Workplace, Wellbeing & Facilities Appointments for SBHG

Background

SBHG, a leading housing association serving communities across West London, appointed Maxwell Stephens to strengthen its facilities management function through the recruitment of two positions: a Workspace, EDI & Wellbeing Business Partner and a Facilities Coordinator.

With a strong commitment to providing high-quality homes and services while creating positive environments for employees and residents, SBHG needed professionals who could contribute to both the strategic development and the day-to-day performance of its workplace and facilities operations.

The two appointments were different but complementary. The Workspace, EDI & Wellbeing Business Partner would focus on workplace experience, inclusion, employee wellbeing and organisational culture, while the Facilities Coordinator would provide the operational structure and support needed to keep facilities services running efficiently.

The Challenge

SBHG had to identify two professionals with distinctly different skill sets who could nevertheless work towards the same objective: well-managed, inclusive and supportive environments. Technical facilities capability mattered, but cultural fit, communication skills and alignment with SBHG's values were equally significant.

The Business Partner role is a good example of how facilities and workplace functions have widened. It sits where FM meets HR, and candidates who are strong on one side but unfamiliar with the other tend to struggle in it.

Workspace, EDI & Wellbeing Business Partner

This appointment called for someone able to bring workplace strategy together with equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), employee wellbeing and organisational engagement. Key requirements included:

• Workplace experience. Helping create working environments that supported employees, encouraged collaboration and reflected the organisation's evolving workplace requirements.
• EDI leadership. Supporting initiatives designed to strengthen equity, diversity and inclusion across the organisation.
• Employee wellbeing. Developing and promoting programmes aimed at a healthier and more supportive workplace.
• Culture and engagement. Helping embed inclusive behaviours and keeping workplace initiatives aligned with SBHG's wider organisational values.
• Training and awareness. Supporting targeted training and awareness programmes to improve understanding of EDI and wellbeing across the organisation.
• Policy development. Contributing to the development and improvement of workplace, wellbeing and inclusion policies.
• Stakeholder engagement. Building effective relationships across the organisation and influencing colleagues at different levels to support positive change.

Facilities Coordinator

Alongside the strategic appointment, SBHG needed a Facilities Coordinator capable of strengthening day-to-day facilities operations. Key requirements included:

• Facilities coordination. Supporting the effective delivery of facilities services and making sure operational requirements were addressed promptly.
• Process improvement. Reviewing existing processes and identifying ways to make facilities administration and service delivery more efficient.
• Operational support. Reliable day-to-day coordination so that facilities issues were managed effectively.
• Supplier and service coordination. Working with contractors and service providers to maintain appropriate service standards.
• Technology and systems. Using technology and facilities systems to improve coordination, visibility and efficiency.
• Customer-focused service. A responsive service to colleagues, supporting the wider quality of SBHG's operational environment.

Our Approach

Maxwell Stephens worked closely with SBHG to understand not only the technical responsibilities of each position but also the organisation's culture, values and longer-term objectives. Because the appointments required different professional profiles, we developed a targeted search strategy for each role.

For the Workspace, EDI & Wellbeing Business Partner, the focus was on professionals who could combine workplace knowledge with a genuine understanding of inclusion, organisational culture and employee wellbeing. For the Facilities Coordinator, we concentrated on candidates with strong organisational skills, practical facilities experience and the ability to improve processes in a busy operational environment. Across both searches, candidates were assessed on:

• relevant facilities and workplace experience
• communication and stakeholder-management skills
• organisational capability
• problem-solving ability
• cultural alignment with SBHG
• commitment to service improvement
• ability to work collaboratively
• proactive approach to change

Through our specialist network and detailed assessment process, Maxwell Stephens identified two candidates whose experience, working styles and values closely matched SBHG's requirements.

The Outcome

The recruitment of both professionals strengthened SBHG's facilities and workplace capability at strategic and operational levels:

• Stronger workplace and wellbeing focus. The Workspace, EDI & Wellbeing Business Partner provided dedicated leadership around employee experience, inclusion and wellbeing, bringing these priorities more closely into SBHG's workplace strategy.
• Stronger EDI initiatives. The appointment supported the development of training programmes, awareness initiatives and policy improvements designed to strengthen equity, diversity and inclusion across the organisation.
• Greater employee engagement. A more structured approach to workplace experience and wellbeing helped create an environment in which employees could feel more engaged and included.
• Improved facilities coordination. The Facilities Coordinator strengthened day-to-day service delivery through a more organised and proactive approach to facilities requirements.
• More efficient processes. Streamlined procedures and better use of technology supported more efficient facilities administration and service coordination.
• Improved operational responsiveness. Dedicated facilities support meant issues were identified and addressed promptly, strengthening the reliability of everyday operations.

Together, the two appointments addressed both sides of SBHG's requirement: strategic workplace and cultural development alongside dependable operational facilities delivery.

Why This Placement Worked

By understanding the distinct requirements of each role while keeping a clear focus on SBHG's organisational culture, Maxwell Stephens identified professionals capable of contributing at both strategic and operational levels.

The assignment shows how facilities and workplace functions are evolving. Traditional FM expertise increasingly intersects with employee experience, organisational culture, wellbeing and inclusion, and recruiting for that intersection means assessing people skills and values with the same rigour as technical competence.

If you want to strengthen your workplace or facilities team with professionals who combine operational expertise with a strong understanding of people and culture, Maxwell Stephens can help. Get in touch with our team.