Challenge

Procure4 were asked to work on the business-critical categories of Facilities Management & Mechanical & Electrical engineering services across two key manufacturing sites. The existing operating model had a wide range of external providers managed by an in-house team. 

The challenge was to provide a step change in delivery alongside transparent savings to the bottom line, all while reducing commercial risk and ensuring stakeholder engagement.

Approach

The Procure4 team engaged in a detailed due diligence process and significant stakeholder engagement activity. The scope and over-arching strategy was developed by Procure4 and agreed by both the Executive and FM project team.  Weetabix were explicit that they wanted to keep their options open throughout the project as flexibility was key.

Procure4 undertook a Request for Information exercise to +200 suppliers. Suitable FM partners were identified and a Request for Quotation was issued to leading suppliers across the UK. Following a short-listing exercise, a thorough due diligence process was mapped out.

Ensuring the service was enhanced was key, so the final bidders were asked to:

• Present a detailed partnership plan on how they would deliver the services, undertake the mobilization process and drive continuous improvement.
• Undertake a deep dive on their commercial responses looking at like for like costings and alternative proposals that challenged existing specifications and ways of working.
• Arrange an unaccompanied visit to a comparable client site.
• Complete a “scenario test” so that the project team had complete confidence that the supplier was fit for purpose operationally and would maintain the high standards of Health and Safety required.

Results

Weetabix opted for a consolidated outsourced solution moving 13 services under one new contract provider.

The strategy provides both leverage and one point of accountability. It allows flexibility for more services to be consolidated in the future, alongside strong commercial benefits and legal redress if the service doesn’t meet expected requirements.  

The exciting part of this project is not just what Weetabix and their new FM Partner can deliver in the short term; but they have a shared vision to transform the estate and customer experience over the next five years