I am the appointed contract manager with the Department for Culture Media and Sport. We have an FM, so I work as the top-level contact, giving strategic and financial advice. I am also currently, through WSP, working at Morgan Stanley in its strategic space planning department for London. I deal with moves and changes. At the moment, 1,200 people are moving into a 175,00 sq ft build by November. There is another build— 500,000 sq ft — to house a projected 2,500–3,000 people. I am also the health and safety manager for WSP FM.
Your days must vary a lot then?
Yes. I'm up every morning at 5.20, to catch the first train from Warwick. I get an hour and a half in the train to get things clear in my head and work on my laptop. I'm up to speed by the time I get into the office. Most weeks I spend two days at DCMS, two days at Morgan, and a day at WSP. But I have to be flexible to meet client needs.
How do the roles sit together?
They sit quite nicely because they are juxtaposed. The DCMS position is a traditional FM role, managing contractors. There is a new minister, so we have to change rooms around and things like that. The role at Morgan Stanley is different because it's a consulting role — driving out the benefits they need. I also have to ensure that I don't lose touch with WSP.
What's the most challenging part of your job?
I would suggest it's the managing of client perception and expectation. Managing and then delivering what you say you will deliver and having a satisfied client – that's different to a happy client.
You are involved with health and safety. What is the biggest issue in the area at the moment?
Corporate killing. It should focus the mind of every single person in the workforce. Health and safety is moving away from civil to criminal law. The risk has gone up ten notches.
How do you rate your job?
I would give it nine and a half out of ten. I love it, I really do. The reward factor is incredibly high. I get a buzz from solving problems. Because of the variety I never get bored.
What do you see as the future for FM?
We are becoming a discipline that is much more outward-facing and the sector can expect European markets to take on UK expertise.
Source
The Facilities Business