16 October 2018 | Bradford Keen
The BIFM Awards last night celebrated the industry's finest, devoting its accolades across three core categories: People, Innovation and Impact - the last of which was further divided into awards for impact on the environment, society, customer experience, employee experience and organisational performance.
Recipients of the Impact awards had to demonstrate measurable impact at their facilities or those of their clients.
Impact on Environment
The University of Oxford won the award with its Environmental Sustainability Policy. With the target of reducing carbon emissions by 33 per cent by the end of 2020 against a 2005/6 baseline, the university has already achieved an estimated 6,256 tonnes of CO2 and £1.5 million of annual energy costs since 2011.
Focusing on carbon reduction, transport and biodiversity, the university has implemented more than 205 projects including installing solar photovoltaic systems, upgrading lighting, optimising its building management system, and insulating roofs. Through securing buy-in from staff and student bodies, the university has ensured the success of the project. It has invested £3.5 million in its carbon reduction programme with another £6 million allocated. In 2015/16 the university generated 54 times more on-site energy than in 2005/6.
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Impact on Organisational Performance
Newable Limited in partnership with We Work Ltd has won the Impact on Organisational Performance award after relocating its office to a 10,000 square-foot space at Barbican in the City of London. Newable's focus was to create a modern, agile, activity-based and collaborative workplace for its employees after historic staff polls showed below-standard facilities. The goal was for the new workplace to reflect Newable's five core values: Dream Big, Get Going, Grow Together, Always Improve and Pass It On.
The changes included 'hoteling' space so staff 'check in' to desks, which required high-quality IT infrastructure, different work settings and multifunctional spaces. Post-move staff surveys show the breaking down of silos, greater synergy among teams and better collaboration, as well as increased concentration levels, fewer disruptions and a 6 per cent increase in the number of days staff spent in the office. The judges commended the relocation for creating a vibrant working environment and supporting cultural change.
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Impact on Employee Experience
Award-winner intu employs 2,130 of its 2,600 workers in-house as frontline shopping centre staff and ensures that all of its employees, regardless of seniority, complete a brand immersion to understand the values - bold, creative and genuine - that drive the business. Then employees are given space to contribute with creativity through the Ideas Funnel and experiment through the Accelerate and Green Lab initiatives.
The company complies with the Equality Act Gender Pay Gap Information, has ended zero-hour contracts and pays the National Living Wage, and offers apprenticeship and leadership schemes, employee rewards and opportunities to engage in CSR campaigns.
Company-run surveys reveal that 84 per cent of staff say they're proud to work for intu; the FM function has seen a drop from 35 per cent to 19 per cent in staff leaving within the first year, while overall turnover dropped by 18 per cent and staff absence fell by 15 per cent.
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Impact on Customer Experience
NHS facility Hinchingbrooke Treatment Centre, which has received TFM services from Kier since 2005, was the judge's pick for providing the best customer experience - its most recent customer survey showed 100 per cent satisfaction. The centre provides outpatient services, day-case procedures, short-stay elective surgery, outpatient and diagnostic appointments to more than 160,000 people.
Kier responds to 99.1 per cent of reactive tasks and has completed all PPM within quoted timeframes. It has also carried out a space utilisation project, set targets to reduce energy use by 20 per cent by 2019, and implemented sustainable alternatives when carrying out life cycle works.
Kier provides extensive monthly reports on performance, KPIs, PPM, compliance status, health & safety, life cycle, energy consumption, cleaning and portering performance and staff training. Monthly performance meetings are held to discuss the report and the facilities management service, attended by matrons, ward manager and the outpatients' sister as well as other key stakeholders. The judges said Hinchingbrooke is a great example of a PFI working effectively.
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Impact on Society
Nationally, just 5.7 per cent of people with a learning disability are in paid work - and the Yorkshire and Humber region has below UK average employment rates. That's why Sewell Facilities Management partnered with the Royal Mencap Society, an occupant in one of Sewell's investment buildings in Hull, with a mandate to support people in the workplace and teach them good employment practice.
Sewell FM hired an employee to embark on the part-time cleaning role, giving her interview experience and on-the-job training to help her reach her full potential. The FM company also appointed three more paid cleaning posts at schools in Hull and is looking to expand its workforce in the long-term by employing people from Mencap in every Sewell FM cleaning team. Client feedback shows employees that have completed work experience through Mencap have flourished in confidence and self-esteem, taking great care in their roles and wearing their uniforms with pride in an all-embracing environment. It has also reinforced Sewell FM's reputation as a Sunday Times Best 100 Company to Work For.
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