Facilities Management Association

Young Managers

The Young Managers Forum is an important initiative for the industry, launched by the FMA in 2004.

Members of this group are the senior managers of tomorrow in this sector. They recognise the need for innovation and evolution, and they meet regularly to discuss and develop ideas and to champion initiatives that will affect the industry into the future.

They now have their own website: www.youngmanagers.org.uk




The Young Managers Forum and the FMA jointly support the Young Manager of the Year Award.

This highly contested honour is presented every year in conjunction with the Premises & Facilities Management Partnership Awards.

The PFM Annual Awards Dinner is one of the highlights of the FM social calendar.
 
The list of contenders for the 2009 Young Manager of the Year award provides a round-up of some of the best new FM talent in the UK.

The award, a longstanding feature of the annual Premises & Facilities Management Partnership Awards, is organised by the Facilities Management Association. This year's entries presented the usual problem: how to choose just three finalists from a long list of strong candidates.

Following a thorough initial review, the following have been shortlisted:

Amanda Kirkham – National Account Manager, MITIE

Amanda’s career commenced in 2002 following the attainment of a BA in Sociology and Social Policy and a Masters in Management. Her career embraces many of the key skills which comprise the wide management and service delivery spectrum including business improvement, leadership, project management and auditor training. Her Health and Safety training is exemplary and for this she is the focal point for eight of the MITIE’s contracts.

Amanda has firm objectives for her future which include continuous improvement to training, networking and self improvement.

Clients who have benefited from her efforts include Littlewoods Shop Direct, HSBC, Centrica, Manchester Airport, C&W and Landflex.

Of particular interest are her successes with the management of eight call centres employing over 100 personnel, energy management in a data centre and a recycling campaign which produced a 22% saving on a major contract. Additionally, Amanda has implemented an environmental campaign where by managing landfill directly she has obviated the use of third party contractors.

 
Susan Pell, Account Manager at Synergy/ISS Coflex
 
Susan’s facilities management career started in 2002 after choosing this industry sector for her future after studying International Business at university, she has a BA Honours degree. Her first role with an IT based client confirmed her interest in financial management.

She participates in a regular survey – “Walking in the Customer’s Shoes” in which Susan is a key player and her “audit ready” philosophy ensures that she and her team are using the most current systems and processes including Health, Safety and Environmental issues.

She has relocated 1,000 personnel in the Defence Sector and set up a help desk with staff training. She is commitment to communication and morale building in this role where she manages a multi-discipline team of 47 responsible for hard and soft services involves.
 
Susan’s present financial responsibility is £1.5m fixed contract with additional £1m revenue and CAPEX budgets. Her continuous professional development includes the ISS Facilities Management Diploma.

Peter Burnell-Jones, Account Manager, Taylor Woodrow FM

Peter commenced his career in 2004 after gaining a Construction Engineering degree and on completion of his placement with Taylor Woodrow he chose facilities management as his career option.

He presently is responsible for Taylor Woodrow’s Highways Agency contract – it is a TFM contract for a 24/7 Help Desk, 7 Regional Control Centres and 33 Traffic Officer Stations. He manages seven assistant fm’s, a commercial manager and 36 Building Co-ordinators.

Peter has initiated cost and efficiency savings of £140k for year on year savings together with £5ok on cleaning services an annual 18% on energy consumption and 9% on waste water consumption.

Other client organisations which have benefited for his fm skills are Marks and Spencer, MOD – Regents Park and St Johns Wood Barracks and the Animal Defence Centre.

Peter’s vision for his future is to further pursue and develop his leadership and communications and learning skills together with technical competence.

The winner will be announced at November's P&FM Awards dinner.