Control your business risk

With proactive compliance management across hard and soft FM services

Proactive supply chain management

There are many services that typically fall under the ‘facilities management’ umbrella, from cleaning and pest control to security and fire safety. Some are mandatory – the ‘hard’ FM services – while others are optional services that may or may not be carried out to make a building feel more comfortable (‘soft’ FM services).

Whether you’re contracted to provide a hard or soft FM service, it’s vital to understand the risks involved, your liabilities and responsibilities, and ensure your suppliers are fit to provide services to a high standard.

Hard FM services

As Hard FM services are often required by law, to ensure the safety and welfare of employees and customers, there’s a much higher risk to your business’s reputation if you fail to deliver these services adequately and in a timely manner.

Those who carry out these services typically must hold specific qualifications and insurances, and work in line with strict regulations, such as the Workplace (Health Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. This means it’s vital to verify and monitor the compliance of any suppliers you use to deliver these services, especially in areas such as:

  • Lighting
  • Temperature
  • Ventilation
  • Humidity
  • Work space dimensions
  • Cleanliness
  • Toilet and washing facilities
  • Rest and eating facilities
  • Plumbing

If your suppliers fail to deliver these services in a timely, safe and efficient manner, then your brand’s reputation could be damaged and you may even face legal consequences.

hard and soft FM services

hard and soft FM services

Soft FM services

Unlike hard FM services, soft FM services aren’t required by law, which means your clients may choose to add or remove them.

These services typically make working environments feel more comfortable and secure, and can include areas like:

  • Grounds maintenance
  • Decorating
  • Catering services
  • Cleaning services
  • Pest control
  • Waste management
  • Car parking services

While these services aren’t required by law, it’s just as important to manage and monitor any suppliers of soft FM services as it is for hard FM suppliers. As your clients can opt to remove these services at any time, if your suppliers can’t deliver the work to a high standard then you could risk losing projects or contracts to a competitor. It’s therefore crucial to stay on top of your soft FM suppliers’ competencies and qualifications.

Talk to our team today

If you want to reduce risk throughout your FM supply chain, talk to our FM experts today. They’ll tell you how we can help your organisation to manage and maintain supplier compliance.

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