10 QUESTIONS
10 QUESTIONS WITH... SIMON ESNER
Each month we ask an industry professional the Tomorrow’s FM 10 Questions. This month, we chatted to Simon Esner, Director at BaxterStorey.
Q1
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
I was a milk boy in North London but my first step on the professional ladder was as a chef. I trained at Les Ambassadors Club, Mayfair and then moved to a Chef role with SG Warburg (now UBS) based in King William Street, London. Ultimately I ended up owning my own restaurant in Radlett, Hertfordshire.
Q2
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY?
I moved from the kitchen into a front of house sales role more than 25 years ago and progressed through various management positions, including restaurant manager and operations manager. I then joined Halliday Catering (now BaxterStorey) under the WSH umbrella in 1997 as a Sales Director and now fulfil the role of Director, as well as being a co- owner of WSH.
Q3
Q4 Q5
WHO, IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY, DO YOU
MOST ADMIRE?
Jeff Bezos, the CEO at
Amazon.com. He has played a pivotal role in the growth of e-commerce and battled against a tide of challenges when he first established his business plan.
IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT, WHAT CAR
WOULD YOU BUY? Bentley Continental GT V8 Convertible
HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY?
People need to value long term contracts more. By working in partnership with your clients you can
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build fantastic, mutually beneficial relationships. There’s also a lot to be said for being a specialist in the sector. I think this is where the real future lies for FM, as businesses are increasingly looking for tailored, employee-focused services. By blending together a suite of service specialists you can keep quality front of mind.
Q6 Q7 Q8
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU
WERE GROWING UP?
I always wanted to be a Chef and was fortunate enough to fulfil that ambition.
WHAT DO YOU DO TO UNWIND?
Spending time with my family and taking my 1970 MG Roadster for driving tours.
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?
Stephen Fry, because of our joint love of all things ‘Apple’, not to mention his wit and intelligence, I’m sure by the end of the meal I would walk away
with greater knowledge than when I started. Ricky Gervais’s provocative and acerbic humour would make for a truly entertaining guest and Meryl Streep, regarded as the best actress of her generation (my generation) I just loved her in Julie & Julia. For the music I would pick Adele, she’s never written a song I don't love.
Philip Howard, Chef at The Square, Bruton Street W1, would do the cooking. I’ve been a big fan of Philip’s food for over 10 years. His life stories are also truly inspirational; having battled with addiction and overcome that period of his life with magnificent success, his story is genuinely uplifting.
Q9
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FUTURE OF THE
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY?
The FM industry is growing and I can only seeing this upward trend continuing. Research suggests that the IFM market is going to expand at a rate of 6-8%. This rate can only be supported by increased engagement of specialist service providers working as part of a one team solution, providing a blended customer/building support solution that delivers to an employee-centric organisation.
Q10
ALASTAIR LITTLE OF BIFFA ASKED ‘IF
SOMEONE COULD PLAY THE LEAD ROLE IN A FILM ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?’
Robin Williams. He once said: ‘’No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.’’ This has always resonated with me.
www.baxterstorey.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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