10 QUESTIONS


10 QUESTIONS WITH... NICK OETTINGER


In each issue we ask an FM professional the Tomorrow’s FM 10 Questions, this month we spoke to Nick Oettinger, Managing Director of The Furniture Recycling Group.


Q1


WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?


I started my career cleaning swimming pools and then worked my way up to leading a management buyout of the UK’s largest swimming pool construction company.


Q2


HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE FM


INDUSTRY?


Whilst working as an improvement consultant in the industry, dealing with the full spectrum of waste types and processes, there was a poignant moment whilst at a landfill site when a mattress became wrapped around the drive shaft of a delivery vehicle on site. It got my cogs churning about these bulky items and how I could break down each component of the mattress to ensure as much of it was recycled and 100% diverted from landfill. From that moment onwards, I concentrated on tackling difficult waste streams to generate a sustainable business, which achieves maximum recycling.


Q3 Q4


Q5


WHO, IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY, DO YOU


MOST ADMIRE?


My first ever boss; he taught me most of what I know in business today.


IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT, WHAT CAR


WOULD YOU BUY? Audi R8


HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE THE FACILITIES


MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY?


It can often be a difficult task for facilities managers to remove, transport and dispose of mattresses. Figures show that in the UK, only a small percentage of mattresses are


46 | TOMORROW’S FM


recycled responsibly, with 7.5million discarded to landfill sites – usually the cheapest, quickest option.


It is our vision that the UK’s end of life mattresses be turned back into the very products they were – increasing environmental sustainability and tackling the landfill problem.


Q6 Q7


Q8


WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU


WERE GROWING UP? I wanted to be a digger driver.


IF YOU COULD HAVE A SUPER POWER FOR


A DAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?


I’d very much like Hermione’s time turner necklace in Harry Potter.


IF YOU COULD HOST A DINNER PARTY WITH


ANY THREE GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD THEY BE?


Queen Elizabeth II, Frank Sinatra and Lewis Hamilton.


Q9


WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FUTURE OF THE


FACILITIES MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY?


With the European Union Waste Management Policy Review Process set to affect UK Government policy on mattress recycling, facilities managers are set to face a legislative requirement to dispose of EOL mattresses in an environmentally acceptable way.


As such, it will be critical that EOL recycling is considered at the very early stages of new product development and that the FM industry partners with suppliers that honour this. By working together,


manufacturers, suppliers and the FM industry can share their part of the burden with industry and governmental experts, harnessing their knowledge to collaboratively deliver the step change that’s needed if we are to achieve the much-needed circular economy we’re striving for.


Q10


RAVI BHATNAGAR, ACCOUNT DIRECTOR


FROM ANABAS ASKED: WHAT CAN FACILITIES MANAGERS DO BETTER TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE UP AND COMING WORKFORCE?


As a supplier to the facilities industry I can’t really pass comment on this in terms of the wider context of the workforce. However, I do believe that with regards to recycling and creating a circular economy, there is an education process required for all of those within the facilities industry.


There will at some stage be a legislative requirement for the facilities industry to dispose of EOL mattresses in an environmentally acceptable way, which will see a step change in how facilities managers handle this.


www.tfrgroup.co.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56