ADVICE & OPINION
Technology for
a smarter world
T: +44 (0)1708 251900
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www.fsifm.com
MAY 2020 21
FMJ.CO.UK
is a national
preoccupation.
No business will
be unscathed.
Prior to the
outbreak,
the O ice
for National
Statistics
reported 8.48
million people
in the UK as
economically
inactive (16
to 64-year
olds). A cohort
the Government wants businesses to invest in, upskilling
them through training and other measures: an
admirable aim, albeit secondary to COVID-19.
The need for employers, including those in the security
and facilities sector, to engage with this ‘disa ected’
demographic is arguably even more important now as
the fabric of society is threatened by COVID-19 with a
real risk of unemployment, underemployment as well
as swelling numbers of the economically inactive. An
opportunity arising from the immediate crisis, may be to
actively embrace options that enable people of all ages
to learn new skills, not least in fire safety, security and
facilities.
NSI currently supports initiatives to raise standards of
labour competency on a number of levels. It has actively
sponsored the Engineers of Tomorrow (EoT) initiative,
for example, for more than 20 years. NSI was a founding
stakeholder in EoT, which is designed to recognise
and showcase the next generation of security and fire
systems installers across the UK.
Within the Security and Events sector, NSI launched its
Code of Practice (NCP 119) for the Provision of Labour
on 1st April this year. The long-term aim is to assist the
sector to up its game in the interest of buyers, the public
it serves, and the security o icers it employs.
Through the good example of NSI approved companies
procuring additional labour and demonstrably ensuring
their providers adopt best practice, NSI approval will
signal to buyers where they can buy responsibly and
with assurance of the service on o er.
When it comes to on-boarding workers on labour
provider or agency lists – screening, training, deploying
– and paying them, NSI approved labour providers can
signal they operate as responsible employers in all
respects.
Of course, demand for sta influences pay levels in
any market and at the February 2020 Security Industry
‘Thought Leadership Summit’, this topic was addressed
by speaker Sebastian Bachelier from the Living Wage
Foundation. Asking the question ‘Why pay a Real
Living Wage: benefits and implications for the security
sector’, he noted that the independently calculated
and voluntary Real Living Wage (as distinct from the
statutory Minimum Wage for under-25s and the National
Living Wage for over-25s) is the only rate based on the
real cost of living. It o ers a range of benefits to workers
and employers alike, and by implication the buyers of
services.
The challenge of the COVID-19 crisis will pre-occupy
everyone in business, in the private and public sectors,
for longer than anyone imagined. Yet, engaging
economically inactive adults in a positive way is
key to strengthen the social fabric, delivering self
esteem, and in reality a potentially great asset for our
industry. Building a sustainable labour pool – through
a combination of training, valid career paths and sound
employment practices – is one which some in the
professional security and facilities sector are already
leading the way in, even in the midst of crisis, as the
economy and society transition to the ‘new normal’.
THE FM SERVICE SUPPLIER’S VIEW
RAVI BHATNAGAR, ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, ANABAS
The challenge
for FM service
providers during
the COVID-19
outbreak is twofold:
to provide
the right sta ing
levels to support
clients while
also ensuring
those employees
are safe and
supported
through this
di icult period.
In some instances, this has meant working with
organisations to close down sites, conduct deep
cleans and then provide a basic security, cleaning and
maintenance operation during closure. But many of our
financial sector clients are deemed to be key workers
and their buildings are operational. We’re supporting
them with both specialist deep cleaning and more
regular cleaning, while also delivering a range of other
FM services during this challenging time.
Our main focus is looking a er our people. With many
public transport services running at reduced rates,
getting our people to work, o en at unsocial hours, is a
challenge. We’re looking at all options, including how we
would support sta to travel to site during a complete
shutdown of public transport.
With many of our team working on the front line,
we’re determined to ensure that they’re safe and feel
supported. That’s an essential part of sta retention.
Part of that is about ensuring that they have the right
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to do their jobs
safely, and that they know what the current Government
guidelines are with regards to social distancing. We’ve
also introduced new ways of working in some areas.
FM CLINIC
Richard Jenkins
Ravi Bhatnagar
Connecting
people,
property and
data for peak
performance
Concept Evolution
CAFM / IWMS
FSI GO
Mobile Workforce apps
Concept Advantage
Workplace apps
Celebrating
30YEARS
in 2020
link
/www.fsifm.com
