From a business perspective, I wanted to work with CWM. I liked the product and I thought the job would broaden my European perspective. On a personal level, I wanted to live in the United Kingdom. Even though I am British, I have always lived abroad and I was interested in looking at the European market from a British perspective.
How would you describe your new role?
CWM has developed a strategy to look at its pan-European operation. My role is to enable and create relations between the different cultures and to target specific opportunities.
So how have you found working in London?
A bit of a culture shock to be honest. I'm very European-minded and some adaptation has been necessary. In Europe, the quality of life is very different, there seems to be more of an appreciation of the work-life balance. The UK is more business-focused, which is not necessarily a negative thing.
Describe your typical day.
I try to spend at least one day in the office a week. There, my role is to make sure support is given to our joint venture partners in Holland and France. This includes co-ordination between the different divisions and setting up processes to deliver the service to European clients. A great deal of my week is spent abroad, on planes and in meetings.
Sounds like the glamorous end of facilities management.
Not really, but speaking different languages is a personal wealth and a passport; it helps gain access to certain major players in the marketplace. It also enables me to create these relationships. My job is about meeting people, interaction and making it work between people. I have a chameleon role.
What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Creating the links between the cultures. I love facilities management — it is a fundamental business to be in today. The marketplace is evolving and there is a huge requirement for service provision.
How would you describe the difference between the UK facilities management market and that in the rest of Europe?
Market studies have shown the rest of Europe is about 10 years behind the UK. In Europe, the perception of what is meant by facilities management is very different to here. There is more of a technical bias and measurement of quality doesn't exist.
Source
The Facilities Business
