Client Overview
Bupa is one of the world's leading healthcare organisations, serving millions of customers across the UK and internationally. With a significant corporate property portfolio supporting its healthcare, insurance and corporate operations, Bupa places great emphasis on delivering safe, efficient and high-performing workplace environments.
To strengthen its UK Property team, Bupa partnered with Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Assistant Facilities Manager. This strategically important appointment would support the delivery of facilities management services across the corporate estate while ensuring exceptional standards of compliance, operational performance and customer service.
The Challenge
Bupa required an Assistant Facilities Manager capable of supporting the strategic management of its Facilities Management function within a complex corporate environment.
Working closely with the Facilities Manager, the successful candidate would play a key leadership role in managing both hard and soft FM services, driving continuous improvement, ensuring statutory compliance and acting as the interface between Facilities Management and the wider business.
Key responsibilities included:
- Supporting the delivery of Facilities Management strategy across the corporate estate.
- Managing hard and soft FM service contracts and supplier performance.
- Monitoring KPIs and service level agreements.
- Overseeing statutory compliance and Health & Safety obligations.
- Developing planned maintenance strategies for building assets.
- Supporting workplace projects, relocations and refurbishments.
- Supervising the Front of House function.
- Managing contractor relationships and procurement activities.
- Assisting with operational and capital budget planning.
- Supporting business continuity and workplace resilience initiatives.
- Acting as deputy to the Facilities Manager when required.
The role demanded an experienced facilities professional with strong commercial awareness, excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to operate confidently within a highly regulated corporate environment.
Our Approach
Maxwell Stephens worked closely with Bupa's Property leadership team to develop a comprehensive understanding of both the technical requirements of the role and the culture of the organisation.
Leveraging our specialist Facilities Management network, we conducted a targeted search focused on professionals with experience in corporate workplaces, healthcare environments and blue-chip organisations.
We prioritised candidates with:
- Strong Facilities Management leadership experience.
- Hard and soft FM operational expertise.
- Health & Safety qualifications including IOSH or NEBOSH.
- IWFM (formerly BIFM) membership or equivalent professional qualifications.
- Contract management and procurement expertise.
- Budget management experience.
- Workplace project and relocation experience.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
- A proactive, customer-focused leadership style.
Every shortlisted candidate underwent a detailed assessment covering technical capability, leadership skills, commercial awareness and cultural fit.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully appointed an experienced Assistant Facilities Manager who combined technical expertise with strong leadership capability and a collaborative management style.
The successful candidate quickly established themselves as a trusted member of Bupa's Property team, supporting the delivery of high-quality Facilities Management services while helping to drive operational improvements across the estate.
Results Delivered
Enhanced Facilities Operations
The appointment strengthened the day-to-day management of corporate facilities, ensuring consistent service delivery across both hard and soft FM functions.
Stronger Supplier Performance
Through proactive contract management and performance monitoring, supplier relationships were enhanced, improving service quality while delivering value for money.
Improved Compliance & Risk Management
Health & Safety, statutory compliance and workplace governance were maintained to the highest standards, supporting Bupa's commitment to employee wellbeing and operational resilience.
Successful Workplace Projects
The successful candidate supported office moves, refurbishment programmes and workplace improvement initiatives, ensuring projects were delivered efficiently and with minimal disruption.
Effective Stakeholder Management
Strong communication and relationship-building skills enabled productive collaboration across internal departments, contractors and external service providers.
The Impact
The appointment has strengthened Bupa's Facilities Management capability by providing experienced operational leadership, improved supplier governance and enhanced workplace support across the UK corporate estate.
By combining technical expertise with exceptional customer service and commercial awareness, the successful candidate has helped maintain the high standards expected within one of the world's leading healthcare organisations.
This successful assignment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' expertise in recruiting Facilities Management professionals for complex corporate and healthcare environments where operational excellence, compliance and customer experience are critical.