What is Facilities Management?

The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) defines Facilities Management (FM) as:

'The integration of processes within an organisation to maintain and develop the agreed
services which support and improve the effectiveness of the client's primary activities.'

FM can also be defined as the provision of services that support a client's wider business
activities, and allow that client to concentrate on its core competencies.
For example, as a company grows, expanding its operations from a small, single site firm into
a multi-site, multi-disciplinary organisation, the needs of its employees, customers and
building users will naturally change. These requirements - for example, for adequate, safe
and comfortable office space, or reception teams, security or regular cleaning, can quickly
become a major issue for a growing organisation.
Companies start to address this issue by engaging with suppliers of the services they need - a
cleaning company, a security provider, a recruitment agency and a waste management
provider for example. As the complexity and cost of their requirement grows to match their
business' expansion, however, maintaining these relationships - not to mention legislative
compliance and safety - becomes a significant drain on existing teams, as well as a source of
often unpredictable costs.
A solution to this issue is to outsource the support functions to a single provider, who can
create cost-certainty over a number of years, a single-point of contact for the client
organisation, and can guarantee that the client's estate is managed in the correct manner.

FM Providers
FM providers bring high levels of expertise to areas of a company's operations that they may
not necessarily possess as part of their in-house teams. Providers of FM services can deliver
facilities services and energy solutions that support Customers activities, drive cost savings,
environmental compliance and operational efficiencies from their businesses. FM providers
enable client's teams to concentrate on their business activities and commit to adding value
and innovation to their operations.
Larger FM companies manage and operate TFM functions and categories within hard and
soft FM, either separately or as a bundled service package. Within the hard FM sphere they
can offer the full scope of mechanical and electrical maintenance, refurbishment and repair
services, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, public health services, lifts, fire protection,
lightning protection, power supplies and fabric.

Other areas in which a FM service provider could add value to your business include:

Hard Services

Technical Services
Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance
Construction projects
Maintenance and inspections
Space management
Porterage

Soft Services

Supply of Energy
Reception & concierge
Housekeeping, janitorial, logistics & porterage
Grounds maintenance & landscaping
Helpdesk operation & management
Cleaning services
Catering
Security & vehicle parking.
Operation & maintenance
Critical engineering
Fabric maintenance
Refrigeration & cooling
Building systems management
Automation & process systems
Installation & projects
Asset management

For further examples of hard and soft services please click here.

Energy Services
Energy procurement, supply and generation are increasingly pivotal to organisations given
the importance of a sustainable, low-carbon energy solution. Leading FM providers can also
offer energy procurement solutions and carbon-reduction strategies to transform the
environmental performance of your estate, and can manage all aspects of Customers energy
and sustainability needs from procurement onwards..
Energy service areas include:

Energy consultancy
Utility procurement & risk management
Energy management
Energy performance contracts / ESCOs
Renewable & low carbon solutions
Co-generation & tri-generation
Utility asset management
Energy networks & district energy.

Business Processes
FM providers can also offer the following advantageous solutions:

Transactional services
Information technology
Customer contact centres
Mailroom & digitisation
Human resources & payroll
Regeneration & planning
Architectural design
Supply chain management.

To understand whether outsourcing your FM is right for your organisation take a look at the
decision making flowchart.

The information contained in this document has been supplied to you by Cofely who are
CIPSs Total Facilities Management Knowledge Partner. CIPS takes no responsibility for any
loss or damage in anyway arising from your interpretation or use of this information.
To find out more about Cofely, please visit www.cofely-gdfsuez.co.uk, call +44 (0) 0203 680
5300 or email enquiries@cofely-gdfsuez.com
Cofely
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