10 QUESTIONS
Each month we ask an industry professional the Tomorrow’s FM 10 Questions. This month, we chatted to Adam Atkins, joint Managing Director of Diamond Facilities Support Ltd.
10 QUESTIONS WITH... Q3
WHO, IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY,
DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?
I must admit to being a fan of Richard Branson, he is someone with entrepreneurial flair, a will to succeed and great vision. He’s managed to overcome dyslexia when growing up to create an incredible business empire.
Q4 Q1
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Other than the obligatory paper round, I created a small car washing business at aged 10, but I was a part time bingo caller from the age of 15 – still available for Christmas parties if anyone is interested.
Q2
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY?
Having trained as a civil/structural Engineer I seemed to slip in to facilities management by accident.
I first set up my own insurance repair/maintenance business in 2005 and sold this five years later with my previous employer Willmott Dixon taking me back on to help with their academies framework bid, and then subsequently through my maintenance experience they asked me to get involved with their facilities management business and this is where my love for the industry came.
58 | TOMORROW’S FM
IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT, WHAT CAR
WOULD YOU BUY?
The Aston Martin DB11 looks good, the ultimate in style, luxury and speed. A snip at £155k!
Q5
HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
INDUSTRY? Removing costly reactive spend through a proactive and planned approach has always been our ethos at Diamond Facilities. I believe that communication driven through technology is the key to driving efficiency which in turn drives down cost.
Q6
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN
YOU WERE GROWING UP?
From an early age I always wanted to have my own business. It all started with Saturday car washing at junior school.
Q7 Q8
WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND?
I enjoy travelling, nice restaurants and golf when time permits, but ultimately quality time with my wife and kids.
IF YOU COULD HOST A DINNER
PARTY WITH ANY THREE GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE, WITH A FOURTH COOKING AND A FIFTH PROVIDING THE MUSIC, WHO WOULD
THEY BE AND WHY? Steve Jobs for his vision and drive and ability to change the IT landscape, it would be interesting to know his view on the future. Prince Harry seems like a good guy and it would be great to learn more about what it’s really like to be royal and Nelson Mandela for his view on the world and incredible life story. I would choose Gordon Ramsay to cook; a great chef with a great personality and for the music, Chris Martin of Cold Play; my favourite band currently.
Q9
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE
FUTURE OF THE FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY? The big players will continue to acquire with firms such as CBRE/JLL and I’m sure other similar businesses are looking to get in on the act. That said I firmly believe the smaller nationals such as us can really help to drive the industry forward, challenge the big boys and provide the service and personal touch that is so often missing from the larger organisations.
Q10
NICK DUNCAN, CONTRACT
MANAGER FOR BENNETT HAY ASKED: ‘WHAT IS YOUR
FAVOURITE ‘CLASSIC’ DISH?’ I am a real fan of Thai food and so my classic is Som Tam, spicy papaya salad. It apparently comes from North East Thailand. That said I could list a number of Thai dishes.
www.diamond-fs.com
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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