THE FIRST Sustainable FM Index report has been launched this week. Compiled by Acclaro Advisory, the University of Reading and Workplace Law the aim of the report is to showcase best practice and promote the value of the FM sector.
Organisations outsourcing their FM services achieve added value from engaging companies who minimise their environmental footprints, work towards having a positive impact on society and display sound governance.
16 companies were indexed that met two key criteria:
1. Being publicly listed
2. Achieving 25% of business turnover within FM services
These companies are:
1. Babcock
2. Bouygues
3. Carillion
4. CBRE
5. Cofely
6. G4S
7. interserve
8. Johnson Controls
9. Johnson Service group
10. Lend lease
11. Mitie
12. Rentokil Initial
13. Serco
14. Sodexo
15. Speedy Hire
16. Vinci
The report also highlighted areas of weakness, which the authors say was necessary to stimulate change and drive the issue of sustainability.
Sunil Shah, Managing Director of Acclaro Advisory, commented: “The Index highlights the value the FM sector can provide to the community, economy and business through effective engagement. Organisations are currently subject to a large number of reporting requirements, each with a slight variation on the information that must be provided. This Index acts as a crucial commonality within the reporting process, to standardise and regulate the information that needs to be collected and reported against.”
The companies indexed reported high levels of commitment to sustainability in terms of the governance, social and environmental criteria assessed. Best practice notes are included within the report, highlighting ways in which Carillion, CBRE and Vinci facilities have delivered excellence.
The FM Index Sustainability report makes a number of recommendations to improve the deliverability of sustainability within the FM sector:
1. Increase transparency of information – particularly to emphasise the link between sustainability and financial benefits from direct and indirect cost savings.
2. Develop social performance metrics – to encourage reporting of social sustainability in a consistent, comparable manner, essential to translate the value of social information into clear, measurable terms.
3. Align and scope Client-FM relationship to deliver real benefit – the relationship between the two parties can sometimes conflict and prevent a cohesive approach. The end decision taken forward by the client is intended to be one where the benefits and consequences of action or inaction are known.
4. Improve supply chain engagement – active communication to help drive innovation and reduced costs at a corporate and client level. The current sequential rather than integrated process presents a fragmented and ineffective offer to clients.
5. Systematically strengthen training of staff – this up-skilling across all grades is vital to allow the FM sector to embed sustainability as a day-to-day provision and gain support, belief and motivation from all areas of society.
The report, which can be downloaded here, will be compiled annually, aiming in future to engage a wider range of organisations delivering FM services, both in-house and external service providers.
