FEBRUARY 2021 21
FMJ.CO.UK
FM PROVIDER’S VIEW
DANIELA EIGNER,
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER, THE
CHURCHILL GROUP
Though some areas
of sustainability
may have taken
a hit in 2020, it
wasn’t all bad
news. Many
organisations
were able to
report carbon
reductions and
lowered energy use
thanks to the full
or partial closure
of buildings. The
lockdown also
saw a lot of people shopping locally in a sustainable
manner.
Sustainability will certainly remain a focus for lots of
businesses, and the big challenge may be balancing
that among the more pressing issues of the return to
work and ensuring occupant safety through highquality
hygiene processes.
Some of the knock-on ež ects of the pandemic may
have a side impact on sustainability. For example,
workplaces may choose to install automatic lights that
switch ož when a room is empty. Though the primary
reason for installation is to remove a touchpoint, they
will also help reduce energy usage. Sustainable hygiene
may be a bit trickier. Before the pandemic, cleaning
firms were able to focus on and invest in chemical-free
cleaning agents and recyclable packaging. That became
a low priority during COVID as the emphasis had to
be on using products that did the best to combat the
chance of transmission.
Now is the time for companies to take another look
at marrying up the ež ectiveness of cleaning products
with their sustainability attributes. That does not mean
compromising on hygiene; rather, reviewing supply
chains and researching for the best options on the
market.
FM also has a big role to play in delivering
sustainability through social value.
Wellbeing was already a big trend in the built
environment prior to last March. Now it’s arguably the
top priority, along with hygiene. Working from home
has put the ož ice under the microscope. Employees
are questioning why they need the ož ice if they can do
the same job from their home, and businesses are reevaluating
the purpose of the ož ice.
With all research pointing to a hybrid working
week for a lot of the UK workforce, it is essential that
workplaces are set up so that occupants can be at their
happiest, healthiest and most productive in the time
they will spend in the space.
FMs have demonstrated throughout the pandemic
that they are key consultants when it comes to the built
environment and the safe operation of the workplace,
whether it’s an ož ice, shop or school.
The current lockdown presents the perfect
opportunity for FMs to share their expertise. Where
some businesses might be unsure about working on
sustainability instead of other issues, talking about it
through social value and employee wellbeing is a great
way to get buy in.
Strong social value and sustainability frameworks can
lead to a whole range of positive business outcomes,
including talent attraction and retention, progress
towards CSR objectives and building resilience into the
organisation.
FM providers must look to the year ahead with great
relish. If 2020 was the year that they truly demonstrated
their importance in times of crisis, then 2021 can be
the year that they cement themselves as vital business
partners.
FM CLIENT’S VIEW
LUCY HIND,
HEAD OF PROPERTY, BARNSLEY COUNCIL
The facilities
managers role
has never been
so critical as
it is in today’s
organisations;
with more
emphasis on
sustainability and
more focus on
workforce specific
sustainability. The
traditional focus
on energy, carbon
reduction and costs and service delivery optimisation
from packaging and food waste initiatives to waste,
recycling and reuse, has been expanded to include
human ergonomics and workplace wellbeing. The
latter is high on the sustainability agenda as a way of
ensuring that recruitment and retention is optimised
and that staž work ež iciently and ež ectively in new
work environments.
All this has been accentuated with the fast change in
work environments brought forward by the impact of
COVID. FMs and their team’s roles are becoming ever
more important – ranging from the communication of
new processes through to space planning and ensuring
safe work practices are aligned to workforce platforms
which continue to change. Key to this is engagement
with the workforce as changes develop which are
inclusive enough to ensure the wider workforce feels it
is a part of the working team and can establish a good
workplace inclusive culture.
The facilities team plays a vital role in this changing
FM CLINIC
Lucy Hind
Daniela Eigner
ADVICE & OPINION
link
/www.fsifm.com
