The Background
The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (CONEL) is a prominent educational institution dedicated to providing high-quality education and training to a diverse student body. With campuses strategically located in Tottenham and other areas, CONEL requires efficient and effective management of its facilities and estates to support its mission of fostering academic excellence.
The Challenge
CONEL sought an experienced Head of Facilities and Estates to oversee the Tottenham Centre. The role demanded a professional who could deliver a customer-focused estates service, manage substantial budgets, ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, and handle emergency and reactive maintenance. Additionally, the candidate needed to possess strong leadership qualities, technical knowledge of building infrastructure, and experience in managing contractors and major projects.
We took on the challenge to find the perfect candidate for CONEL. Our thorough and targeted search focused on identifying individuals with a proven track record in facilities management within an educational or similar environment. The ideal candidate needed strong interpersonal skills, extensive knowledge of statutory requirements, and the ability to lead and develop a team effectively.
The Results
After an extensive search and rigorous selection process, we successfully placed a highly qualified candidate in the position of Head of Facilities and Estates at CONEL. The appointed individual demonstrated exceptional skills and experience in the following areas:
• Professional, Customer-Focused Estates Service: Ensuring a high-quality estates service aligned with agreed standards, processes, and practices.
• Budget Management: Planning, budgeting, accounting, and tendering for the Estates Service, with a focus on energy management and value for money.
• Health and Safety Compliance: Maintaining compliance with statutory and college health and safety procedures and actively participating in the Health and Safety Committee.
• Help Desk System Management: Implementing an effective Help Desk system to support estates services and maintaining accurate records of building plans and maintenance schedules.
• Staff Training and Development: Ensuring all estates staff receive relevant training and development, fostering a structure for succession planning.
• Security and Disaster Recovery: Managing college security, access, and disaster recovery processes to ensure a safe and secure environment.
• Contract Management: Overseeing the management of catering, security, gardening, and cleaning contracts, ensuring performance indicators are met.
• Project Management: Acting as a client for major projects and managing college works, including emergency and routine maintenance.
The newly appointed Head of Facilities and Estates at CONEL has significantly enhanced the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the college’s estates services. By managing budgets effectively, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, and leading a customer-focused team, the Head of Facilities and Estates has contributed to creating a safe and conducive learning environment for students and staff.