An introduction to Facilities Management and Construction
The Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) operate from buildings collectively representing the sector’s largest corporate assets (not including staff). The construction, maintenance and running of these buildings is currently the largest category of expenditure for the fire sector. The effective procurement and management of these assets, from their construction, throughout their working life to their eventual disposal or replacement, is vital to ensure the best value is achieved. The aim of the strategy for FM & Construction is to identify where the best value and cost savings can be made across the fire sector through the procurement of construction and facilities management services.
Our Facilities Management and Construction Strategy
Over the past few months, the NFCC Procurement Hub has further strengthened its collaborative relationship with the National Fire Estates Group (NFEG), with the view of working more closely together in delivering common goals for the fire and rescue sector. One of the key developments is the creation of an NFEG sub-group, which will specifically focus on delivering efficiencies for services across construction and facilities management (FM) expenditure.
The group is tasked with coordinating the delivery of a specific construction and FM strategy that meets deliverables set out by Home Office and supported by NFCC. Early focus includes: achieving contract savings and improved performance from existing suppliers; developing and embedding future contractual models to support longer-term commercial efficiencies for the sector; creating a collective and stronger voice for negotiating and tackling common challenges in the construction and FM category; and supporting services with the funding challenges associated with decarbonisation and recent category price increases.
The inaugural meeting of the group was held on the 30th September 2021.
If you’d like to find out more about the benefits available to you and your service across any aspect of construction or facilities management, please contact: elli.nikolaou@nfcc.org.uk
National Strategic Task and Finish Group
The Facilities Management (FM) and Construction National Strategic Task and Finish Group was formally established in November 2021 as a joint initiative between the National Fire Commercial Transformation Programme (‘NFCTP’) and the National Fire Estates Group (‘NFEG’) for the purpose of enabling and facilitating the delivery of a set of key national targets across the Fire Sector as agreed between the Home Office and the National Fire Chiefs Council in early 2020.
The Task and Finish Group currently comprises twenty-one (1) Fire and Rescue Services, representing various regions and governance models, and is attended by Procurement, FM and Estates professionals. The Task and Finish Group shall remain open to any other Fire and Rescue Services who wish to join in the future.
The Task and Finish Group’s Terms of Reference document sets out the key strategic objectives its Members are seeking to achieve and these are summarised below:
- Deliver a National Category Strategy for FM & Construction capable of addressing and providing solutions to Fire and Rescue Services and their partners across the wider spectrum of the national agenda, with particular emphasis on areas such as strategic supplier management, climate change and social value;
- Deliver cashable and process savings across the FM & Construction Category through deeper collaboration, standardisation and in-contract negotiation;
- Achieve additional non-cashable benefits with the view of supporting decarbonisation targets and supporting SMEs and local suppliers; and
- Commercially reform and modernise the commissioning and contracting functions across the FM & Construction Category.
A Category Prioritisation Matrix was developed and approved by the Task and Finish Group, using a set of financial, commercial and social scoring criteria for the purpose of identifying priorities and risks, as well as planning ahead future strategic changes.
The Task and Finish Group’s immediate priorities are Energy, Construction and Cleaning & Janitorial. Simultaneously to these workstreams, various benchmarking exercises and market engagement events are being undertaken to inform category plans and commissioning strategies.
NFCC National Decarbonisation Consultancy Services Contract
With the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Procurement Hub shortly entering its eighth year after being established in 2016, it has evolved in line with external global, national and local demands and focus; evolving and re-aligning its strategic aims and priorities accordingly. These are captured in a set of Home Office Fire Priorities that set out how deliverables and outcomes will be achieved, measured and continuously improved. The development of a national strategy for the Fire Estates represents one of the Home Office Fire Priorities.
Facilities Management and Construction Resources
Government Links:
Meet the Facilities and Construction Team
Mark Arkwell
Chief Sponsor FM & Construction
Mark began his fire service career in Surrey in 1999 serving as a firefighter for five years and then experienced various roles across the Service before becoming the Assistant Chief Fire Officer in 2018.
Full biography
Elli Nikolaou
FM and Construction Category Lead
I have an extensive public sector experience in a procurement capacity which spans over a period of sixteen years across various local government bodies.
Full biography