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Welcome to InTheNews – covering all the FM news you may have missed over the week:
Shareholders in three cladding companies, whose shocking practices were uncovered in evidence heard at the Grenfell Inquiry, have been warned by the government that the manufacturers they invest in will face “severe consequences” if they do not come forward with a comprehensive financial package to fix unsafe buildings.
Michael Gove has written to investors in Kingspan, Arconic, and Saint-Gobain and urged them to use their “position of influence” to encourage the firms to “engage constructively in helping us reach a just resolution for all concerned.” Shareholders who received letters include Blackrock, Vanguard, and Fidelity Management and Research, as well as investors like Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway, who tell their employees it is important to promote “a high level of ethical awareness and integrity” in their work.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove said:
“I have always been clear that those responsible for the building safety crisis must pay. But despite the fact that their products continue to put lives at risk, some cladding firms have no intention of doing what’s right and addressing their moral and financial obligations to innocent residents.”
In the past 12 months, Cleanology took on 600 new staff, during a period of record-breaking growth that saw the company win new contracts in London, as well as spearheading a national expansion ranging as far afield as Scotland, Bristol and Oxfordshire. An acquisition in Wigan, Lancashire, added a further 400 staff to the books, bringing the total to 1,400.
Chief executive officer Dominic Ponniah described the jobs created as vindication of the company’s strength, as well as its dedication to employee wellbeing. He said: “The figures speak for themselves – in 2022, our turnover rose to £25m. But the jobs we have created are also worth talking about.
Mr Ponniah concluded: “The employment market is undoubtedly the most difficult I have ever seen for recruitment. But our growth shows that all elements of the chain link together. We focus on quality, and invest in our staff, and it is really encouraging to see that our clients share the same values. People choose us because they can see we are a family-orientated company focused on quality, that doesn’t cut corners. And we are growing.”
Mitie’s latest e-book, released today, tackles the five biggest challenges to reaching net zero, and shares insights on how organisations can overcome each one.
Mitie’s energy management, engineering, and sustainability expertise has saved over 353,000 tonnes of CO2 for British organisations in the last decade. In that time, five common obstacles have emerged, which are preventing the successful execution of decarbonisation initiatives at scale.
Mike Sewell, Plan Zero Director, Mitie, said: “With the race to net zero well underway, time is certainly of the essence, making it crucial for organisations to overcome common barriers.”
You can find out more on news.fmbusinessdaily.com
