AEJ have secured another contract cleaning win, this time on the south coast of England at a 165,000 square feet retail park with capacity for over 500 vehicles to park. AEJ, who specialise in soft service facilities management into the retail, shopping centre, office and business park space will provide on site cleaning to ensure the retail park is in a good, clean condition at all times for shoppers visiting the site. This is important to not only attract new customers to a site but also ensure repeat visits from those that use the retail park on a regular basis.
This contract award increases AEJ’s portfolio in the South East of England along with continuing to establish the business as once of the leading names in the contract cleaning marketplace across the UK.
Comments Off on AEJ in New London Retail Park Site Win
AEJ Management, the retail and shopping centre soft services FM specialist, are celebrating after having been awarded a new contract to run a 100000 sq ft out of town retail park in North-West London. The retail park, which features some of the UKs most popular and recognised brands, was put out to tender to find a provider that could undertake a professional cleaning service at the site along with providing a visible security presence for the visiting public.
Iain Warburton, Business Development Manager at AEJ Management remarks, ‘We’re delighted to have been appointed on this site for the next 3 years. This demonstrates the trust the managing agent has in us to deliver on the service specifications that were outlined in the bid process and it also strengths our position as a leading soft service provider into the retail and shopping sector in and around the capital and south-west in general. Our head office is in Chelmsford and we are often viewed as an attractive proposition to clients given our proximity to London and our excellent track record within this sector’.
The bid process involved having to outline the company’s experience in service delivery, submission of a clear and competitive bid along with demonstrating a strategic and cultural fit for the client. Iain continues, ‘What was also apparent during the tender exercise what the need to demonstrate innovation over the duration of the contract and also how we would add value to the existing site arrangements. Being able to compile and submit detailed, yet concise reports is one aspect that differentiates us from our competitors and this is something we are proud of’.
For further information on the services that AEJ Management can offer, visit their website at http://aejmanagement.com on contact on 01245 396873
Comments Off on Has The FM Sector Now Become A ‘Race To The Bottom’?
Across UK, industry as a whole over the last 12- 18 months has seen seismic developments which did not seem possible prior to the outbreak of Covid-19. Businesses have had to adapt to the constant changing landscape they operate in with most employers taking advantage of furlough, or the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, in an attempt to prevent redundancies and keep staff on the payroll whilst hoping to get through the turbulence as unscathed as possible. Microsoft Teams and Zoom have become the new medium for holding both internal company and client meetings and perhaps opened executive eyes in how communications can still remain open and effective between staff and clients alike, whilst travel has been restricted. Industry however has suffered that there can be no doubt, with the hospitality sector still largely dormant and one of the last to pick up the pieces from the devastation of Lockdown.
The Facilities Management sector has also experienced changes that were not forecast with remote staff management becoming a necessity along with the challenges imposed logistically to ensure site staff are fully compliant from a PPE perspective. There have, of course, been some winners and losers in this sector yet the retail sector has perhaps been the biggest loser with numbers only recently returning to parks and shopping centres of which were experienced pre-lockdown. Managing agents have had to work tirelessly with both landlords and tenants alike in an attempt to understand both occupier requirements and occupancy costs. The role of ‘middle man’ has had to be played, at times, with diplomatic aplomb so as to extend support to occupiers in outlining the financial support available through CBILS and other government backed schemes along with lobbying Business Improvement Districts (BIDS). Rent concessions, service-charge mitigation and payment plans have had to be skilfully negotiated to satisfy the need of both landlord and occupier.
Despite all this and the heroic efforts by some managing agents to keep centres from looking like ghost towns and the fact that we now appear, at least, to be coming out of the woods with the clearing in sight, has there been a shift in procurement strategy in relation to contractor services with cost being the main driver over quality of service delivery? Cost will and has always been a significant driver in the procurement process for any organisation, but given the challenges experienced over the last 18 months, is this now the significant factor when it comes to procuring management services?
Iain Warburton, Business Development Manager at AEJ Management who have for a number of years specialised in providing soft service facilities management into the retail and shopping centre space, makes some interesting observations. ‘The last 12 months in particular have been quite fascinating for this sector. We have noticed clients putting greater emphasis on cost cutting measures whilst still expecting, to a large degree, the same level of quality of service delivery and reporting. A number of regional facilities managers that I have spoken to across the country over the last 12 months have all sited cost cutting requirements in their site procurement needs yet have remarked, also, that AEJ have consistently delivered on their service delivery and reporting promise to ensure quality of operational delivery, despite the constant challenges the sector has had to overcome’.
It does beg the question, has Covid been a ‘bad news Friday’ moment for the FM sector with procurement teams using this as a reason to look solely at the bottom line at the expense of quality, innovation and effective operational reporting? Iain continues, ‘We’ve certainly seen instances of clients suggesting an emphasis on quality, added value and innovation requirements at the bid stage, yet at the contract award stage seemingly motivated by the bottom line only, sometimes, at the expense of outstanding site service delivery’.
It’ll be interesting to note, post July 19th, whether there are to be further significant changes that impact on this sector but one thing is for sure, companies are going to have to be on the balls of their feet when making decisions in compiling their costings during the bid stage in an even more, ever changing marketplace than usual whilst perhaps having to second guess the client’s train of thought, when looking to win contracts.
Comments Off on AEJ Win New Grounds Maintenance Contract
AEJ are pleased to have been awarded a new grounds maintenance contract for a leading adult education college in the Midlands. The college, which offers over 150 short residential courses aimed at helping adults improve their skills, confidence and ability to work towards their own personal or professional goals, is set in 6 acres of grounds and woodland.
Iain Warburton, Business Development Manager at AEJ Management remarked, ‘This is a great win for AEJ as we continue to offer an industry leading horticultural service to our clients. Whilst traditionally strong within the retail and shopping centre space, this expands AEJ’s service remit into the education and charitable sectors which demonstrates the team’s ability to perform across multiple sectors. We’re looking forward to working with the client on a number of on site sustainability and biodiversity projects along with providing a service into a site with centuries of history’.
Should you have a landscaping requirement or indeed a soft services facilities management need then contact us 01245 396873 or email us at helpdesk@aejmanagement.com
Comments Off on Cleaning Sector in UKs Top 10 Industries
A recent report published by The British Cleaning Council indicates that the cleaning, hygiene and waste sector is one of the top ten industries in the UK. There are almost 1.5million people working in the sector and accounting for about 5 percent of the UK’s workforce, this easily places the sector in the top ten industries for employment.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19 last year, the cleaning and hygiene sector has come under scrutiny like never before. The need to provide Covid secure workspace, the mitigation of risk for key workers along with understanding the requirements of staff both office and remote based, has become a critical requirement for the industry to have to deal with. The supply of PPE has been another logistical challenge. The vital work the sector has undertaken over the last 12 months has seen the sector receive praise from top figures across business and government.
Statistics from February 2020 to February 2021 illustrate how the pandemic has impacted on industry –
The monthly GDP of services to buildings and landscape activities was 13 per cent below the February 2020 level.
Waste collection treatment and disposal activities grew at 3.4 per cent over the same time period.
Manufacture of soap and detergent, cleaning and polishing perfumes and toilet preparations grew by 1.2 per cent during that period.
The general public have also placed greater importance than usual on cleaning in public spaces as the report illustrates –
61 per cent of people who responded said that seeing cleaning and hygiene operatives in public spaces makes them feel that safety measures are being taken seriously.
45 per cent agreed that the visibility of cleaning in progress would encourage them to return to an office space, shopping centre or airport.
Paul Thrupp, Chair of The British Cleaning Council (BCC) remarked ‘Increased awareness of the importance of cleaning and hygiene means our industry will continue to play a vital role as the UK recovers from the pandemic and into the future. I believe the outlook going forward is very positive’.
AEJ Management provide contract cleaning into retail, shopping centre, business park, industrial, education and the charitable sector space. Along with general internal and external site cleaning we also provide a comprehensive range of washroom products and services, fogging, deep cleaning, gum removal and high level cleaning activity.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible.
Cookies are small pieces of text sent to your web browser by a website you visit. A cookie file is stored in your web browser and allows the site or a third-party to recognise you and make your next visit easier and the website more useful to you.
Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
We only use cookies to improve your experience and monitor web traffic. All data we collect on this site is anonymous and not shared or sold. Please find more information here
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
3rd Party Cookies
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
