of the year and it's a great time to reflect on your successes. But, before we start looking back on the year and looking ahead to 2020 I have some very exciting news to share. Joanne Crampton, Head of Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & Maintenance At the heart of every building are the people who work hard to maintain it. Our Building Services & Maintenance team understand the importance of a sustainable and robust maintenance strategy – they combine this with their specialist recruitment know-how to ensure they find the right talent for your project. Welcome Matt Morgan With that in mind, I'm delighted to announce that Matt Morgan has joined the Thorn Baker EFM team as a Managing Consultant with over 20 years' experience and will be specialising in placements across the South. Here's what Matt had to say about joining the team; 'I’ve always worked across engineering industries, which for many years has incorporated building services and facilities maintenance. It’s what I know and enjoy. Simply put, covering the South East, I help clients find the right employee, and candidates find the right employer. I recruit for varied maintenance and service engineering roles to management level. Specialising in Gas, Air Conditioning, HVAC, and Refrigeration Engineers, Fabric Engineers, and Electrical Maintenance Engineers. It’s important to know what my clients and candidates need, and when but understanding why makes all the difference. For me, it’s about making a difference, and changing peoples’ lives. Helping a client solve a problem, or finding a candidate their ideal job is hugely rewarding.' We'd also like to say... Congratulations Laura! Some of you may already know that Laura will be going on Maternity from mid-December, I'd like to wish her all the best - we're all really excited to meet her new arrival! And she's very happy to know that Matt will be taking care of her clients and candidates (one less thing to worry about!). Laura commented; 'I’m really pleased that I am handing over my work to an experienced and trustworthy consultant, and look forward to returning and working with Matt post-maternity leave.' And Matt said; 'I’m really pleased to be joining the Thorn Baker EFM team, everyone’s made me feel very welcome, and It’s great to be working with Laura before taking on the desk when she leaves for maternity.' So, you can rest assured that all of your needs will be taken care of! If you'd like to welcome Matt and have a chat about your Engineering needs you can contact him here. Also if you'd like to wish Laura good luck click here to contact her.

One of my long-standing clients has seen unprecedented growth in the past few years thanks to backing from larger global brands. We've worked with them since they were a small M&E Maintenance Contractor, to becoming part of a global FM business, winning high-end contracts left, right and centre. I'm proud to be working with them. Laura Billinghurst Permanent Building Services Recruitment Consultant With the recent acquisition of arguably the most prestigious public sector contract in London, they are seeking only the best Air Conditioning Engineers to work as part of an elite team covering sites in North London. Due to the nature of the contracts, you will be required to go through a rigorous vetting process- so I'm looking to speak with the most honest and hard-working individuals on the market. So what are the best things about working about this company..? Well, where's a better place to start than asking the Engineers themselves? I've placed over 20 Engineers with them in the last three years and in that time have always received the best feedback such as: ‘It’s exactly what you said it would be Laura, which is really rare!’ ‘I’m raking in the overtime, it’s the best job I’ve ever had.’ ‘They really look after you here; I can see myself staying for a very long time.’ What sets this role apart from other positions then? All of the sites you attend are part of a contract that has parking spaces and a permit, which means you spend less time trying to find somewhere to put your van, and more time doing the job you trained in – the technical stuff! The work is on lively sites that are sociable – you need to get your work done, but in between Engineers have been known to enjoy a game of pool with clients before leaving for their next job. The contracts have just received heavy government investment, meaning you won’t be twiddling your thumbs; there's constant work and some meaty projects to get your teeth into. Fair pay for hard work – your basic will be between £34-38,000, but that doesn’t reflect the earning potential. Travel either side of the working day (8.00 am - 5.00 pm) is paid at overtime rates and there is plenty of overtime to be had – some of the Engineers have earnt an extra £20,000 annually on top of their salary with overtime alone, and when you’re taking into account the standby payments of £175 per week every six weeks, the figures soon stack up. Management have all worked on the tools previously – you won’t be working for someone sat in an ivory tower who has no idea about the job and the pressures involved – the team Manager gets on the tools himself still and knows exactly what he’s doing, so he genuinely values all of his employees… Aside from this, you’ll get the usual perks of a company van, fuel card, paid holidays etc. What does it take to get on board?! To start with you’ll need to be an experienced Air Conditioning Engineer – The more experience you have with VRV's, VRF's, splits, multi splits etc., the better, and if you have any chiller maintenance experience that will set you apart. They are looking for high service orientated individuals – so to stand out you will need to be well presented and customer focussed… positions like this are like gold dust, so I need the best Engineers who know what makes their clients tick and how to keep them happy. Being solution focussed is what it’s all about – no job too big, no problem too small – either way, you’ll be the one to get it fixed, and if you don’t know how to, you will be the one to find a solution. You will need the usual qualifications – F-Gas is essential. Ideally, you will also have NVQ Level 2 or 3 in air conditioning, although this can be overlooked for the most competent of Engineers. Sign me up, please..! As you can probably imagine, we have seen high demand for this position, but I'm looking for that someone who can give a little extra – to find out more and to be considered for this position you need to act quickly! Please send your CV to me – Laurab@thornbaker.co.uk and let’s have a chat about what sets you apart from all the other Engineers.

HOW DID WE SOLVE THEIR CANDIDATE ATTRACTION & PRE-ASSESSMENT PROBLEM? Laura Billinghurst: Building Services & Maintenance Consultant Arthur McKay - an Atalian Servest company - is a global integrated facilities management service. As a business, they were having problems with candidates not being properly assessed for their jobs, this led to them not turning up to interviews. The cost to them was that Managers were having whole days wasted, some days three-four interviews were no shows. They were receiving pressure from their clients because these jobs weren't being filled. As a specialist in FM I already understood the qualifications they needed, but what was really required was to understand the cultural fit, and how this could be a positive career move for a candidate. I went to meet the hiring team and sat down with them to really understand their contract and what made it a great place to work. This, in turn, freed their Managers up to focus on their actual role instead of waiting for un-prepared candidates. The end result was a quick turnaround for the team, consistent management of the recruitment process, and most importantly they hired a brilliant Engineer for their team. HOW DID JOHN FEEL? John Belsham: Contracts Manager 'After an initial meeting to discuss the specific requirements of the contract and positions involved it was clear Laura had picked up on the important factors, 24/7 contract, flexible approach to hours, Security Clearance, Quick response to urgent callouts etc. Laura also picked up on the points that could convince candidates over other positions they were being interviewed for. i.e easy to park on clients sites, a good client that respected the engineers. CV’s started to arrive and were shortlisted to a high quality. There was good communication with candidates to ensure they were really interested in the role, all candidates selected for interview attended, something other agencies did not seem to be in control of. When candidates were selected all paperwork and information was chased in and successful candidates were all suitably briefed between Thorn Baker and our HR department for their first day’s work. How would I describe working with Thorn Baker EFM in three words? Flexible, quality and reliable.' Register for Estates, Facilities & Maintenance job alerts here​ Looking to hire? Complete our employer enquiry form 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!