Navigating PFI Handback: Key Strategies for Successful Contract Completion

The shape of contractual relationships in PFI are changing as many contracts enter the advised 7-year handback window and new teams come in to manage the handback, and personnel are reassigned to meet demand. As the industry completes more handbacks, the aim is to create a central space for data sharing that will provide solutions and best practice models, as well as best practice recommendations for contract completion.

We are delighted to announce our partnership with the new Yorkshire-based, FM dedicated job board – FM Recruiter. The new site was launched in November, and is the latest edition to the Business Daily Group which include media and recruitment arms covering the Facilities Management and Rail sectors.

Comment from 300 North given to TwinFM for their recent article: Hiring in FM – Looking Beyond University Degrees. To see thoughts from Adam Fahn (Freelance FM and Safety Consultant), Robert Blackler (VP of Sales, Infraspeak), and Angela Hughes (HR Director, Cluttons) visit the TWin FM site.

"68 per cent of the employers surveyed by CIPD said that the skills they have the most difficulty finding in jobseekers are overwhelmingly technical skills. Paul Connolly, CEO of FM recruitment company 300 North, believes the lack of recognition in FM is also worsening the skills gap.

300 North was invited to the Facilities Show to discuss how recruiters could tackle skill gaps and shortages across the Facilities Management sector, how that would impact the industry going forward and what can be done to solve it. The panel, titled “Turbulent Times: FM’s Best Upskilling Opportunity?”, was chaired by Mark Whittaker (Chair, IWFM and General Manager, Thomson FM), and had Conrad Dinsmore (Head of Projects, CBRE), Sofie Hooper (Head of Policy, IWFM), Andrew Hulbert (Managing Director, Pareto FM) and Theresa Lamarque (Director of Strategic Partnerships, 300 North), as speakers.

For National Careers Week, we interviewed Mark Whittaker to spotlight FM careers and discuss how people are moving into and within the sector. The FM workforce comes from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, with many falling into the sector or not having clarity over the breadth of the opportunities available in it. In this interview we asked Mark about the jobs he’s had, his entry into the FM sector, his work with IWFM over the last 14 years, and how he thinks the sector has changed.

Prior to 300 North, I worked as an Internal recruiter in FM and Logistics and built up a recruitment department from scratch. At 300 North I’m a Talent Resourcer specialising in FM – Hard Services & M&E. I work alongside Joe and Jack to recruit Engineers, Administrators, Team Leaders, Supervisors and Managers in Electrical, Gas and Air Conditioning.

Tell Us About Your Professional Background

My first real paid job was when I was 17 and worked as an Administrator whilst going to night school to study Law. I'll never forget how I could get the bus directly to the office from home for 19p each way! From there I worked in criminal law, moved into being a qualified person-centred counsellor, and then I found my way into recruitment and have never looked back!

What Do You Like Doing In Your Spare Time?

I love visiting family over tea and cake and catching up with friends at a bottomless brunch! I do like to have ‘me’ time too and enjoy mindful thinking and I meditate daily. I'm involved in raising money for charities, in particular mental health which is very close to my heart. I help run a modified car club and raise money for the charity MIND, taking part in car shows.

What's Your Favourite Sport?

Motorsport! Especially attending Santa Pod Raceway for the European Drag Racing, followed by Stock car racing at Bradford. I love the adrenalin, noise and weirdly the smell.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

Baking Christmas Cakes!

What is Company Branding?

Standing out to candidates is all about ensuring that your company is visible among many others when someone outside of the business or the FM sector is looking for a new role.

The instability of the last year has caused many candidates to stay in their roles or move during the pandemic, causing an industry wide candidate shortage. As things reopen, FM companies are greatly increasing hiring leading to a candidate driven market, where the number of job openings vastly outnumber the available talent. This has meant organisations are having to market themselves in order to be considered by prospective talent. Candidates are looking for many things from their next employer, including a more democratic approach to procurement.

The Invisible Group

International Pride month has just passed. It’s a time when people talk about and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. This June we talked to LGBTQIA+ people about their experiences and did some research into the challenges LGBTQIA+ people face in the workplace, and how FM organisations are creating more safe and diverse spaces for them to thrive at work.