REGULAR 10 QUESTIONS WITH...
In each issue we ask an FM professional the Tomorrow’s FM 10 Questions. This month we spoke to Denise Hanson, Commercial Director at BICSc.
Q1
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
My first role was as a trainee housekeeper with the Grand Metropolitan Hotel Group, based at the Piccadilly Hotel, London. This role came with day release to Westminster College to undertake the City and Guilds in Accommodation Services. For an 18-year-old from Yorkshire, London it was a bit of a culture shock!
Q2
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY?
Having worked in hotels for several years I moved to a local government role during the period of CCT (compulsory competitive tendering), which in turn led to a role with Cooper Cleaning Services Ltd. I stayed within the cleaning industry for several years in operational, consultancy, and sales roles, initially with Johnson Wax morphing into Johnson Diversey. I then took a job with Turner FM, which offered both hard and soft FM services.
Q3
HOW DO YOU CHALLENGE THE
STATUS QUO?
I believe questioning accepted practice is the most effective way to bring about change. Demonstrating that alternate methods are equally or more efficient is also a good way to get buy in from colleagues and management alike. To do this though you first need to look at the current working practice and speak to those delivering it. If the cleaning operatives buy into your changes, you can drive change. If you can do this it is much more likely to be properly embedded and successful. I was challenged by the Minister of Health (MoH) in KSA as to why, when they had spent hundreds of thousands of dirham on consultants, what could BICSc offer that was different. My answer was that we work with the
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cleaning staff and drive change from the floor. We were challenged to show our offer at a site last January and I am pleased to say that MoH is now adopting BICSc training across their portfolio of healthcare sites.
Q4
SINCE YOU STARTED IN FM WHAT HAS
BEEN THE BIGGEST CHANGE THE INDUSTRY HAS SEEN/
YOU HAVE OBSERVED? The Covid-19 pandemic was a very challenging time, and the acknowledgement that good cleaning practice was key to a healthy workplace. Sadly, the recognition from this time has waned as the pandemic fades from memory. The other major observation is the shortage of labour and the changes and challenges that this brings, we are seeing more automation to deliver a quality cleaning service, simply becasue, in my opinion, we cannot attract people into our industry.
Q6 Q7
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM??
This really depends on my mood, but a firm favourite is The Bird Cage with Robin Williams.
IF YOU COULD HOST A DINNER PARTY
WITH THREE GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD
THEY BE AND WHY? Michael Parkinson would be my first pick as I always enjoyed his interview technique, and I think he would have some fabulous stories to tell. I would team him with Michael Portillo and Rick Stein.
Q8 Q9 Q5
WHO, IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY,
DO YOU MOST ADMIRE?
I admire Mary Portas, her drive and vision to use younger designers made a real change to Harvey Nichols. Perhaps more industries should listen to the younger voices.
ANY ADVICE TO SOMEONE
JUST STARTING OUT IN
THE INDUSTRY? Believe in yourself, take any training that your company offers and don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues for advice. It’s a wonderful industry with some fabulous opportunities for everyone.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE FUTURE
OF THE FM INDUSTRY?
I would love to think that the industry would be fully recognised for the part it plays in society, after all, it controls where we work, travel, shop, and recuperate.
10WHICH AREA OF FM
BE BEST TRANSFORMED THROUGH TECHNOLOGY?
DO YOU THINK COULD
I believe that technology, that can provide us with details on which areas have been used heavily or not at all can direct cleaning to where it is most required, offering time saving and labour saving. delete the rest
www.bics.org.uk twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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