SUMMER 2025 DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 18
GPSJ
ECO & SUSTAINABILITY
Naviga琀椀ng risk with choice: How Fusion21’s Workplace
and Facili琀椀es Management Framework supports Total
Facili琀椀es Management when it’s the right fit
In recent years, there has been a lack of confidence when
it comes to businesses opting for Total Facilities Management
(Total FM), but as Russell Gates, Framework Manager
(Workplace and Facilities Management) at Fusion21 explains,
for the right situation, Total FM can be an effective solution.
For many years, Total FM has played a significant role in how
organisations procure suppliers to manage their workplaces
and facilities. However, faith in this approach was shaken
following the collapse of Carillion in 2018.
More than 450 public sector projects, including hospitals,
schools, and prisons, were plunged into turmoil because they
relied on Carillion to provide all their facilities management
services. This caused a crisis in confidence when it came
to Total FM, which began to be seen as ‘putting all your
eggs in one basket’ and too risky.
Since then, public sector organisations have been breaking
up their facilities management services and procuring them
from separate contractors, feeling safe in the knowledge that,
if anything went wrong, only one area would be affected.
At Fusion21, we’ve seen this trend play out across the industry,
and this has worked well for managing risk, in addition to
giving Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME’s) greater
market access.
However, eight years on from the Carillion collapse, is the
market ready to trust Total FM again?
The advantages and disadvantages of Total FM
Total FM is an approach to facilities management where a
single contractor is responsible for managing all aspects of an
organisation’s facilities (including both hard and soft services).
The main advantage of this approach is having just one partner
Russell Gates
Framework Manager
(Workplace and Facilities Management)
that delivers mechanical engineering, grounds maintenance,
cleaning, helpdesk services etc in a compliant way - enabling
organisations to focus on their core objectives.
Additional benefits include economies of scale, reduced
administrative costs, and the opportunity to leverage
a trusted partner’s expertise to enhance service efficiency
and foster innovation.
In recent years, we’ve seen many of our members taking
a balanced approach to facilities management strategy
in the public sector.
“There is no obvious right or wrong solution, says Russell Gates,
Fusion21’s Framework Manager (Workplace and Facilities
Management): “Seven years on from Carillion, the need for cost
savings is very much a focus as organisations – including Fusion21
members - look to secure increased operational efficiencies,
yet there is still nervousness about Total FM.
“Total FM isn’t for every organisation, but it still has its place. It can
lend itself to large portfolios spread across wider geographic areas,
or where in-house teams cannot manage lots of suppliers. For the right
situation, Total FM can absolutely be the right solution, but it isn’t
a case of ‘one size fits all’.
“At Fusion21, we offer Total FM as an option, but it’s also possible
to break down the services from individual framework lots if that
is what will best suit the needs of a Fusion21 member.”
Proud Providers of Procurement with Purpose
18
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL SPRING 2025
