Building Services & Maintenance

In support of Gas Safety Week (13-19 September 2021), we will be sharing the gas safety registers' top safety tips over the week to remind everyone of the importance of having an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer.Gas Safety Week is now into its second decade of keeping people safe and this year has an ongoing focus on keeping communities gas safe, as well as advising on topics such as illegal gas fitters, and avoiding carrying out DIY gas work on your own appliances.Gas appliances that have not been maintained properly can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ because you can’t see, smell or taste it. Therefore, it is highly important to have your gas appliances checked by an engineer who is listed on the Gas Safe Register.Jonathan Samuel, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, said: “It’s really important to keep community safety at the forefront of everything we do, and gas safety is no exception. This Gas Safety Week we’re delighted to have the support of [insert name of organisation] and by working together we  can keep the public informed of gas safety and help reduce the risk of dangerous gas appliances across the UK, helping the whole nation to stay gas safe.”Top tips on how to stay Gas Safe this Gas Safety Week: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 - only employ a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer when having gas work carried out in your home.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.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 GasSafeRegister.co.uk

With like most events in the last year, the Facilities Show has adapted to times (we’ve definitely seen changes in our business!) and there will be a mix of in-person and digital events. In this blog we look at the top 3 things that we’re most looking forward to at this year’s Facilities Show, do you agree with our choices?Connect 2021: Digital Product Demo’s and Panel TalksSome people may not like the idea of virtual events and some people may love them – a little bit like marmite. But, what is key in this is finding new ways to connect and it’s definitely a great, safe solution.Also, I think we all know that being out of the office for the whole show can be a challenge. So, most people will pick the day that has the most events they’re interested in and book that one. You need to make sure people know you’re out for the day, organise travel – possibly a hotel, sounds like a lot of work!The online portion, Connect 2021 is a great solution to that! As the title suggests it’s a good way to connect the FM community. You can book the demo’s and panel talks that you’re interested in, and attend them in the comfort of your office (of home if you’re not back in the office yet). How great is that?No need to pre-plan as much as normal, see everything you want to see and it’s stretch out over the month - great stuff.And they have created a great video to walk you through your dashboard area and everything that’s available to you!Workplace Wellbeing ShowThis was an addition to the show in 2019 and with companies becoming increasingly aware of wellbeing in the workplace – it’s definitely been a great addition. It’s been a tough year and now more than ever people are focused on their own wellbeing as well as the wellbeing of their staff.We’re particularly looking forward to the live event on Wednesday the 16th of June: Panel Debate: Wellbeing Considerations as We Return to Work in ‘The New Normal’ – the event is sponsored by the charity Mind.The panel will be discussing:Adjustments to consider and helping colleagues adapt to changeMaking people feel safeSupporting those still at risk of infection or with fear of infectionSupporting employees with new or pre-existing social anxietyGuidance for wellbeing leaders and line managersYou can register for the live event here.Resources, Resources and More ResourcesAnother great area available on the FM Show site is the resources section. In here you’ll find their top 10 free FM resources, these include:Building a Better Workplace - From Technology to WellbeingThe Future is BIM FM - Adapt & Adopt or Get Left BehindThe Smart Buildings eBook, Sponsored by ENGIEThe Road to WellbeingProperty Owners Risk ManagementTechnology & Innovation in the Facilities Management IndustryYour Guide to Office MovesTop 10 IoT Challenges FMs Face and How to Solve ThemYour Guide to Flexible WorkingTop 10 IoT Challenges FMs Face and How to Solve ThemIf you want to take advantage of these great free papers you can download them all right here.So, If you haven’t already booked your spaces for the event don’t miss out, you can register here. Let us know which talks your looking forward to!

A lot has been written recently on how to prepare for video and telephone interviews in the time of Covid-19, but not much has been written about the actual questions you should be asking. In this blog, we'll look at the top questions our clients ask in their interviews and how you can make the most of them in yours.Joanne Crampton, Head of Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & MaintenanceTechnical based questions like these (betterteam.com/maintenance-engineer-interview-questions) are great for delving into the skills and experience of your Engineers, but what do you ask to find out what makes them tick? Or what their personality is really like? After all, your interviewee is on their best interview behaviour – how do you figure out if they will act the same when they are on the job?If you are interviewing Engineers over the phone or on a video call, it’s even more important to get these questions right. Remember you may not have the opportunity to take into account the nuances of body language and facial expressions as you would in a traditional face to face interview. Considering that your engineers are often the public face of your company, it’s so important to find out if they will fit with your culture and values.Here at Thorn Baker EFM, we all have our own opinions about the best questions to ask engineers during an interview, but we thought who better to compile this list than the hiring managers themselves? So we spoke to our clients and asked them to nominate their favourite interview questions.1. 'What can you bring to our company?'Nigel Tomlinson, Horbury Property ServicesWhat to look out for: A great way to find out if your interviewee has researched the company and their practices, their ambitions for the future, and their ability to self-analyse. A good answer would show that the engineer knows how their skills could match and benefit different sectors your company works in; a great answer will highlight that they’ve read your company values and can provide examples of their own experience that matches those values.What to be wary of: Vague, non-committal answers to this question show that they may not have done their homework on your company, showing a lack of enthusiasm for the role or may not be great at self-analysis which can provide barriers when managing performance issues down the line.Follow up questions include:What attracts you about working for our company? What’s your impression of our company culture?What to look out for: This question will give you an insight into their real enthusiasm and motivation for the job – if their answer focuses on making the client happy, then you can reasonably assume that they will be a good ambassador for your company. If it’s about problem-solving and fault finding, they could be your next technical superstar.What to be wary of: If your interviewee struggles to answer this question, or they give a flippant answer like ‘Getting Paid!’ they might not be the most committed employee, and will struggle to maintain a can-do attitude.Follow up questions include:What training have you most enjoyed? What part of the job do you wish didn’t exist?What to look out for: People who remember (and take on board) good advice tend to be forward thinkers, good planners and cope well with change, so good well-rounded answers to this question with real-life examples is what you are looking for if you want someone who can take on responsibility and adapt easily to changing environments (great if you have a big portfolio of different clients)What to be wary of: We’ve asked this question many times, and occasionally we’ll get answers along the lines of ‘Nothing really, I’ve always made my own way’. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with being self-sufficient keep an eye out for red flags that could indicate a lack of critical thinking, or an inability to take on criticism and adviceFollow up questions include:Who has been your most influential manager? What do you wish someone had told you at the beginning of your career?4. ‘How important do you believe it is to achieve a good team spirit, and what type of things might you be able to do within your role to ensure a good team ethos exists?’Paul Cronin, Cambridge Maintenance Services LimitedWhat to look out for: This is particularly important to ask engineers who could be working on static sites in a team of mixed experiences and backgrounds – a good team player will give an enthusiastic answer with real-life experiences of where working in a great team has benefited the whole operation, and will talk about friends and connections they have made on the job in the past. Great answers will include examples of where they have helped younger or more inexperienced team members to grow in skills and confidence.What to be wary of: Candidates who struggle to answer this question might still turn out to be great team players, but may not have had much experience working in a team, especially if they have worked primarily a mobile role or on single person sites - they may take longer to settle into a team environment.  Explore further by asking about how they communicate with their managers and other engineers.Follow up questions include: What’s the best team experience you’ve had in your career and why? What role do you think you take when working in a team?What to look out for: An Engineer who gives real examples and explains what the initial problem was and how it was solved demonstrates that they can learn from their experience as well as having the confidence and interpersonal skills to deal with your tricky clients in difficult circumstances – especially important skills for mobile engineers who might have to fault find and fix at short notice.What to be wary of: Vague and uncertain answers to this question (look out for ‘we would usually do….’ instead of ‘I did…’) demonstrate that they may have little practical experience of these situations or maybe unsure or unaware of how to handle angry and upset clients. These Engineers would likely need more hands-on and in-person support when dealing with challenging clients and difficult situations. So be careful about what contracts you may choose to employ them on in the first instance.Follow up questions can include: What preventative measures help diffuse difficult client situations? What support would you need when dealing with difficult clients?Of course, these are just the top five questions that we picked for this blog – there are many more and we’d love to hear your suggestions and comments on the above. Want to know more about how we help our clients? You can read about how our Proven Process will overcome your recruitment challenges right here.If you'd like to have a chat with the team about your upcoming interviews you can contact us here or you can complete our enquiry form and we'll contact you.Enquiry FormLook out for our follow up blog, where we turn the tables and list the top questions Engineers should ask their prospective employer during an interview!

In support of Gas Safety Week (14-20 September 2020), we're participating to highlight gas safety issues and to remind everyone of the importance of having an annual gas safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer.Joanne Crampton, Head of Thorn Baker Estates, Facilities & MaintenanceThis Gas Safety Week we're celebrating the tenth year of keeping people safe and focusing on how you can help your local community to stay gas safe during these difficult times, what to do if you suspect your gas engineer is an illegal fitter, and advise not to DIY when it comes to gas - leave it to a Gas Safe Registered engineer.Gas appliances that have not properly been maintained can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Carbon monoxide is known as the ‘silent killer’ because you can’t see, smell or taste it. Therefore, it is highly important to have your gas appliances checked by an engineer who is listed on the Gas Safe Register.Jonathan Samuel, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, said: 'In these uncertain times, it’s important to regard the safety of our local communities. This Gas Safety Week we’re delighted to have the support of Thorn Baker EFM and by working together we can keep the public informed of gas safety and help reduce the risk of dangerous gas appliances across the UK, helping the whole nation to stay gas safe.'Top tips on how to stay Gas Safe this Gas Safety WeekKnow 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 - only employ a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer when having gas work carried out in your home.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.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 GasSafeRegister.co.uk.

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 & MaintenanceJade 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.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.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!4.30 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 ConsultantWith 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.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 ConsultantArthur 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!