Forum Report - Summer 2008

23rd FM Forum

The keynote speech at this summers FM Forum contained an important job offer for facility managers.  Dave Hampton, the campaigner and consultant known as The Carbon Coach, told a packed audience of facility managers and service providers that Super FMs were needed to face up to the biggest challenge on the planet. He put the case for 1000 days of concerted effort to bring about a massive reduction in the carbon footprint of buildings and organisations everywhere.

He quoted Nobel Prize winner Rajendra Pachauri, of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change "If there's no action before 2012, that's too late. What we do in the next two to three years will determine our future. This is the defining moment." The job description was simple he explained. "Size up the challenge by measuring your organisations carbon shadow; Look for quick wins but be prepared for bigger challenges; Be carbon-lite yourself as best as you can be; and create one big action plan to ensure there is life after fossil fuel"

The event was held for the first time in the Cotswolds where 63 customer delegates participated in two days of intense discussions with representatives of 27 suppliers from across the sector. First time attendee Mark Cooper MD of facilities contractor Anabas said "This has been a great event full of top level professional clients looking to expand their knowledge. We have made some first class contacts." This opinion was echoed by Rebecca Bradley EMEA Estates Manager for Merrill Lynch who described it as "A day and a half well used. I’ve been really surprised by the relaxed atmosphere between customers and suppliers which is quite different to the confrontational style we often find in FM"

Almost all of the delegates had not attended a Forum before and were highly enthusiastic about the event with over 90% scoring it as Useful or Very Useful.  A typical comment came from David Russell, Director of Facilities and Real Estate Solutions for Discovery networks Europe who said, "The format is the most impressive aspect. The scheduling makes you focus on what you really need. I’ve been very impressed."

67% of delegates attending stated that they had met suppliers that they expected to do business with in the near future. 83% of service providers were confident that they would attend future forums having experienced this one.

Graeme Kennett of Sanctuary Housing said "I was worried that the forum would be a pressured sales environment but found the relaxed approach by service providers and their honesty an effective approach for securing potential suppliers for the future"; Kevin Taylor from Taylor Woodrow said "I’m pleased I came. I've had meetings with companies that I’m sure I wouldn’t have otherwise"

As well as networking, social events and supplier and client meetings, each Forum features a conference stream created by Forum hosts, Graham Price of Forum Events and Martin Pickard of FM Guru. Following Hamptons keynote he facilitated workshops showing how individual FMs could create their own Carbon Action Plans. Patrick Jongbloet of Eager-4-Excellence led a discussion on outsourcing decision making, Anne Lennox Martin of The Asset Faculty ran a workshop on raising FMs profile and Liz Payne, Environment Manager with Carillion at AXA, gave a case study presentation on their Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

Glenn Peters, Facilities Manager from AWE Plc said "The FM Forum was well organised and had a number of interesting presentations and discussion groups all managed in a relaxing environment." Those who attended the workshops rated them very highly with an average feedback score of 8.8 out of 10.

The moderators were also kept busy in the FM clinic where delegates get a free 30 minute session with leading consultants on any FM related query.  These ranged from discussions on performance management strategies to advice on training and development opportunities. The Job Clinic manned by Bob Field from recruitment specialists FRL was even busier as delegates explored their career opportunities, compared their salaries with market norms and sought advice on recruitment issues.

It was the first time the FM Forum has been held at the Four Pillars Hotel near Cirencester in the heart of the Cotswold Water Park. Networking is an important part of the Forum experience and all participants enjoyed a relaxed evenings drink on the lakeside veranda debating the days events before gathering for a well earned conference dinner with magical entertainment provided by the excellent James Brown.

Forum host Graham Price was justifiably upbeat at the end of another successful event. His team of organisers came in for a good deal of praise for their efficient and customer oriented service approach. "We try hard to make each and every Forum a success for everyone involved. We will listen carefully to all the feedback we have received as our attention turns to plans for January 2009"

The next FM Forum will be on 20-21 January 2009 at The Radisson Hotel, Stansted, for more information contact Graham Price - g.price@forumevents.co.uk