Background
FirstPort, a leading property management company in the UK, manages over 3,700 residential developments and employs more than 3,300 people. To maintain their high standards and ensure statutory compliance across their extensive portfolio, FirstPort sought to enhance their operational capabilities by recruiting both a Technical Compliance Manager and a Contracts Manager. These roles were crucial for ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, managing contracts, and driving service delivery efficiency.
The Challenges
FirstPort required:
1. Technical Compliance Manager:
Location: Luton-based
Role: Manage the internal compliance team, oversee statutory and Health & Safety compliance, and drive improvements in service delivery.
2. Contracts Manager:
Role: Expertise in contract negotiation, supplier management, and ensuring statutory compliance with health and safety regulations.
Both roles demanded:
• A proactive approach to managing compliance and contracts across diverse property portfolios.
• Adapting to evolving legislative requirements.
• Implementing robust IT systems to streamline processes.
• Fostering a collaborative culture within the compliance and contracts teams and across various stakeholders.
We employed a meticulous screening process to identify candidates with strong backgrounds in property management, compliance, and team leadership. Our candidates not only met the technical qualifications but also aligned with FirstPort’s values of friendliness, innovation, respect, skill, and trustworthiness.
The Results
1. Technical Compliance Manager:
Successfully placed a highly qualified individual with over a decade of experience in property management and compliance.
Immediate integration into FirstPort’s team, working closely with the Director of Technical Services and other stakeholders.
Implemented improvements in compliance monitoring and contractor management.
Contributed to a more cohesive compliance team, driving innovation and ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements.
2. Contracts Manager:
Placed a candidate with extensive experience in strategic contract management and operational team leadership.
Managed external suppliers, ensuring statutory compliance and enhancing service delivery.
Collaborated with the compliance team to implement robust health and safety policies.
Initiated and managed positive changes within the compliance team, evolving processes to meet FirstPort’s high standards.
The newly appointed Contracts Manager worked closely with the Technical Compliance Manager, Regional Directors, Managers, Property Managers, and the Health & Safety Team. Key responsibilities included:
• Leading the internal contract compliance team and reporting on their performance.
• Advising on contractor management development programs.
• Overseeing the implementation of new legislation.
• Managing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the contract compliance team.
• Ensuring IT systems supported the compliance team’s remit.