Driving transformation in property and facilities management for Bolton Borough Council

Driving transformation in property and facilities management for Bolton Borough Council

Bolton Borough Council has an estate comprising 3000+ properties. The council chose Bloom and NEPRO as an efficient route to market for the transformation of their Corporate Property Services.

Part of one of the largest infrastructures, construction and support services companies in the UK, Robertson Facilities Management (Robertson) has extensive experience working with the UK public sector. As a Bloom Accredited Supplier, Robertson was able to compliantly deliver a robust and fully integrated system for the council.

“We have been working in partnership with Bolton Borough Council to transform the delivery of their property services. This close collaboration combined with our expertise means together we have made sure our solution is the best for the people of Bolton”.
Mark Harding, Partnership Director, Robertson Facilities Management

The challenge

The council sought advice to develop a three-phase approach for the complete transformation of their Corporate Property Services function. This approach covered three work streams including Project Management, Estates Management and Facilities Management.

In phase one, the council’s key objectives were to ensure the project and any outcomes were fully legally compliant and reactive spend was reduced.

The supplier was required to start with a thorough review and audit of supply chain capability, identify critical needs and risks, recommend strategy management and implement risk assessments and a communications plan.

The solution

Using NEPRO, Bloom sourced a supplier with proven capabilities to successfully deliver the outcomes specified by the council. Bloom ensured the project was fully compliant and followed an outcomes-based approach that would guarantee delivery was on time, within budget and that all requirements were met.

The outcome Robertson was awarded the project and worked with the council to successfully deliver the project. Implementing a staged approach to transformation, Robertson executed an initial 100-day development plan in phase one, which was used to map and agree the nature of the transformation and shape the new strategic long-term delivery model. This phase was successfully delivered with Robertson working with the council to establish best practice processes and ongoing stability within the council.  To do this Robertson:

• Audited the council’s supply chain capability and key service risk areas
• Identified the council’s 36 priority properties, equating to 62% of the total floor area occupied by the council
• Recommended a bespoke Business Continuity Plan
• Conducted asset and condition surveys for priority buildings
• Captured full asset data
• Identified and reported ‘invest to save’ opportunities
• Managed a Bolton Estate Procurement Workshop ‘Meet the Buyer’ day with 30 suppliers, this enabled the council to vet suppliers and ensured full legal compliance
• Identified all statutory compliance issues within 90 days and established clear governance principles
• Trained council staff and devised a 24/7 help desk strategy that included real-time web-based reporting
• Devised an interface for compliance including checks and ongoing audits
• Formulated a comprehensive PPM schedule, reducing reactive costs

Throughout phase one, Robertson also supported the council’s promise to deliver social value for the region by ensuring local and SME suppliers were included in the supply chain audit and invited to engagement events.

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