The Service and Facilities Group of the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association (HVCA) and the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) have signed a formal agreement entitled Partners in FM Excellence. The agreement was signed at the HVCA headquarters in West London by BIFM Chairman Mick Dalton and Malcolm Linsley, Chairman of the HVCA Service and Facilities Group. (Update: In March 2012, HVCA was relaunched as the Building and Engineering Services Association (BESA).)
It follows several months of discussions of ways in which the two organizations can work more closely to deliver enhanced benefits to their members. The areas in which key collaboration will occur include:
•a joint commitment to work together to develop and promote excellent FM standards;
•member access to technical publications, training and other sources of information;
•collaboration on research, standards development, accreditation and assessment schemes, qualification and continuous professional development.
Welcoming the new partnership, BIFM Chair Mick Dalton said: “The BIFM looks forward to working closely with the HVCA because facilities managers recognize the importance of well designed, commissioned and maintained environmental systems in today’s demanding work environments.
“BIFM has an active Building Services special interest group, and this new Partners in FM Excellence agreement can only improve communication between professionals for the good of all.”
On behalf of the HVCA Service and Facilities Group, Malcolm Linsley said the agreement would enable SFG members to reach out to a worldwide FM marketplace, and would provide a framework for future collaboration between the two organizations on a range of issues of common concern.
Both organizations will retain their independence and will continue to offer individual support to their own members.
