FMJ.CO.UK INTERVIEW FOCUS
APRIL 2021 41
The plan is to increase Operate’s’
global presence in the development,
infrastructure, built environment and
operations markets. Across these markets,
Abbate explains that working closely with
the Mace group will bring mutual benefits.
“Within the FM consultancy, we do a lot
of work upfront with the construction side,
advising on the operational element of the
building. But it can work the other way,
with consultancy bringing good ideas and
best practice into the wider business by
carrying out some independent reviews of
our operations and clients and suggesting
best practice. This is all a value add for
our clients and that model is how we’ve
moved into new regions, starting with FM
consultancy and then moving into the
delivery of services.”
The five-year goal is to build Operate’s’
presence in a number of key countries
and regional markets across the world,
driving further growth in its mature
businesses in North America, UK & Europe
and Middle East; as well as continuing
to build a presence in growth areas like
Asia Pacific. The a ermath of COVID-19 is
fuelling a worldwide review of the value
of the workplace argues Abbate, and a
subsequent growth in demand for more
cohesive services.
He says: “I think the pandemic has
opened up a conversation on activity-based
working, and advising on how to build the
solution around it. What we’re finding in
consultancy and in construction is that
everyone is talking about the workplace
and the key elements needed to create it,
which Mace is very good at.
“But then you’ve got to deliver the
services to it, and go in and change
the culture to make it work. With our
consultancy business we can change the
culture, with construction we can build the
place, and Operate sits right in the centre
of that, which is to make the workplace
operate the way we want it to operate.”
PURPOSE-DRIVEN GOALS
While the business goals are pretty
substantial, the new five-year plan also
has some ambitious targets to build on the
societal changes brought about by both the
global climate emergency and the impact
of the Coronavirus pandemic. The new
strategy therefore sets out a clear vision of
a more sustainable, and inclusive business
model that puts purpose at its heart.
Says Abbate: “Last year the Group asked
where it wanted to be and switched
to a purpose led organisation, with
sustainability and diversity at the centre
of that. We’re all so aware of the human
impact on the environment at the moment,
as you can look at how we treated the
environment and its correlation with
the outbreak of COVID. If the world
doesn’t stop negatively impacting the
environment, we’re in danger of going
through something like this again.
“This is a five-year plan and if you
don’t put those ambitions
out there you’re not going
to make changes. For
us we feel the built
environment is going
to be a huge issue
because as a group
we build buildings,
so how do we give
back and ensure
our biodiversity
is a positive rather
than a negative
one? This is why our
strategy to achieve
net zero carbon, ‘steps
without footprints’, is helping
us drive the sustainability agenda
across the built environment, not just our
organisation.”
The Mace Group achieved its ambition
to be a net zero carbon business in
2020, confirming in January of this year
there was a 50 per cent reduction in the
company’s carbon emissions across 2020,
with measures including a 75 per cent
increase in renewable energy, a 75 per
cent reduction in business travel emissions,
a ban on diesel generators and an increase
in the use of cement alternatives. The plan
now is to build on that success by aiming
to achieve a 10 per cent year on year
reduction in emissions and only o setting
the outstanding carbon to gold standards.
Explains Abbate: “As an organisation
that has got to net zero carbon we’re
doing a lot of work in identifying
the base line for our clients
and how we support them to
achieve this goal. We can
prove to them that this is an
improvement that doesn’t
cost you anymore, yet look
at the benefits it brings to a
business.”
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
In tandem with the sustainability
I think the pandemic has opened
up a conversation on activity-based
working, and advising on how to build the
solXtion aroXnd it :hat ZeƉre fi ndinJ in
consultancy and in construction is that
everyone is talking about the workplace
goals Operate aims to become the
most inclusive employer of choice in the
and the key elements needed to
create it, which Mace is very
industry, reducing its gender and ethnicity
pay gap by 10 per cent year on year and
meeting some ambitious recruitment
targets set out in its 2020-2023 Diversity
and Inclusion Strategy.
Says Abbate: “If I look at the metrics
within our business, I am pleased to say
we’re quite diverse, with approximately
52 per cent female and 48 per cent male
as a gender mix in Operate within the UK,
good at.”