Innovation in Technology and Systems Award

Award winner - SGP Property & Facilities Management & Altius Vendor Assessment

This entry was the overall winner receiving the highest score from all judges based on the presentation which included a demonstration of the system. The system comprised an innovative online technology based solution for supplier accreditation. SGP needed a dynamic and streamlined automatic supplier accreditation system which was developed by Altius using a supplier assessment programme and custom built database.

The system allows SGP’s sub contractors and suppliers to be accredited across a number of key criteria including health and safety, all set by SGP. The solution relied upon a zero cost to SGP with Altius gaining revenue to fund system development costs through SGP’s suppliers subscribing to the accreditation service. Suppliers then received unique feedback (if they did not meet necessary criteria) from the system about what they needed to do, in order to meet SGP’s supplier accreditation standards.

The system is highly scaleable as the intention is to allow other client organisations to join at zero cost, with the benefit to the suppliers and sub contractors that they can potentially supply services to new clients who join. The rationale for the system is that clients have access to a large accredited supplier base and can set their own compliance / pre qualification criteria, which Altius will then load into the system and use to accredit suppliers on the client’s behalf.

The judges were extremely impressed by the business model and scalability of the system. They were also very impressed by the feedback provided to suppliers to allow them to improve in order to meet client accreditation criteria. They were also impressed by the partnership working between Altius and SGP and the clear business need/ case for joint development of the system. The judges felt that the overall benefit to the FM industry was the widest of all the entries.

The primary measure of success will be how the innovation improved the solution to a problem. It can be simple and inexpensive or the most complicated rationalisation.

Judging criteria:

Requirement
Business case
Technology solution. Is it Innovative?
Implementation
Measurement of success
Application in general FM

Judging team

Lead Judge – Tony Middleton (Croydon Council)
Support Team – Paul Berry (Cirrus Software), Nigel McElvenny (Concept Energy), Maxwell Segal (GSH Group), Mike Stephens (Atkins), Keith Glennister (ISS), George Hunter (Modus Services), Neil Usher (Rio Tinto), Stuart Harris (Worley Parsons), Tony Hill (Hillstones Associates)

Sponsor: GSH Group PLC

GSH is one of the UK’s leading providers of energy and technical facilities management. Since our company was founded in 1895, GSH has evolved into one of the most sophisticated and technology driven hard FM and energy management organisations in the marketplace. In 1969, the group added a Service and Maintenance Division and since 1982, has focused solely on providing technical facilities management solutions. We have experienced growth both organically, and through acquisitions.

Since this time GSH has developed a wealth of industry-specific knowledge and experience. We pride ourselves on our ability to provide facilities solutions individually designed to meet each of our client’s unique requirements, allowing clear focus on core business activities. The group currently manages an extensive portfolio of international clients in a wide range of business sectors including: retail; commercial; property; financial; industrial; leisure; communications; media; residential; education; government; pharmaceutical; healthcare and manufacturing.

Website link www.gshgroup.com/uk/