In recent months FIS has been working with SFG20 to help improve access to guidance and support clients and facilities companies who need to maintain and manage Operable Walls.

Operating walls is commonly the responsibility of a member of staff or a maintenance crew and damage and undue wear can be caused through not fully understanding and following the operating procedure. Incorrect maintenance, such as applying grease to moving parts, can also create problems. A good service and maintenance regime, underwritten by a service agreement is therefore key to the wall’s serviceability and the welfare of those operating them. It is also a necessity to meet the requirements of any warranty and optimise service life.

In the summer FIS launched a new guide to the repair and maintenance of operable walls. To ensure that this guidance is circulated to the widest possible audience FIS met with SFG20 to look at how the two organisations could collaborate to share the information with the widest possible audience. The result is that the new guidance has been integrated into the scope of the SFG20 schedule for operable walls.

Originally launched in 1990, SFG20 is a subsidiary of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA). SFG20 is a unique, mobile-enabled, maintenance system designed to support anyone who owns or manages facilities. Built around the maintenance industry’s standard, SFG20’s solution provides asset maintenance requirements in a simple and easily-digestible format, with a host of specialist tools available to support the application to assets as well as projective cost modelling.

Commenting on the collaboration, FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia stated:

“When you see the scope of content covered by SFG20 it gives a unique insight into the complexity of the FM world. It is great that we can collaborate with the team at SFG20 to ensure we aren’t producing information in a vacuum but making sure it is available and accessible to the people who have used it”.

Andi Connelly Horsley – SFG20 Technical Publications Lead, responded:

“FIS is an authority in this area and a critical source of information. We value our good working relationship with FIS and will continue to work together to help support the wider FM market in ensuring that their interior systems are maintained and managed appropriately”.

New content is now available in SFG20 maintenance schedule, 88-50 Operable Walls.

For more information on SFG20 click here

To access the FIS Guide to the Serving and Maintenance of Operable Walls click here.

FIS is delighted to announce the Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority is attending our Regional Conference in Birmingham on 19 October as a keynote speaker.

Andrew Street CBE is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician who was the managing director of John Lewis from 2007 to 2016, when he resigned to run for Mayor of the West Midlands. He won the May 2017 mayoral election and was re-elected in 2021.

Starting on the John Lewis graduate scheme, Andy rose through the ranks to become managing director, overseeing one of the most successful periods in the company’s history.

He was also chair of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) between 2011 and 2016, helping to build the relationships that have underpinned the economic growth of the region.

Additionally, he has been lead non-executive director for the Department for Communities and Local Government as well as a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group.

In June 2015, Andy was awarded the CBE for services to the national economy. He was named ‘Most Admired Leader’ by business magazine, Management Today in 2014 and received the ‘President’s award’ from the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for his work in the region. He holds three honorary degrees from Birmingham City University, Aston University and the University of Birmingham.

FIS CEO Iain McIlwee commented:

“It is great to get the Mayor along to talk to our community about prospects and pipeline in the region and also a great opportunity to help him to see our sector and the amazing work that is done across the region.  Andy will be joined by other experts speakers helping us to look at pipeline, compliance and how the sector is changing.  This is one of a number of Regional Events taking place across the UK, starting with our AGM on 6th October”

You can book your place at the FIS Regional Event in Birmingham here.

The FIS AGM is taking place on 6 October and is featuring contributions from Peter Rogers CBE, co-founder of Stanhope, founder-Chairman of the UK Green Building Council and developer of complex projects such as Broadgate and 22 Bishopsgate.

Programmes for Manchester (9 November) and Scotland (1 December) are to be announced in the coming weeks.

As the nation enters a period of national mourning, arrangements are being made for our late Queen’s funeral. King Charles has made an order that the day of the Queen’s funeral will be a bank holiday. Whilst employers will want to make their own decisions about how to mark the occasion, it is important to also consider what rights employees have in relation to this additional bank holiday.

Citation has provide guidance for FIS members on employees rights to the extra bank holiday.

CLC has produced advice for London based operations in and around central London during the mourning period.

You can download the document here.

Cognisant of the need for a collaborative effort in this sensitive period and also that many businesses are already under intense pressure, FIS is urging all to consider the principles of the Conflict Avoidance Pledge.  As part of this, members should consider the contractual position and the potential for a Force Majeure event if the contract has that ground of relief in it.  Consideration should be given to contacting your “employer” for an “employer instruction”, which would help to clarify the situation with respect to the time and money associated with any stand-down and help avoid potential disputes in the future.

You can download a Force Majeure template notice of claim form here

FIS has further information available via our Contractual and Legal Toolkit and Helpline.