Building Better Futures...PROPERTY MAINTENANCE LTD

Construction Projects, Alterations & RemodellingBuilding Better Futures...

Working with a Special EducationalNeeds school was rewarding for everyone involved…

LocationWisbech, Cambridgeshire

Brief Trinity School was looking to refurbish redundant space in order to teach pupils life skills.Also known as Fenland Learner Centre, the Wisbech-based school caters for girls andboys aged 11-18 with Special Educational Needs and behavioural, emotional and socialdifficulties. The centre needed three new lecture rooms, associated WC facilities and fullM&E fit out. Although it was not part of the brief, the school also wanted to create ahorticultural garden for pupils to enjoy.

DeliveryThe £120,000 contract was awarded to Foster Property Maintenance Ltd (FPM) after acompetitive tendering process via the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO)framework.

FPM’s dedicated team worked with the upmost respect for their clients and pupils. Aswell as internal works, FPM played a part in helping bring to life the desired garden bydonating wood off-cuts from the works. This enabled students to construct a green area,housing raised beds to grow vegetables.

ChallengesFPM faced the challenge of carrying the works out while pupils with learning difficultiesoccupied the school.

The team needed to be both flexible and sensitive in dealings with both staff andstudents; ensuring operations had a minimum impact on day to day running of thecentre. Pupils were not used to having their learning space occupied by strangers soFPM acted sympathetically and kept a low profile.

The project was incredibly rewarding, especially as the works will make a real differenceto young people often neglected by society. The centre aims to help youngsters whocouldn’t fit in with mainstream education, requiring a different approach and support tohelp educate and coach them in essential skills – with the ultimate aim of helping themmove forward in life and gain employment. FPM aims to forge closer links with the centrein the future. Initially FPM multi-skilled operatives will visit the school to give advice aboutbecoming a tradesman, and show pupils how to carry out certain tasks.

FPM summary“It has been an enjoyable experience working with the centre and seeing how we can helpwith possible future community projects across East Anglia.”

Matt Drew, Project ManagerCustomer satisfaction"The new building will make a significantdifference to what the school can offer toimprove the life-skills of some of our mostvulnerable children. The Fosters teamworked tirelessly to make the new roomsready for the new school year and wentover and above by supporting the schoolsgardening project. We look forward todeveloping our relationships with theFoster's team."

James Simon, Executive Head Teacher

Cambridgeshire County Council

Value ......................................................£120,000Contract type ................Competitive tenderDuration ......................................Three months

Scope of work• Construction of three new lecture roomsand associated WC facilities into existingsteel framed building• Inclusion of M&E fit out

Building Better Futures...

Construction Projects, Alterations & Remodelling

FPM were ready for the

challenge on a project where

speed was of the essence….

LocationEly, Cambridgeshire

BriefEast Cambs District Cou

ncil headquarters are located in

the heart of Ely, Cambridgeshire in a dated 1980’s

building. These provide public services to over 2,5

00

visitors every month.

The Council partners with Sanctuary Housing

Association and Anglia Revenues, to provide servi

ces to

the local community. The different locations of the

se

organisations has made working together challengi

ng.

The Council found a solution by bringing together

the

three partners is one location. Before this could ha

ppen,

they needed to make major changes to the buildin

g

interior, which would bring medium term financial

benefits for all three partners.

Redesigning the layout was vital, as space was lim

ited

for both staff and customers. The project’s overrid

ing

objective was to provide a pleasant ‘one-stop sho

p’ for

customers.

Delivery With this concept in mind

, East Cambs District Council

contacted Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation

(ESPO). ESPO was established to provide a

procurement framework for services to public bod

ies,

enabling customers to acquire a wide range of ser

vices

at the best price. Foster Property Maintenance Ltd

(FPM) were invited to submit a competitive tender

through this framework. This speeded up the

procurement process substantially, after which the

client

awarded the contract to FPM. They won with a de

tailed

bid, offering a very viable combination of quality a

nd

price.

ChallengesSpeed and minimal disru

ption were key factors for the

project’s success. FPM worked efficiently, includin

g

evenings and weekends, to

ensure minimal impact on day-to-day activities for

staff

and customers.

FPM successfully resolved several unexpected

occurrences. These included changes in layout

specifications and an incident where one of the m

ain

structural blocks in the reception ceiling collapsed

. The

entire building was evacuated at 10.30am on a Frid

ay

morning. FPM responded immediately to an emerg

ency

call, providing extra resource to resolve the problem

.

The ten-strong team worked day and night over th

e

weekend; removing damaged ceiling, preventing f

urther

dislodging of blocks, re-fixing removed sections of

the

ceiling grid, installing new ceiling tiles, re-fixing the

lighting and making good the whole reception area

. As

a result normal service resumed on Tuesday morn

ing.

FPM summary“The project was a challe

nge due to the restricted time

frame and need for all staff to use facilities. To the c

redit

of the site and office team and the high degree of

interface with East Cambs District Council, the wh

ole

project has been completed to a high standard an

d

ahead of programme.” Ian Le Gallez, Contracts Manager

Customer satisfaction“We were very pleased w

ith speed of response whilst

on site, Fosters had a flexible, trustworthy and proa

ctive

approach with effective communication at all level

s

within the company. The continuity of staff was ve

ry

useful, the Fosters team really cared and had a pr

oblem

solving approach, carrying out good quality

workmanship." Andrew Killington, Deputy Chief Executive

Value ..........................................................£80,000

Contract type ..................Competitive tender

Duration ..........................................Two months

Scope of work

• Alterations to front of house reception area

• Demolition of existing internal walls

• Erection of new internal walls and ceilings

• Construction of new reception area

• Redecoration

East Cambridgeshire District Council

Construction Projects, Alterations & RemodellingBuilding Better Futures...

Value ..............................................£3.45 million Contract type ................Competitive tenderCommenced ................................August 2008Duration ......Three years and three months

Scope of workNon-traditional construction works in KingsLynn and Great Massingham

FPM employs someunconventional methodsto reconstruct homes…

BriefFreebridge Community Housing (FCH) needed some of theirproperties to be updated. However they weren’t looking for run ofthe mill building work.

Because of the older nature of some of their properties, FCHrequired a less traditional construction process. With anexperienced building team to draw on, Foster PropertyMaintenance (FPM) was successful in being awarded the contractwith FCH.

DeliveryNot limited by convention, FPM took a different approach withFCH properties in Kings Lynn –taking off the timber-framed frontand back walls, then jacking up the buildings and reconstructingthem; adding insulation and rendering system. We also installednew kitchens and bathrooms and gave properties a rewire. Workswere undertaken by teams consisting of a general works operative,apprentice and plasterer.

ChallengesEnsuring that we meet tight deadlines was a key factor for thiscontract as residents need to be accommodated while works tookplace.

Thankfully, our experience meant we could be extremely efficient;completion at Kings Lynn took just 23 working days for eachproperty.

FPM summary “Taking a different approach sometimes pays off and thinkingoutside the box was necessary for the success of this project.”

Ian Le Gallez, Contracts Manager

Customer satisfaction“Fosters commitment to timely delivery of a quality end productthrough excellent site management, has ensured all our residentshave benefited from minimal disruption and can enjoy their highquality refurbished home for years to come.”

Andrew Edmunds, FCH Project Manager

t. 01945 586999 f. 01945 586990www.fpm-ltd.co.uk enquires@fpm-ltd.co.uk

Unit 1, Foster Business Park, 79 Boleness Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire PE13 2XQ

Freebridge Community Housing