Facilities management services refers to all the services required for the management of a building to increase or maintain its value. Hard services relate to the actual physical built environment, with a focus on infrastructure, whereas soft services are the internal space, the people and the organisation; for example, ensuring the environment is clean and aesthetically pleasing. Recent analysis by KPMG and MBD estimated the overall value of the UK facilities management sector to be approximately £81 billion (2010), demonstrating the wide-ranging opportunities available to SMEs bidding into this sector.
Examples of contract opportunities for FM hard services:
- Mechanical and electrical maintenance and repairs.
- Maintenance of CCTV systems or fire alarm systems.
- Planned preventative maintenance services.
- Heating systems.
- General building maintenance.
- Air conditioning maintenance.
Examples of contract opportunities for FM soft services:
- Security
- Cleaning
- Catering
- Waste management/disposal and recycling services
- Pest control
- Grounds maintenance
- Move management (churn services)
Every day, private and public organisations choose to outsource many of these services, putting both hard and soft facilities management contracts out to tender and the procurement process. This includes the delivery of building contracts for major buildings, new facilities, the redevelopment of existing spaces, major refurbishments varying in scope and value, and planned or preventative maintenance services. There are a whole host of facilities management tender opportunities in the public sector arena.