This is a big step.
It can be a big commitment.
Choosing a facilities management team that will work with you harmoniously (we hope) for the foreseeable future.
At Clear Choice, we’d recommend not jumping into another relationship feet first without carrying out some rigorous due diligence relating to your internal operations and the building management company in question, first.
After the past 12months, businesses need to take this time to reflect, readjust, and re-evaluate. (To help, we’ve provided some great tips and advice on how companies can prepare their business for reopening after lockdown; click here to find out more.)
If you’re looking for facilities management services for the first time, or if your current contract is coming to an end and you want to see who and what is available, there are some important points to consider.
What to look out for in a facilities service provider
How easy is it to switch?
Often, businesses stick to what they know because moving to another provider seems time-consuming, complicated, and costly.
At Clear Choice, we aim to make the transition to us as smooth and efficient as possible. We tailor plans to meet your specific requirements, creating seamless, stress-free processes from start to finish.
What level of experience and training do they have?
What experience does your facilities team have? Do they stay up to date with changes in health and safety, commercial guidelines, cleaning regulations, etc.?
For service providers to carry out their roles effectively and provide a high level of quality service, everyone should have a thorough understanding of the business’s internal policies and procedures. Working alongside the business as an extension, the more people are aligned to the same goal, the more successful you will be.
Check out the level of quality provided.
What standards does the provider hold themselves accountable to? I.e., how good a job will they do? Various accreditations can demonstrate a quality organisation, such as the range of ISO standards, for example. These standards show a company’s commitment to quality; they demonstrate strong management processes and work culture, with robust and suitable environmental practices linked to any sustainable services they might offer.
Continue to monitor.
Measuring the success of your facilities management contract is essential when justifying your spending. For this, you must consider the scope of the role, resources deployed, time, etc.
The facilities manager’s role is to relieve the burden of running a building from you, not add to it. As such, having KPIs in place and regularly monitoring them will help you keep on top of performance.
What type of relationship are you looking for?
Ideally, you need to enter into a working relationship that you are not only happy with but confident about. One where both companies’ values and ethos match, and everyone is striving towards the same end goals.
Ideally, aligning your facilities management with your overall business goals ensures that everyone, even extended contractors, works towards the same objective. This alignment is what helps to keep working relationships and operations effective.
They offer the services you need.
Ultimately, you want the provider to provide the building management services that you require.
This is the fundamental element that can make or break your signing on the dotted contract line.
Outsourcing all of your facilities management to just one provider who can offer you integrated building services management can be much simpler for you to manage than multiple suppliers and more cost-effective.
At Clear Choice, we’re incredibly flexible with our services, allowing you to create almost a bespoke facilities management package that best suits your requirements. (If you’d like an informal chat about our services and how we could help you, call us on 01132 711 432 or email us at info@clearchoiceuk.com for further details).
The benefit of hiring a building maintenance company
Outsourcing your facilities management services can offer you significant cost savings, greater efficiencies and can free your and your team’s time so you can focus on the business at hand.
You’ll also have access to a broader skillset and a range of experience compared to what you would be able to achieve in-house.
It allows for potentially difficult and complex jobs to be undertaken with ease; as to those with years of experience, these situations are most likely not uncommon.
With a lot of choices regarding facilities management companies, make sure to check out our post on Outsourcing Facilities Management to make sure you’ve got everything covered.
Most facilities management contracts are long-term, so you need to be confident with your choice.
You need to rely on your provider and trust them to deliver the best results possible.
Identifying roles, responsibilities, and required services can be a great place to start.
Want to know more?
Call 01132 711 432
