10 May 2012
This note is to advise on a further change in the Estates Office structure. This adjustment builds on the work done for the Support Process Review. It reflects some of the commentary received from across the University following the initial changes made under the SPR Estates process in August 2011
The current head of Estates Operations, Parviz Partow, is due to retire at the end of June. Parviz’ post will not be replaced and the activities of the Operations team will be transferred into other teams within the Estates Office.
Site Services, Reactive Maintenance Services and Security Services will transfer to Facilities Management. The rationale for this move is to build on the success of the newly created Facilities Management team by putting responsibility for all day to day operational activity together under FM direction. This will enable the Facilities Managers to have a greater say in how these activities are managed and prioritised, which has been a theme of much of the feedback received on the Estates process.
Paul Smith will continue as Head of the expanded FM team. Liz Lynch will continue to lead the Site Services team (cleaners, porters and postal delivery), as she has done successfully for many years but from within the FM structure. A new Head of Reactive Maintenance, Tony Spencer, will be joining the FM team on the 14th May, with the brief of building up our in house maintenance capability and ensuring that maintenance priorities accord with estates and building user needs. Peter McClory, the interim Head of Security, will also move into the expanded FM team.
The Facilities Managers will remain the key link with all University building occupiers but will have a greater level of resource to support them.
The Print Services unit, headed by Carol Aleknavicius, will move into the Procurement team, which is a more logical fit. Larissa Morrish returns from maternity leave at the end of the summer and Mike Caddick will continue to lead on all procurement activities until then.
With the move of Reactive Maintenance to Facilities Management, the existing Capital Maintenance and Infrastructure Group will report directly to me. This group is headed by Steve Hyde and will focus on the University’s long term and strategic maintenance needs, rather than the day to day repairs, which will be handled by the FM team. It will also continue to provide small project support as at present. The major task of this group in coming years will be to oversee our continuing efforts to improve the condition of both the residential and non residential estate.
The External Estates team, headed by Alan Stealey, will also report directly to me. The remit will not change but there will be an increasing emphasis on public realm improvement, focussed significantly on the Precinct.
A structure chart is attached, showing the revised Estates Office organisation. This will formally take effect from the 1st June, although the process of change is already well underway.
For all building occupiers, the principal point of contact will be with the zonal Facilities Manager, as is now becoming well established.
Please feel free to speak to either Paul Smith or Cheryl Beech (facilities-management@bristol.ac.uk) if you have any queries about the expanded Facilities Management structure. If you have any other comment or question about any aspect of this change, then please do contact me.
This evolution of the Estates process structure should enable me to focus resources where most needed and to seek further improvement in service delivery. I do hope that it will enable us to build on the work already done as we strive to provide the most effective Estates service for all areas of University activity.
Patrick Finch
Bursar
