We are privately owned independent FM consultancy with over 16 years experience. Our principle role has been to advise clients on the strategies available to them in the evolving outsourcing market. The team is small and discreet with 5 core members, but 10 consultants, providing a wide range of industry experience in both client and supplier organisations.

 

 

We believe our supplier database contains the most comprehensive information available in the Facilities Management market today; offering an invaluable resource of commercially relevant intelligence for all FM procurement/outsourcing activities, both in the UK and Europe. Opale defines intelligence in this context as a combination of Data and Relationship. We pride ourselves on having an unrivalled position within the FM arena. Our professional relationship with the suppliers enables us to state with confidence their true value to clients.

 

 

Osiris We have developed a rigorous process to establish the most cost-effective outsourcing model for the client (OSIRIS). Opale will help develop this product and then assist the client in “going to market”. The supplier data + client need, enables Opale to develop a product that the market is capable of delivering and one that suitable suppliers would be keen to get involved with.

 

Perform Our Perform product (Performance Management System) enables automated post contract quality control.

 

FMAP – Facilities Maturity Assessment Programme, a powerful and yet simple framework and programme that is set to change the way that FM views and measures itself; changing the perception of FM held by the businesses and organisations it serves and lifting the thinking of those that work within this industry be they on the client or supplier side.

 

Best practice techniques have been used by a range of industries to measure maturity of services delivery for some time and are now common place. The IT industry uses models such as, IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) to define their best practice and model operating system whilst the Capability Maturity Modelling Integration (CMMI) is globally established as the proven approach to assessing maturity. Both are solid and well known examples of this approach. Today such processes and toolkits are an entrenched part of many industry’s qualitative and innovation measurement approaches and are regarded as best practice. 

 

 

There is a traditional process for outsourcing, which is assumed to be the most effective route to market. Independent analysis has shown however that contracts agreed via this process have a typically 3-5 year lifespan at best. The process is cumbersome and can involve a lot of wasted time, effort and resource by both the client and the suppliers. Most contracts fail to meet the original expectations set and many simply linger on until the contract termination is reached.

 

 

Over the past several years, we have developed sufficient benchmarking data to enable us to profile a clients business and understand with accuracy what options are available to their organisation. There are several hybrids and combinations of the contractual, commercial and delivery mechanisms. Often these options are simply unknown to the client. We believe we can establish the right solution for the client via a relatively simple review. 

 

 

Experience has shown that by utilising the standard process developed over many years by Opale, clients can very quickly develop a very precise working specification. Most clients are moving away from the traditional input style of specification to a more pragmatic output specification which transfers the risk of delivery to the supplier and forces them to adopt a “Best Industry Practice” approach to service delivery.

 

Our initial phases are data capture, the more we can establish early on the less difficulty we will experience from the suppliers during the period between ITT issue and the return date. We see our role as the organisation that interprets the clients needs and engages the suppliers in a constructive manner such as to minimise client effort. We are a driving force for change and pride ourselves on knowing how and when to apply pressure to get the project completed on budget and on time and to the agreed expectation.

 

 

Recent/Current contracts include managing the outsourcing exercises for the

BBC English nations and regions (Multi-site project)

BAE Systems

Lloyds TSB

Bank of Ireland/Bristol & West outsourcing consolidation

Hewlett Packard

HSBC

Barclays

O2 Telephonica

Shell Plc

Alstom

 

Typically we are referred to clients and choose assignments where we can add value invariably this is where clients are spending in excess of €5M on their facilities budget.