EQUANS, ENGIE’s services-led business, has won a three-year hard services facilities management contract with Guide Dogs, the UK charity for people with sight loss.
EQUANS will initially provide services to six large freehold sites, including Guide Dogs’ headquarters in Reading and two smaller sites which house community-based teams. There is also potential to increase the scope to further sites across the UK in the future.
Under the new partnership, EQUANS will be responsible for technical and environmental services delivered to SFG20 standards. With an overall objective to improve levels of service whilst ensuring full building compliance, EQUANS will also look at ways of reducing cost and ensuring investments made to improve buildings are maximised. Ultimately, the outsourcing of the hard services FM will enable Guide Dogs to focus fully on their core mission of providing services which support visually impaired people across the country.
As the partnership evolves, there are also plans to explore further service options for smaller Guide Dogs locations, that do not have their own maintenance staff and where there is potential for EQUANS to assist with property-related capital expenditure projects. EQUANS will also look at opportunities to support Corporate Social Responsibility and fundraising initiatives.
Scott Birch, EQUANS UK & Ireland Regional Managing Director, commented: “Guide Dogs was looking to appoint a trusted partner that would not just deliver service and maintenance but would also take responsibility for building compliance and safety – adding value to the charity’s activities through the services provided. I am delighted we were able to satisfy all of those requirements and we are looking forward to supporting them in their journey ahead.”
Anna Hoskyns, Head of Facilities for Guide Dogs added: “We want to support more people with sight loss as effectively as possible and having the right facilities management to help us provide our range of services is key. Joining forces with a company with proven expertise allows us to focus on our core activity. We are confident that, in appointing EQUANS, we are teaming up with a partner that will help us reach more people with sight loss.”
