FM solutions provider Mitie recognised as top employer

The 2022 Top Employers have just been announced and Mitie has been recognised as one of the UK’s Top Employers for the fourth year running. Being certified as a Top Employer showcases Mitie’s “dedication to a better world of work” through excellent Human Resources (HR) policies and people practices. This includes the company’s recent (and significant) investment in its HR technology and processes.

A key highlight of Mitie’s entry was its ‘Count Me In’ learning programme aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, which was selected by the Top Employers Institute for use in its Best Practice Report 2022. The report showcases exemplary diversity and inclusion practises.

The Top Employers Institute programme certifies organisations based on the participation and results of its HR Best Practices Survey. The survey covers six HR domains consisting of 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Well-Being and Diversity and Inclusion (and more).

Jasmine Hudson, Group HR director at Mitie, said: “Our people are what make our business exceptional, so we’re incredibly proud to see Mitie named as one of the UK’s Top Employers for the fourth year in succession. We’re committed to ensuring that Mitie is a great place to work and will continue to invest in how we hire, develop, reward and engage our people so that we’re a leading UK business.”

David Plink, CEO at the Top Employers Institute, commented: “Reflecting on the demanding year that has, like the year before it, impacted organisations across the world, Mitie has continued to show that it prioritises maintaining excellent people practices in the workplace. The business continues to meet the challenges of the changing world of work, while working tirelessly to make a positive impact on the lives of its workforce. We’re pleased to celebrate and applaud the organisations that have been certified as Top Employers in their respective countries this year.”

Global authority

The Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in people practices. The organisation helps to accelerate these practices to “enrich the world of work”. Through the Top Employers Institute Certification Programme, participating companies can be validated, certified and recognised as an employer of choice.

Established over 30 years ago, the Top Employers Institute has certified over 1,857 organisations in 123 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over eight million employees globally.

Founded back in 1987, Mitie’s job is to look after those places where Britain works. The Group offer a range of services to central Government and defence sector customers, communities (healthcare, education and local authorities), technical services (engineering services, energy, water and real sstate services) and business services (security, cleaning and office services) to private sector clients in financial services, manufacturing, transport, retail and telecoms and, increasingly, to the public sector. 

Mitie’s Specialist Services (care and custody, landscapes and waste management) division serves both the public and private sector in these niche businesses. 

Mitie acquired Interserve’s FM business in December 2020 and now employs 75,000 members of staff. The business is a champion of the ‘Front Line Heroes’ who have kept Britain working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

*Further information is available online at www.mitie.com

Bidvest Noonan continues investment in subject matter experts

Continuing its investment in subject matters experts to run specific elements of the business, facilities management concern Bidvest Noonan has appointed Mark Elton as compliance and risk director for its business in Great Britain.

Elton previously served as quality, risk and compliance director at Cordant Services, which became part of the Bidvest Noonan Group in May of this year.

In his new role, Elton will serve on Bidvest Noonan’s senior management team and lead the development and execution of the company’s dedicate compliance and risk strategies.

Mark Elton

Following on from two years of strong growth, during which time it achieved leadership positions for services such as security and cleaning, the business has increasingly focused on investing in expertise. Elton, who harbours over 25 years’ industry experience, is the latest in a series of subject matter experts to join Bidvest Noonan’s senior management team.

Welcoming this announcement, Simon Giles (CFO at Bidvest Noonan) stated: “Mark has deep expertise in his field. As part of our senior management team, he will help us to continue improving our performance and strengthen our leadership position.”

Commenting on his appointment, Elton informed Security Matters: “I’m delighted to take on this new and exciting role and to be supporting our wider group. I’m now very much looking forward to working with my new colleagues and will always strive to help propel this outstanding business forward.”

*Further information is available online at www.bidvestnoonan.com

Kings Secure Technologies appoints Guy Tucker head of solutions sales

Guy Tucker has been appointed head of solutions sales at Kings Secure Technologies. His remit is to develop and execute a sales strategy that delivers sustained growth across the Kings Secure Technologies group of companies, combining all of its service line expertise into strategically defined new sectors.

A particular focus will be to increase brand awareness of Kings Secure Technologies’ solutions which use a layered technology, namely DYMENSiON, to deliver consistently high levels of service and drive cost efficiencies through trend and data analytics.

Tucker boasts over 25 years’ experience as a sales and bid professional in the facilities management (FM) industry. His career has been spent with just two FM providers where he has built a successful track record of leading complex and multifunctional teams in the securing of multi-million pound contracts across a range of industry sectors.

Guy Tucker

Indeed, tknowledge and experience Tucker brings will be invaluable to the development and success of Kings Secure Technologies’ sales and bid teams for the future.

Customer focused and with strong leadership and communication skills, Tucker’s strengths are in building relationships and instilling confidence in the Kings Secure Technologies brand. He’s relishing the challenge of working with the Board to realise the ambitions and goals that the company is striving to achieve over the next three years and beyond.

“This is an outstanding opportunity to join a business that’s challenging the traditional and dated security methods employed in the industry for so many years,” stated Tucker. “It’s an exciting time for the business as Kings Secure Technologies promotes technology-led solutions to keep companies safe and secure, while providing management information designed to help customers achieve their objectives. We’re embarking on an incredible journey and I’m delighted to bring my passion, enthusiasm and drive to help achieve our vision.”

*For more information visit www.kingsltd.co.uk

Mitie research finds FM to be “natural career match” for ex-military personnel

According to research conducted by Mitie, over two-thirds (70%) of individuals who have served in the military and moved into facilities management (FM) report that FM roles are a good match for the skills they developed in the Armed Forces, while more than three-quarters (77%, in fact) of respondents said that they would recommend the sector to other Armed Forces leavers.

Mitie conducted anonymous surveys involving 191 former servicemen and women currently working in the FM space and 122 managers of Armed Forces veterans in the sector. The subsequent report, entitled ‘Mobilising Veterans in the Facilities Management Industry’, shows that both veterans and managers in the FM world agree the sector is something of a natural match for former servicemen and women.

With over 20,000 veterans leaving the Armed Forces every year to join the civilian workplace, in fact, the detailed 14-page report looks at how the FM industry can better support those Armed Forces leavers.

The research found that many of the key skills developed in the military (among them reliability, the ability to perform under pressure and professionalism) are a strong match for those most needed in the FM sector. This is also the view of most managers surveyed, with four-in-five (84%) stating that veterans are likely to have the skills most urgently needed in the FM industry.

Despite having the key skills needed to help them succeed in their FM careers, many ex-servicemen and women are concerned that their lack of technical FM knowledge may limit their career opportunities. However, while managers noted the importance of these skills, they should not be seen as a barrier, with over half (53%) of all respondents suggesting that they would like to see employers offering more role-specific training to support ex-Armed Forces employees.

Need for guidance

Although the report finds that a career in FM is a good fit for veterans, more than a quarter (27%) of those former servicemen and women surveyed felt unprepared and in need of guidance when looking to join the civilian workplace. 50% of them said that it was a challenge to find work after leaving the military, with a lack of job-seeking skills, such as CV writing, and not understanding which jobs would best suit their military experience being highlighted as key barriers.

The report also pinpoints how important the Armed Forces community is in providing support to men and women recently leaving their military service. A third (29%) of veterans found their FM roles via a recommendation from someone they knew in the sector. Meanwhile, around one fifth of veterans said that creating employee networks (21%) and providing mentors (18%) are crucial ways in which employers can help smooth the transition to civilian life.

Mitie is using the findings of this report to guide its own initiatives designed to help ex-servicemen and women transition to civilian life and build their career in FM. This will support the organisation’s commitment that at least 2.3% of its employees will have a military background by 2025. That’s 0.5% above the average for the UK population.

Long-term career opportunities

Charles Antelme DSO, managing director for the commercial and Government sectors at Mitie, explained: “We’re delighted to see this report confirm that the FM sector is a natural choice for many Armed Forces leavers, offering ex-servicemen and women the chance to use the skills they’ve developed throughout their military career, as well as providing them with long-term career opportunities. With their professionalism, reliability and ability to perform under pressure, colleagues with a military background are a great fit for the FM sector.”

Antelme went on to state: “However, with many veterans leaving the Armed Forces unsure as to which roles best match their skills, there’s a huge opportunity here for our industry. By offering the right support and guidance, we can help more former servicemen and women kick-start their careers in the FM sector.”

The report builds on Mitie’s commitment to support the Armed Forces and to encourage more former military personnel to join the FM industry. Mitie has already launched a number of initiatives to help ex-military personnel find work in the FM industry. These include a dedicated Armed Forces Career Portal and its specialist Ready2Work ‘Military’ programme, giving veterans a chance to experience a placement in the FM sector.

Through its employee network, the Mitie Military, the company is also supporting its large community for veterans and reservists by offering a forum in which individuals can share experiences with their colleagues.

Trio of Incentive FM contracts for Shopping Centre services renewed by British Land

Facilities management company Incentive FM has been boosted by the renewal of three of its Shopping Centre contracts forged with British Land, one of the UK’s leading property companies, and has been awarded an additional contract for a retail development near Manchester. The news builds on the long-term partnership that has seen Incentive FM drive value for its prestigious client while delivering high standards to sites nationwide.

Under the new deals, Incentive FM will continue to be responsible for providing a range of security, cleaning and associated services at Drakes Circus in Plymouth, SouthGate in Bath and at the Inverness Shopping Park. These solutions have necessarily been revised of late to include some COVID-related changes and introduce new technology and equipment to support further financial efficiencies.

The Crownpoint Shopping Park in Denton, Manchester consists of 36 units with retailers including TK Maxx, Boots, River Island, Flannels, Tesco and JD Sports on the premises. This development now joins the Incentive FM portfolio. Twelve staff have transferred under the TUPE Regulations. Services at this site include security and cleaning with an emphasis on the customer experience. 

• 

Last year, British Land awarded Incentive FM contracts to provide a range of soft facilities services for Ealing Broadway in London, the Beaumont Shopping Centre in Leicester and the Crown Wharf Retail Park in Walsall.  The company also renewed Incentive FM’s contracts to provide similar services at the Whiteley Shopping Centre in Hampshire and at the Old Market in Hereford. 

Richard Nield, head of retail operations at British Land, commented: “Incentive FM has proven to be a highly supportive partner, adapting quickly to our changing needs that have been brought about by the pandemic. The company has helped to ensure that our visitors and retailers alike are able to enjoy a safe, secure and clean environment.”

Glenn Wilson, director of the retail and distribution sectors at Incentive FM, added: “Each of these sites has different needs based on variables such as footfall, demographic and location which demonstrates our ability to successfully deliver value with our flexible partnership approach while also ensuring the British Land ‘Places People Prefer’ strategy is at the forefront of everything we do. Our portfolio of Shopping Centres and retail parks has grown significantly. Indeed, we’re now responsible for over 40 sites across the UK.”

British Land awards Shopping Centre security contracts to Incentive FM

British Land, which is one of the largest property development and investment companies in the UK, has awarded Incentive FM three new Shopping Centre contracts and renewed a further two agreements.

Incentive FM has been awarded contracts to provide a range of soft facilities services for Ealing Broadway in London, the Beaumont Shopping Centre in Leicester and the Crown Wharf Retail Park in Walsall. 

British Land has also renewed Incentive FM’s existing contracts to provide similar services at the Whiteley Shopping Centre in Hampshire and at the Old Market in Hereford.

Under the Terms and Conditions of the three-year deals for each site, Incentive FM will be responsible for ensuring the Shopping Centres are secure, safe and clean as well as providing Front of House and customer service solutions in addition to looking after car parking at the busy locations.

Over 110 members of staff will be mobilised across all five sites where the teams will be using the latest equipment, technology and other systems coupled with Best-in-Class development training to enhance the quality of service delivery. 

Richard Nield, head of retail operations at British Land, informed Security Matters: “The successful relationship we have built up with Incentive FM at the Whiteley and Old Market Shopping Centres, along with other retail locations, made it an obvious choice for us to award more contracts. The business is undoubtedly our preferred partner of choice for these sites.”

Glenn Wilson, operations director at Incentive FM, responded: “We look forward to continuing to support British Land with our added value and partnership approach. Our portfolio of Shopping Centres and retail parks now stretches the length and breadth of the country, from Inverness Shopping Park in Scotland right down to Drakes Circus in Plymouth. We are now operational at over 40 such sites in the UK.”

Bosch launches new information security services to protect against cyber attacks

The IT Security Expo and Congress 2019 takes place in Nuremberg from 8-10 October and experts from Bosch will be on hand on Stand 506 in Hall 10.1 to outline the company’s latest information security services for defending against cyber attacks.

Cyber criminals pose a threat to building security solutions. Today’s physical security systems are increasingly IP-based and run on the same networks as generic office and production IT systems.

“The growing use of IT, along with greater networks, is also making building security solutions potentially vulnerable to all of the same risks that plague the rest of the IT world, such as hacker attacks and malware,” explained André Heuer, who heads the information security operation at Bosch Building Technologies. “Particularly so in critical infrastructure, this interaction of IT and facility management makes it essential to find new ways in which to ward off cyber attacks. We want to help our customers expand their information security strategies to include physical systems.”

On that basis, Bosch is introducing new information security services to address security needs in conventional building security systems by erecting “cyber barriers”. The company’s portfolio now embraces three complementary components:

Information Security Consulting for designing tailored information security concepts to meet customers’ individual protection requirements

Security Operations Centre which manages vulnerabilities and information security incidents to ensure a consistently high level of security while complying with reporting requirements

IT Security Services which implement appropriate measures to protect building security solutions from cyber threats

All of the services are provided in close consultation with customers’ IT security officers. By offering these options, Bosch feels that it’s “raising the standard of information security in buildings to a new level”.

Evolution invests in people development with appointment of Louise Gough as Human Resources manager

Evolution, the integrated fire and security solutions specialist, has appointed Louise Gough as its new Human Resources (HR) manager to lead the business’ recruitment strategy, implement new training and development opportunities, manage employee relations and provide support to the wider business.

Gough joins Evolution with a wealth of HR management experience, including eight years’s service with a market-leading integrated security business where she was also involved in project and bid work and facilities management. Prior to that, Gough worked for a number of large manufacturing and construction firms.

Louise Gough: the new HR manager at Evolution

Now, Gough is looking forward to helping drive even further business growth at Evolution. “It’s a very exciting time for the business,” explained Gough in conversation with Risk Xtra. “The workforce has expanded considerably already this year and further growth is expected as a result of the business being successful in winning some large projects n the UK, the Republic of Ireland and further afield in Europe.”

Further, Gough stated: “I hope to add real value to the business and will start by closely reviewing our recruitment and wider people strategies and use my knowledge and experience to implement new methods that enable us to work smarter, while also enhancing our strong position within the integrated security sector. I want to take the HR burden away from the senior managers and allow them to focus more closely on their own roles, which in turn will lead to more proactive and productive teams.”

Richard Lambert, managing director of Evolution, enthused: “We’re delighted that Louise is joining the team. She has proven experience and great sector knowledge which will be invaluable. There’s no doubt Louise will help to drive the business forward as we continue our plans to grow in the UK and Europe.”

Vericon Systems launches “innovative” EmeRed device for automating emergency lighting tests

Vericon Systems – the provider of innovative building management systems and technologies – has launched EmeRed, an intelligent device that automates the process of testing emergency lighting to ensure such lighting is working when needed and help facilities managers comply with relevant Health and Safety legislation.

The intelligent device, which can be easily retrofitted, re-imagines how new technology can be created to improve safety, ensure compliance and reduce costs. EmeRed monitors the performance of every light and automatically transmits the results to a dedicated portal that can be accessed online via the cloud. This gives facilities managers, estate managers and property owners complete visibility of the status of individual lights in a single building, as well as performance trends across an entire portfolio.

EmeRed reports a range of different factors to ensure lighting is always on the top line, such as battery degradation and energy consumption. It also measures the life outstanding in each battery to ensure they’re replaced before an emergency occurs and automatically reports any potential failures or problems.

Bernard Cook, managing director of Vericon Systems, said: “The industry has been too slow to adapt to new technology and new thinking. Testing emergency lighting equipment is an important responsibility, but manual testing is often a time-consuming and therefore costly job. Using EmeRed’s smart technologies and machine learning to automate emergency lighting testing can save building and facilities managers valuable time and money, especially so in comparison to manual testing. It guarantees 100% compliance and enables real-time information to be viewed or downloaded remotely.”

EmeRed’s small, wireless design makes it extremely quick and easy to install. Once installed, the device takes just a few minutes to configure to ensure life safety systems are fully compliant. EmeRed can also be connected and integrated with other Vericon Systems products and solutions that support an entire building ecosystem.

Hochiki Europe systems partner Tees Fire Systems secures £1.5 million contract to protect University Hospital of North Tees

Specialist fire and security engineer Tees Fire Systems (TFS) Limited has just won a seven-figure contract to install a new hybrid system at the busy University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton.

TFS Limited is one of 20 companies nationwide that are part of life safety systems manufacturer Hochiki Europe’s exclusive Systems Partner Network. The accolade recognises TFS Limited as a company with extensive expertise in the life safety and security industry and affords the business use of the latest products and technologies available from Hochiki Europe.

The University Hospital of North Tees provides services to people living in East Durham, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees and the surrounding areas. The hospital was founded back in 1968 and has current capacity for 563 beds across eight floors. The estate is managed by North Tees and Hartlepool Solution LLP.

As part of the contract, TFS Limited made the decision to specify products from Hochiki Europe for the project. Kevin Hynes, managing director at TFS Limited, said: “When our tender for the University Hospital contract was successful, we were praised for our technical knowledge. This is a testament to the hard work of our sales team and our status as an Hochiki Europe Systems Partner.”

During the course of the contract, TFS Limited is providing ongoing technical support for the end user around the installed solutions. The company also holds monthly progress meetings with hospital facilities managers to keep disruption to staff and patients to a minimum.

Mark Smith, UK sales manager at Hochiki Europe, added: “Installing life safety systems in healthcare environments can be challenging due to the complex layout of the buildings and the vulnerability of some occupants. As well as keeping disruption to a minimum, it’s also important that the new installation doesn’t compromise the functionality of existing systems. Over the next two years, we’ll work closely with TFS Limited to ensure that the new fire alarm system provides the highest levels of safety from the very moment it’s installed and best protects staff, patients and the premises.”

Steven Taylor, assistant director of estates and capital for the North Tees and Hartlepool Solution LLP, which is the organisation responsible for managing the healthcare estate, concluded: “We were very impressed by the technical knowledge and significant experience demonstrated by TFS Limited when it comes to working within a busy hospital environment. TFS Limited’s approach and insight is refreshing and provides the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust with full confidence that the project will be well managed and progressed in a collaborative manner.”

Work to install the new system began in June this year and is expected to be completed by Summer 2020.