In his introduction to the government’s Facilities Maintenance Strategy for 2022-2030, Alex Chisholm said, “There is a direct link between the quality of workplaces and the services provided from them.” This strategy outlines how the government plans to use facilities maintenance for better and greener services.
This strategy draws on the collaborative expertise of government representatives, as well as property and facilities maintenance professionals. It aims to transform facilities management in more than 135 000 public buildings in Britain. The catalyst for this is under-investment in facilities maintenance that has resulted in a ‘deterioration in functionality’.
As we move into 2023, this strategy serves as an inspiration for us all to devise values-driven facilities maintenance plans that are robust and adaptable. This blog covers a few key takeaways from the Government’s strategy for property owners and managers in devising forward-facing facilities maintenance strategies.
The Importance of Facilities Maintenance
Facilities maintenance equips workers with conditions that impact:
- Service and contract delivery,
- Productivity,
- Sustainability,
- Staff recruitment and retention,
- Health and safety in the workplace,
- Estate longevity
The Values of the FM Strategy
- Enhancing lives – of both visitors to and employees of the facilities
- Enabling success – by giving workers the work environment, technology, and tools to reach maximum potential
- Ensuring value – with facilities maintenance efforts that are appropriate to stages of the asset lifecycle, with evidenced ROI
The Facilities Maintenance Goals
Among the values-driven goals put forward in the strategy are the following:
- Accessibility and flexibility
COVID-19 has marked a shift away from traditional workplace models. Effective facilities maintenance strategies need to incorporate flexibility and accessibility that offers consistency in a changing world. This flexibility also needs to work around real-life user data that affects worker and customer experience.
- Sustainability
Sustainable facilities maintenance strategies are devised around reducing carbon emissions and supporting net-zero goals. This involves, for example, reducing waste and resource usage, preserving water and energy, and using sustainable products and services.
- Highly-skilled, reliable facilities maintenance professionals and high-quality service
Facilities maintenance delivery should be as seamless as possible and the government’s strategy supports the idea of a one-team approach and regionally-based providers and a holistic approach to facilities maintenance. It also encompasses a whole-life asset management approach.
This is further achieved by working with providers who are accredited with approved professional bodies.
- Efficient environments, tools, technologies – and measurable performance
This involves the establishment of data-inspired and standardised benchmarks and standards, a step-by-step course to success, the flexibility to adapt to a building’s data, and measurable, replicable facilities maintenance models. This is a structure that supports innovation for priorities-based focus.
BOOST YOUR FACILITIES MAINTENANCE WITH VOLTIX SERVICES
The team at Voltix Services offers a range of services to support property and asset management excellence. Our diverse expertise covers:
- Mechanical and electrical installations and maintenance
- Statutory compliance
- Fire and security services
- Energy services – including metering, the shift to renewables, and the use of smart technologies to guide energy saving strategies
- Estate management
- Environmental services
- IT and network services
Our team of professionals is geared to work with public and private organisations of all sizes, offering services tailored to their unique operational standards. Contact Voltix Services today to discuss your needs.