10 October 2016 | FM World team
BIFM Awards 2016 - Manager of the Year
Suzanne Beck is this year's BIFM Awards 2016 Manager of the Year.
Beck is facilities general manager for the Carillion Barts NHS Trust contract, having joined in 2013. She said that she took on the role as it gave her the opportunity to "make a real difference in a diverse and challenged health economy". Barts Health Trust is the largest NHS Trust in the UK, with Carillion providing all soft services to the Trust's five sites.
During this time, she has overseen the implementation of a new security system on site, the mobilsation of the new soft services contract in 2015, where she is responsible for 1,500 staff, and mobilised initiatives set up to increase engagement with the community; in particular vulnerable patients.
Beck has also spent time mentoring future leaders at Barts Health Trust with Carillion, personally supporting and challenging the operational managers at sites such as the London Chest Hospital during her time working at the Royal London Hospital.
Prior to Carillion, Beck has worked in a number of roles with Sodexo Healthcare over the last 12 years, including as site director for the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. Beck oversaw the mobilisation and transition of three old hospitals into two new sites of 1,000 staff.
Beck has also worked as regional manager in smaller specialist acute hospitals, including Birmingham Children's Hospital, and has worked as a trainer for Sodexo's supervisory development programme.
Judges said that Beck has demonstrated "personal commitment to the healthcare sector over her career", while leading by example within her role to deliver exemplary service.
The highly commended finalist in this category was Cova Montes, contract manager for the National Theatre with Emprise Services.