Carl Yeomanson, chief executive of the company, said: “COVID-19 has presented unprecedented challenges to those responsible for managing and maintaining buildings safely and securely during this crisis. Now, with the vaccination roll-out on schedule and a roadmap in place that will see lockdown measures eased and many businesses returning to normal, the safe reopening of commercial buildings is critical.

“Before anyone can return to a building there is much that needs to be considered to ensure that people are able to return to a safe environment. The length of time that a building has been fully or partially closed and the level of maintenance that has been carried out while the building was out of operation will all have an impact on the extent of preparations needed.
“Businesses have been asking us for advice which is why we have pulled this checklist together – designed to help businesses reopen safely and mitigate against any key risks that may arise.”

The below checklist is therefore intended to be a useful guide to help building and estates managers,

Here is a summary of the Facilities Management Solutions ‘Safe Reopening Guide’

1. Fire safety: Test all fire extinguishers and fire sprinkler protection systems components and alarms should all be tested. Verify that all fire doors can close automatically and have not been damaged and inspect all ladders, external stairways, and fire escapes.
2.  Access Control and Security Systems: test all video surveillance equipment for picture quality and damage.
3. Plumbing and water maintenance: Inspect all critical boilers, pumps, chillers, cooling towers, ventilation, and support equipment to make sure that are in all good operating condition. It is essential to test water hygiene testing and water stagnation within storage tanks & pipe work – check any water storage that could be sitting in taps, shower hoses or drinking fountains etc.
4. Grounds Maintenance and access points: All entrances to the site and buildings should be checked to assure that locks, hinges, frames, doors, and windows are in good repair and operational. This should also include skylights, roof hatches, fences, and gates.
5. Air conditioning: Air handling units (AHU) provide ventilation, fresh air, heating and cooling to the building and regular belts and filter changes are vital for optimum efficiency and air quality. AHU air filters are known for cleaning allergens, particles and other impurities out of the air. Therefore, it is important to ensure regular maintenance for optimum air quality for your employees.
6. Health and Safety measures: New COVID regulation signage and screens need to be in place (including barriers, floor stickers and intercoms etc.) Additional hand washing and hand sanitizing facilities should be included.
7. Electrical Safety: Emergency light testing and checks should be made (these should be done annually), fixed wire testing checks should be carried out every five years.
8. Specialist: Asbestos air testing surveys may be overdue – check that your building asbestos register is up to date.
9. Building Exterior: All roofs and exterior parts of the buildings should be inspected cleaned and repaired where necessary. Pay attention to gutters and roof drains and make sure you clean windows.

To view the complete Facilities Management Solutions ‘Safe Reopening Guide’ click here

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Arthur Ellis was started by Jon Manning in 2017 with an aim to make talking about mental health and accessing support easy and to create a culture where if someone is experiencing any difficulties, we all have the knowledge to practically help.

“We are working with FMS to develop quarterly well-being strategies which include quarterly workshops with staff. The aim is to educate them in all things preventative and well-being, including how to cope positively with different changes, whether this be seasonal changes, office moves or other life events they may encounter.

We have also attached our 1:1 service onto the offering allowing FMS staff to access sessions with our trained team of Mental Health Mentors if they need additional support throughout the year.

By getting the right support and approach to mental health in place as a business, you can have an incredible impact, not only on your workforce but on your bottom line too.”

Jon Manning, Founder at Arthur Ellis

In any given business, 77% of the workforce will experience poor mental health in any given year which might not be diagnosable but may still need support. Currently, 17% of any given workforce will have a diagnosable issue which may not only need ongoing adjustments in the workplace but may need additional support from time to time.

Carl Yeomanson, owner at PGS said: “As I progress in life myself and go through the up’s & down’s I always try to remember those moments and how it affected me so I can be more empathetic to the team. Our minds are powerful things and can play a lot of tricks with our wellbeing. Any additional help and support we can give to our staff to make their lives smoother is great for them personally and can only be a positive for our company.

As a business that is passionate about supporting the local community and giving back to charities ourselves, it’s great to know that the revenue generated from the corporate work at Arthur Ellis goes towards operating a 1:1 service for children (8+), young people and adults who can reach out about any issues without a waiting list.

I hope this service gives my employees a better understanding of realising when they need help, and that people are there to support them. The key benefit for me as a business owner is a content team and knowing they’re at a company that gives more than a damn about them.”

For more information about Arthur Ellis and the support they can provide to businesses click here 

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Director Carl Yeomanson and his wife Hayley have lived in Milton Keynes for 40 years and have three children. Carl said: “There are lots of children’s centres supporting families that need help in this area, so last October we started by providing packed lunches during the half term lockdown – and our support just continued from there.

“At Christmas we bought and delivered gifts to the different centres. It’s been incredibly rewarding, seeing the great work they do and the essential support they are offering to local families, especially important during these extremely hard times.

Carl Yeomanson director of Plumbing and Gas Solutions providing a freezer to Windmill Children’s Centre. He said: “As parents of young children, it is very Important for us to support the centres, so they are in turn able to continue to support our local families.”

Children’s centres have struggled to continue as usual during the pandemic due to the enourmous logistical and financial difficulties caused by Covid-19.

Simone Drewett works at The Windmill Children’s Centre in Milton Keynes which provides a wide range of activities and services for parents/carers and families of babies and children up to the age of five.

Simone Drewett, enhanced practitioner said: “The pandemic has provided additional challenges and struggles to the families that rely on our services and as a centre we’ve struggled to raise some of the essential funds we’d usually receive through fundraising events and activities.

“A huge thank you to Carl, Hayley and the whole team for such invaluable support. The freezer is a real game changer, enabling us to store and freeze food donations so that we can then distribute to families when they need it.”

If you would like to make a donation please contact Simone at The Windmill Children’s Centre on 01908 312473 or email [email protected].

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Dan is the newly recruited Operations Manager of Facilities Management Solutions, a Milton Keynes based business which was launched in January 2021 and is the sister company to the long-established Plumbing and Gas Solutions.

Dan first met Carl Yeomanson, the owner of both businesses, in 2016 when he worked at MK Dons as its Corporate Partnership Manager. They crossed paths again a few years later when Dan was in his most recent role.

Dan recalled: “I have spent time with Carl and operations director Chris socially over the last couple of years and we just clicked and have become good friends. The opportunity came up to join them and help launch Facilities Management Solutions this New Year. I couldn’t resist the challenge.

“I’m about a month in and am already loving it. Every day is different – a mix of being on site, meeting clients and sub-contractors and returning to the office to prepare quotes and deal with queries.

“Building and managing relationships with clients has been an important part in all previous roles.  People need to be able to trust you and I never like letting people down, so I think this goes a long way when you are providing a service.”

Carl, talking about Dan’s appointment, added: “It’s great to have Dan on board, who is playing a vital role in our newly launched business. Our Plumbing and Gas Solutions clients have been asking us for a service above and beyond plumbing and heating for many years, so to launch this new company and bring Dan on board feels very much like a natural expansion.”

Facilities Management Solutions is initially focusing on serving businesses in Milton Keynes and the wider areas of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Northamptonshire.

Rather than working solely on plumbing and heating, the new company is providing a far broader building management service – focusing on key areas such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, security and access, electrics and even specialist services such as pump maintenance and landscaping.

The Facilities Management Solutions headquarters now sits alongside its sister company, Plumbing and Gas Solutions, in Wymbush, Milton Keynes.

www.fmsolutions.co.uk

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With many offices and businesses still closed to staff and the public there have been a record number of requests for site visits and surveys.

Owner Carl Yeomanson explained: “With many businesses preparing to reopen after the third lockdown it is proving the perfect time to make sure buildings and work environments are exactly as business owners and managers want them, leaving them free to focus on their business.

We manage a wide range of buildings including large office buildings, small commercial units, hospitals, laboratories, and multi-use buildings. Here is a summary of how these site surveys work and can benefit your business:

• Our teams can visit your facility and advise on all things building management to see where we can offer increased efficiency.
• We look at everything operating within your building including heating, ventilation and air conditioning, electrics, energy efficiency, air quality and more.
• We can look at all aspects of your building and energy usage and put measures in place to save you money.
• We take care of everything and make sure that any headaches are taken away along with any ongoing issues within your facility.
• No cost is involved but we can come back to you with a list of suggestions to increase efficiency.

Here are some key questions we suggest businesses ask themselves:

• Is your building being run at full capacity, with a small percentage of the site being utilised?
• Is the lighting as efficient as it could be?
• Are the checking in systems up to scratch?
• Is the air cleaning quality up to scratch?
• Is fire safety where it should be?
• With sites not being at 100% capacity, is security where it needs to be?
• Is water being heated for 100 people when only two people are in the building?
• Is water sitting untouched potentially causing safety issues?

Free site surveys are continuing into March, so if you would like some expert advice and tips and suggestions as to how you can be more efficient, save money and be safe then get in touch.

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My new role:

I liaise with clients and sub-contractors every day. Top of our agenda is to ensure quality workmanship and a high level of service. No matter how big the job, these levels must stay as high as possible. Every day is different. One day I will be visiting clients on site or meeting with contractors. Another I will be in the office putting together quotes and responding to any queries from clients.

My career path

Initially it was all about sport. I studied Sports Management after leaving school and worked in health and fitness management for several years. I then joined MK Dons Football Club, heading up their commercial department – a great experience.

Football is a seven day a week job and, with a young family, I decided to step away so I could be at home more at the weekends.

So, I moved into education and more recently, before joining Facilities Management Solutions, I worked at publishing company All Things Business, helping set up a new Milton Keynes office.

My career switch

I originally met Carl and Operations Director Chris when I worked at MK Dons (they didn’t buy from me at the time) and I then had a meeting with Carl when I worked at All Things Business (I finally got him over the line – never give up!)

I have spent time with Carl and Chris socially over the last couple of years and things just clicked, and we became good mates (they may say different!).

The opportunity came up to join them and support with setting up FMS which I saw as an exciting opportunity and challenge which I couldn’t turn down.

I enjoy being a part of a team and am excited for the future to see how far we can take FMS.

My typical week

Every week is different – spent between being on site, meeting clients, sub-contractors and in the office. It’s early days but I do love the variety and being out and about meeting new people (even though it is far reduced due to the pandemic restrictions).

Essential traits for my role

Building and managing relationships with clients has always been key and something that has been vital throughout my career. People need to be able to trust you and I never like letting people down, so I think this goes a long way when you are providing a service.

Any attribute you wish you had?

I am quite impatient and sometimes wish things would move a little quicker!

How my colleagues would describe me …

What a guy!

When I’m not working …

I love football, horse racing and spending time with my two boys. I also love watching my team, Liverpool, play (sometimes!). I also love watching my two boys play football at the weekends. I also enjoy spending time socialising with friends although I can’t remember what this feels like, it’s been so long!

My favourite saying

It’s not so much related to work but I love the quote from Bill Shankly (legendary Liverpool manager): “Some people believe that football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude, I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”

Want to chat to Dan? Simply email [email protected] and he will get back to you.

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The new business is the digital match sponsor of tonight’s (26th January) visit of Charlton Athletic and is the sister company of Plumbing and Gas Solutions, who are in their third season as key sponsor of the club.

Owner Carl Yeomanson and his team provide customers with a full building management service – focusing on key areas such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, security and access, electrics and even specialist services such as pump maintenance and landscaping.

Carl said: “Although some of our clients had to shut their doors during the pandemic, we have been fortunate and busier than ever. As with Plumbing and Gas Solutions, we will continue to give back locally and support the people and communities of Milton Keynes and beyond. We are proud to be sponsoring this match, as well as being the official player of the month awards amongst other commercial activities. We are also delighted to be player sponsor of new striker Charlie Brown.”

Facilities Management Solutions’ dedicated engineers are well-known throughout the area as reliable, high quality and efficient. Each team member has varied experience with everything from routine maintenance through to emergency one-off jobs.

The Facilities Management Solutions headquarters now sits alongside its sister company, Plumbing and Gas Solutions, in Wymbush, Milton Keynes.

You still have a few days to win a Charlie Brown signed shirt, courtesy of Facilities Management Services. Find out how to enter HERE.

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Milton Keynes based company Facilities Management Solutions (FMS) is sponsoring the 21-year-old player and to celebrate is giving one signed shirt away.

You can enter in a few ways, all via the FMS social media channels.

FACEBOOK

Simply Like this post, SHARE the post AND follow our FMS page.

INSTAGRAM

Simply Like this post, SHARE the post AND follow our FMS page.

TWITTER

Simply Like this post, SHARE the post AND follow our FMS Twitter account

LINKEDIN

Simply Like this post, SHARE the post AND follow our FMS LinkedIn page

You will be awarded one vote for every channel you like, share and follow. For example, if you like our FB post, share it and follow the FMS page you will be allocated one vote. If you also like our Instagram post, share it and follow our Instagram account, you will be awarded two votes, etc.

Read the full terms and conditions HERE.

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