The Facilities Management Exchange

This episode is all about sustainability in the built environment: what it costs, what it's worth and why it's now winning (and losing) tenders. We're joined by Alan Stenson, CEO of Neutral Carbon Zone.

Alan's route into sustainability is anything but typical. A classically trained actor, his first big role was Telemachus in the 1997 TV epic The Odyssey, long before Christopher Nolan's version hit cinemas. He moved into sales, started his first business in the hairdressing industry, then set up Ethical Nation in 2006, back when nobody wanted to pay to talk about their carbon footprint. Today he helps businesses of every size, many of them in FM, understand exactly where their emissions come from and what to do about it. Mark doesn't make it easy for him either, playing devil's advocate on some of the biggest arguments online.

In this episode we talk about:

* From playing Telemachus in The Odyssey to running a carbon consultancy
* Selling sustainability before anyone wanted to pay for it
* Why "when you think emissions, think pound signs"
* Why your cleaning contract has a carbon footprint
* EV targets, solar car parks and the car park that charged a whole community
* Devil's advocate: is carbon actually the problem?
* AI, data centres and whether technology will save us
* Why FM is ahead of the curve, and why firms are losing tenders over carbon
* The one quick win every business should start with

If you enjoyed it, please like, comment, share and subscribe. There's plenty more to come this season.

00:00 Welcome & introducing Alan Stenson
01:22 From The Odyssey to net zero
03:31 Watching Tom Holland take on the story
05:26 What acting taught him about control
06:31 Sales, hairdressing and a first business
07:24 2006: launching Ethical Nation
09:11 Selling sustainability when nobody wanted it
09:48 "What about us?" The turning point
11:10 Old buildings, new buildings and London
12:40 Embodied vs operational carbon
14:25 Why your cleaning has a carbon footprint
16:44 Is net zero too expensive?
17:46 "When you think emissions, think pound signs"
19:47 Targets without a plan: the EV problem
21:37 The car park that charged a community
22:46 Solar car parks and a Yorkshire ferreting field
25:08 So why don't we do it?
26:12 What lockdown showed us
28:06 Climate change and the cost of living
28:32 Devil's advocate: is carbon actually bad?
31:18 Why some voices want you divided
32:24 Aviation, F1 and your online footprint
34:16 AI, data centres and hidden energy costs
36:07 Buildings that power themselves
38:12 Will AI solve climate change?
39:55 Have industries held back technology?
41:39 "I call them magpies"
44:16 How is the UK really doing?
45:36 Then vs now: losing tenders over carbon
46:45 Why FM is ahead of the curve
47:50 Why your recycling bins might be 0.01%
48:59 UK coal, gas and offshored emissions
53:25 Do planning laws hold us back?
54:47 Making sustainability core to the business
55:30 The Procurement Act: winning on value
56:09 The quick win: baseline your footprint
58:13 Wrap-up and how to reach Alan
59:10 Mark's final thoughts

This episode is sponsored by UK Protection Ltd and Bidwells.

UK Protection Ltd are specialist security experts working across the UK, providing manned guarding, event security, vacant property protection, security audits and close protection. Leading luxury retailers trust them, and they also run raid training for retail teams, taught by former specialist police officers. People first, every time. Find out more: https://www.ukprotectionltd.co.uk

Bidwells is a leading UK real estate advisor. It works in the sectors that will shape the future: science and technology, sustainability and modern living. It was the first property consultancy in the UK to become a certified B Corp. Its 600+ experts manage over £5.2bn in property assets and advise on more than 4 million acres of UK countryside and coastline. It has been doing this for nearly 200 years and still works with many of its original clients.

If you want property advice built for new technology, climate change and the people who use your buildings, visit Bidwells: https://www.bidwells.co.uk

#facilitiesmanagement #fmx #netzero #sustainability #builtenvironment #carbonfootprint #tenders #bidwells #ukprotection #careers

Get in touch in the comments below or head to...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmx20_25
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-facilities-management-exchange/
Email: [email protected]

This episode is all about experience: in policing, in business and on the front line. We’re joined by Andy Fairbanks, founder and CEO of UK Protection Ltd, the man who took a chance and hired Mark during the Covid lockdowns.

Andy joined the police almost by accident, after a chat with two officers at a careers fair. He went on to earn one of the first close protection licences in the country before leaving policing to build his own security business. Today he leads a team protecting retail and high-value sites across the UK, and he doesn’t hold back.

In this episode we talk about:

• How a careers fair chat turned into a career in policing
• Why experience is draining out of frontline policing, and what the Henry Nowak case tells us
• AI, robots and which jobs are really at risk, including who’ll clean the robot factory
• Why plumbers and electricians could be the next millionaires
• Politics, business certainty and the real cost of the National Insurance rise
• Andy’s plan to run the NHS like an FM contract, still free at the point of use
• The race to the bottom in security and cleaning, and why “pay cheap, get cheap” still holds
• Being the victim of your own success, and the officers who held the line during armed robberies

If you enjoyed it, please like, comment, share and subscribe. There’s plenty more to come this season.

00:00 Welcome back & introducing Andy Fairbanks
01:30 From police officer to security CEO
01:57 How a careers fair chat led to joining the police
03:05 Close protection and the move into private security
03:40 Falling out of love with policing
04:55 “You don’t make the law, you enforce it”
06:51 The experience gap: the blind leading the blind
07:33 Policing in the age of TikTok
09:25 The Henry Nowak case: what went wrong
13:07 What you can’t learn in a classroom
14:18 The policing doom loop
15:28 Mark Rowley: “We dropped the ball”
17:23 Why are police chasing non-crimes?
19:37 Where’s the common sense gone?
20:35 Why the fun’s gone out of work
21:16 The end of the 30-year career and Gen Z
22:39 Why retention beats recruitment
23:36 Which jobs AI will take first
25:30 Who’ll clean the robot factory?
27:55 How UK Protection uses AI
29:14 Four plumbers, eight electricians, 80 influencers
30:18 The truth about data centres
31:50 Could AI really destroy us?
34:25 Sponsor: Bidwells
36:24 Politics, Covid and business
38:13 The over-promotion problem
40:59 Why business needs certainty
42:52 The National Insurance rise and price conversations
44:49 The race to the bottom
46:34 Is the cost of living crisis man-made?
48:59 Should MPs do six months on minimum wage?
49:57 Should ministers be paid like CEOs?
52:24 The loneliest place you’ll ever be
52:54 How FM has changed in 20 years
55:44 The merger everyone’s talking about
1:00:02 Andy’s plan for the NHS
1:04:15 Cleaning, security and the value of consistency
1:08:11 “We’re risk managers, not guards”
1:10:18 Pay cheap, get cheap
1:12:20 Victim of our own success
1:14:14 Range Rovers, axes and real bravery
1:15:31 Wrap-up & a part two?

This episode is sponsored by Bidwells.
Bidwells is a leading UK real estate advisor. It works in the sectors that will shape the future: science and technology, sustainability and modern living. It was the first property consultancy in the UK to become a certified B Corp. Its 600+ experts manage over £5.2bn in property assets and advise on more than 4 million acres of UK countryside and coastline. It has been doing this for nearly 200 years and still works with many of its original clients.
If you want property advice built for new technology, climate change and the people who use your buildings, visit Bidwells: https://www.bidwells.co.uk

#facilitiesmanagement #fmx #bidwells #security #policing #leadership #AI #ukprotection #careers #business

Get in touch in the comments below or head to...
Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/fmx20_25
LinkedIn: / https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-facilities-management-exchange/
Email: [email protected]

This episode is all about the next generation. We're joined by Olivia and Sophia from Frocester Group, two 19-year-olds we met at the Workplace Event who are just starting out in FM.

Sophia joined Frocester Group straight from school at 16, when the business had just four employees. She completed a business administration apprenticeship and has since moved from the service desk into operations, and now into fire. Olivia studied psychology, criminology and law at college before joining Frocester in September as a marketing apprentice. She now runs the company's social media and events.

In this episode we talk about:

- Going straight into work at 16 vs going to college first
- Why picking up the phone (and meetings) can feel so daunting for a new generation
- Being young and female in a male-dominated fire and security world
- The barriers young people face: qualifications, experience and the cost  of university
- Why apprenticeships and hiring based on a conversation, not a CV, work
- Leadership, culture and growing with a family business

If you enjoyed it, please like, comment, share and subscribe. There's plenty more to come this season.

00:00 Welcome back & introducing Olivia and Sophia
03:07 Olivia's route: from college to marketing
04:17 Sophia's route: straight from school at 16
04:48 Work vs further education
07:12 Competing as a smaller business: it's all about relationships
08:12 Sophia's apprenticeship and early days on the service desk
09:49 Why picking up the phone is so daunting
13:10 Meetings, nerves and the love of email
14:53 Industry events & ending up at the wrong one
18:50 Career progression: from service to operations to fire
20:25 Young women in a male-dominated industry (and golf days)
21:45 Olivia's marketing apprenticeship
26:03 Biggest challenge: organising events
28:58 The challenge of being heard
30:41 Is Gen Z really work-shy?
31:00 Sponsor: Bidwells
32:12 Responding to the critics: "Cinderella's shoe didn't fit everyone"
34:28 How hard it is to land a first job
36:12 Youth unemployment and the qualifications barrier
37:18 "I don't want to see your CV"
39:20 Covid, interviews and alternative routes
40:54 Is university worth the debt?
45:30 Why universities should offer degrees in FM, fire and security
47:08 Difficult clients and subcontractors
48:41 Building a thicker skin
51:01 Rapid growth at Frost Security
52:05 Family culture, ski trips and team spirit
55:06 Why good leadership matters
57:02 Wrap-up

This episode is sponsored by Bidwells.
Bidwells is a leading UK real estate advisor. It works in the sectors that will shape the future: science and technology, sustainability and modern living. It was the first property consultancy in the UK to become a certified B Corp. Its 600+ experts manage over £5.2bn in property assets and advise on more than 4 million acres of UK countryside and coastline. It has been doing this for nearly 200 years and still works with many of its original clients.
If you want property advice built for new technology, climate change and the people who use your buildings, visit Bidwells: https://www.bidwells.co.uk



#facilitiesmanagement #fmx #bidwells #totalpestcontrol #nextgeneration #apprenticeships #firesafety #security #careers #genz

Get in touch in the comments below or head to...
Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/fmx20_25
LinkedIn: / https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-facilities-management-exchange/
Email: [email protected]

Season 2 is here! We're kicking off with our amazing guest, Rob Richardson, Head of Facilities Management at Bidwells.

Rob started out as a journalist. He then moved into FM at Broadgate Estates and went on to roles at CBRE, client side in real estate and now Bidwells. Away from work, he captained the Great Britain sitting volleyball team at the London 2012 Paralympics and has won 135 caps.

In this episode we talk about:

- How journalism gave Rob the basics of good FM
- His Paralympic journey, from last in the world to a home Games quarter-final
- Disability, inclusion and why proactive recruitment matters
- Why FM is all about people, and what Virgin Atlantic can teach us about service
- Being brilliant at the basics and not over-stretching your team
- Advice for anyone looking to start a career in FM

If you enjoyed it, please like, comment, share and subscribe. There's plenty more to come this season.



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00:00 Welcome to Season 2 & introducing Rob Richardson
01:48 From journalism to facilities management
03:40 Starting out at Broadgate Estates, Regent's Place
05:01 The Broadgate legacy & the future skills programme
06:16 Being a sponge: mentors and making mistakes
07:50 Setting your own standards
08:33 Rob's Paralympic story
11:08 The email that started it all
12:25 From last in the world to London 2012
14:07 Media training: from the Games to FM
15:52 Sponsor: Bidwells
17:19 Social media lessons for young professionals
18:05 Facing Iran & the 8ft 1in player
18:56 How sitting volleyball works
20:55 135 caps and still playing
22:21 Disability and inclusion in FM
24:29 Leaving every candidate with a positive impression
26:29 Advice for people with disabilities entering FM
29:17 Rob's biggest leadership lesson: FM is about people
30:19 Going client side and seeing the other perspective
32:08 The one team ethos
33:10 What Virgin Atlantic taught us about great service
35:38 Be brilliant at the basics
36:41 Residential vs commercial FM
39:08 The toughest part of leadership: team capacity
40:47 "Does it make the boat go faster?"
41:27 Learning from defeats
43:25 The Bidwells culture
44:53 Learning from other buildings
46:00 Sponsor: Total Pest Control
46:50 The FM time machine: what would Rob do differently?
48:35 It's okay to change your mind
49:38 The FM wheel: careers beyond site roles
51:15 Industry consolidation
52:59 Advice for anyone looking to get into FM
54:54 Wrap-up



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This episode is sponsored by Bidwells.
Bidwells is a leading UK real estate advisor. It works in the sectors that will shape the future: science and technology, sustainability and modern living. It was the first property consultancy in the UK to become a certified B Corp. Its 600+ experts manage over £5.2bn in property assets and advise on more than 4 million acres of UK countryside and coastline. It has been doing this for nearly 200 years and still works with many of its original clients.
If you want property advice built for new technology, climate change and the people who use your buildings, visit Bidwells: https://www.bidwells.co.uk

This episode is sponsored by Total Pest Control
We've worked with Total Pest Control for close to 35 years and have always found them responsive and diligent, with a real commitment to helping clients on the sites they look after. They handle everything from rats, mice and bedbugs to specialist services like netting and hawking. They're fully insured, hold all the accreditations you'd expect and offer a free site survey.
Find out more: https://www.totalpestcontrol.co.uk


#facilitiesmanagement #fmx #bidwells #totalpestcontrol #sport #olympicsport #volleyball #paralympics #property #propertymanagement 

Get in touch in the comments below or head to...
Instagram:   / https://www.instagram.com/fmx20_25
LinkedIn:   / https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-facilities-management-exchange/
Email: [email protected]

For the final episode of Season 1, we're joined by Ross Abbate, CEO of Macro, one of the world's leading facilities management and workplace experience businesses operating across 49 countries.

From his early days struggling through his first role in FM, to leading a global organisation and shaping strategy across multiple continents, Ross shares the leadership lessons, career decisions and mindset shifts that have defined his journey.

This episode is a fascinating conversation exploring leadership, resilience, networking, culture, confidence and what it really takes to succeed in a global business environment.

In this episode expect:

• Ross's journey into facilities management and the challenging first six months of his career
• Why "another day, another challenge" became a mindset that helped shape his success
• The importance of backing yourself when things aren't going to plan
• A brilliant performance incentive strategy that transformed team engagement and results
• His move from Australia to the UK and the career opportunities that followed
• The networking advice every FM professional should hear
• How introverts can build meaningful networks without pretending to be someone they're not
• The story behind becoming CEO of Macro and the challenges that came with stepping into the role
• How leadership teams build strategy across a business operating in 49 countries
• Why the best business plans allow room to adapt and pivot
• Ross's approach to handling pressure, uncertainty and responsibility as a CEO

This is a fitting finale to Season 1 — packed with leadership insights, practical advice and honest reflections from one of the industry's most respected leaders. Whether you're just starting your career or leading teams across multiple regions, Ross's perspective offers valuable lessons on growth, resilience and the power of staying curious.

Welcome to Episode #15 of The Facilities Management Exchange

Today we’re joined by Andy Kelly, Helen Spall and Tony Retberg for a fascinating conversation exploring the unique challenges and rewards of managing some of the UK’s most iconic and historic buildings — from Manchester Central and the Houses of Parliament to Freemasons’ Hall.

This episode dives into the realities of heritage Facilities Management, balancing modern operational demands with centuries of history, and why the people behind these buildings are so passionate about what they do.

In this episode expect:
• A behind-the-scenes look at managing landmark heritage buildings
• The hidden operational challenges of maintaining historic venues
• Ghost stories, urban legends and some unexpected humour along the way
• Honest reflections on the pride FM professionals feel for the buildings they manage
• Career journeys into FM from aviation, security and events
• Why transferable skills are one of the biggest strengths in the industry
• The importance of people, relationships and workplace culture in FM
• The debate around AI, automation and whether experience will always beat technology
• Advice for young people looking to break into Facilities Management
• The growing need for apprenticeships and opportunities within the industry

This is a candid, insightful and entertaining conversation about heritage buildings, operational pressures, career progression and the future of Facilities Management — packed with stories, practical lessons and a genuine passion for the industry.

Welcome to this special episode of The Facilities Management Exchange in partnership with the City Security Council

In this episode, we’re joined by three rising professionals from across the security industry for an honest and insightful conversation around ambition, progression, pay, apprenticeships, leadership and the future of security careers in the UK.

From overcoming imposter syndrome and fleeing adversity to building careers through relentless hard work and sacrifice, this episode shines a light on the real people behind the industry — and the challenges facing the next generation coming into security.

This is a raw, inspiring and thought-provoking discussion exploring career growth, confidence, opportunity, workplace culture and what it truly takes to progress in one of the UK’s most demanding sectors.

In this episode expect:

• The biggest challenges each guest has faced in their career so far
• Why stepping outside your comfort zone is essential for growth
• How every role helps “polish your skills” and shape your career path
• A discussion on ambition, drive and whether everyone actually wants career success
• The realities of pay, wage growth and the increasing pressure businesses are under
• Why the government needs to do more to support businesses and employers
• A huge conversation around apprenticeships — and why removing them could damage the future of the industry
• Advice for anyone feeling suppressed or stuck in their current role

This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone working in security, facilities management or leadership — especially those looking to build a long-term career and create opportunities for the next generation entering the industry.

Welcome to Episode #13 of The Facilities Management Exchange

Today we’re joined by Darien Jay, Sharlene Rhoden and Debra Watson for a deep dive into the world of Facilities Management consultancy — how people enter the industry, what keeps them there and how relationships, value creation and adaptability define long-term success.

This episode explores three very different career journeys into FM, and what they reveal about the realities of consultancy, networking, and staying relevant in a rapidly evolving sector.

In this episode expect:
• How each guest found their way into Facilities Management 
• The honest answer to what keeps people in the industry
• Why great consultants are defined by being problem solvers 
• The role of relationships in FM 
• How supplier ecosystems often drive the most innovative thinking in FM
• The importance of networking
• Honest reflections on over-promotion
• Why FM is still largely meritocratic 
• The growing impact of AI and technology
• How COVID reshaped working patterns

This is a candid, practical and insight-packed conversation on what consultancy really looks like inside FM — from career lessons and commercial realities to the future of technology, talent and workplace culture.

Welcome to Episode #12 of The Facilities Management Exchange

Today we’re joined by Andrew Hulbert — entrepreneur, investor, culture-builder and one of the most recognisable figures in UK FM. Andrew is the founder of Pareto FM, a business he grew from a laptop in his bedroom into one of the industry’s most admired companies, ultimately exiting in a deal worth $100 million.

This episode is an honest, energising conversation covering entrepreneurship, culture, politics, pressure, sacrifice… and the mindset required to build something truly exceptional.

In this episode expect:

• Why showing up — literally going to the office — is still one of the most underrated success strategies in business
• How Andrew built the company from a laptop in his bedroom
• What made Pareto FM different — adaptability, treating people right, and building a culture where anyone could call anyone out
• The realities of running an FM company in today’s volatile economic environment
• The personal cost of ambition — relationships, loneliness, sacrifice
• The deeper meaning of wealth
• Professional vulnerability: why great leaders don’t need all the answers
• Andrew’s biggest leadership mistake — and what he’d do differently if he 
• The advice he wants every entrepreneur — and every young person entering FM — to hear

This is an episode packed with insights, honesty, humour, and hard-won wisdom from someone who built, scaled and exited one of the most transformative businesses in FM.

Welcome to Episode #11 of The Facilities Management Exchange

We're joined today by Petra Velzeboer — global keynote speaker, author, mental health expert, and founder of a consultancy dedicated to transforming workplace culture and building high-performing teams rooted in genuine wellbeing.

Raised in a cult, Petra has seen first-hand how toxic systems break people down. With 17+ years in mental health and organisational culture, she now uses that lived experience to help individuals and businesses create environments where people can truly thrive — not simply survive.

This is a powerful, eye-opening conversation exploring technology, addiction, culture change, human connection, and Petra’s extraordinary personal journey.

In this episode expect: 

• How billions are being spent, competing for our attention
• Why so many of us use our phones to avoid difficult emotions
• The rise of digital addiction, doomscrolling and the disconnect between online and real life
• The skill of turning fear into excitement
• Advice for anyone stuck in a toxic work culture
• Petra's history, growing up in one of the most notorious cults
• Petra's latest book, Digital Wellbeing: Recharge your focus and reboot your life

Links to purchase Petra's books are below: 

• Digital Wellbeing - https://amzn.eu/d/0hsTu0wR
• Begin With You - https://amzn.eu/d/01ogj77S

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