RICS Case Studies Demonstrate The Benefits of Strategic FM in Practice

The six case studies, developed by Workplace Law for RICS, provide practical examples of the best practice outlined in RICS’ Strategic Facilities Management (FM) Guidance Note, which launched last year, and are aimed at demonstrating the benefits of strategic FM to business.

Launched today (3 April), the case studies each focus on a different aspect of FM including procurement, innovation, technology, sustainability, talent management and health and safety. With an introduction by Kath Fontana, Managing Director of BAM FM and board member of RICS, the full suite of case studies includes:

· Fostering creativity at the BBC

· Ethical procurement at the Co-operative

· Sustainable practice in the Higher Education sector

· The importance of a good health and safety culture

· Harnessing technology at Emrill

· Talent management at MITIE Client Services

Johnny Dunford, Global Commercial Property Director at RICS, said: “Although focusing on a variety of different examples, the six case studies demonstrate many common themes to good workplace management and reflect the best practice theories outlined in our Strategic Facilities Management (FM) Guidance Note.

“Central to this is the facilities team’s understanding of an organisation’s business objectives. It is only by having this understanding that facilities managers can take a professional approach to the workplace, ensuring facilities complement the corporate values and mission. The best examples of this are when the facilities team becomes part of the leadership function of the organisation, helping to shape and drive the business objectives.”

Other key themes include a professional understanding of the impact of FM to a company’s reputation, brand and performance, engagement with staff and the supply chain, the importance of measuring impact and outcomes and communication.

Johnny Dunford continued: “These case studies also provide us with the practical examples the FM industry needs in order to raise awareness amongst business of the strategic benefits of FM in order to help get leading facilities managers at the decision making table.”

David Sharp, Managing Director, Workplace Law, added: “It has long been agreed within the industry that the importance of FM needs to be shouted about, and we hope these case studies go some way towards doing just that. The examples given within these studies highlight the great work that is being done by our industry, showing best practice and award-winning innovation that demonstrates that good FM can really make a difference to a company’s performance.”

Alan Bainbridge, Property Director at the BBC said: “The case studies provide a valuable insight into how value organisations can benefit from giving Project Delivery and Facilities Management (FM) the attention it deserves. Maximising value from the facilities at MediaCityUK and making our new home play an active role in delivering benefit was the vision for my team. This model subsequently went on to be the successful foundation for our recent procurement which will see the FM services playing a strategic role in serving audiences and best value from the license fee.”

Steve Matthews, Facilities Support Manager at the University of Cambridge, commented: “The higher education case study aims to demonstrate the importance of closer links between all departments. With joined-up thinking between departments and stakeholders, concerted effort can reap dividends. Without engaging it is impossible to really embed sustainability into an organisation.”