The Client: Sentiem
Sentiem is a London-based venture capital firm investing in pioneering ventures across Advanced Technology & Industrial, Finance & Fintech, and Healthtech & Human Performance sectors. With a commitment to innovation, Sentiem actively incubates, builds, and accelerates ventures that have the potential to shape the future. As they prepared to move into a high-spec office in 2024, they needed an exceptional Head of Facilities Management to oversee the transition and ensure a world-class workplace experience.
The Challenge: Finding a Strategic Facilities Leader
Sentiem required a Head of Facilities Management who could balance high-level strategy with hands-on operational expertise. The role demanded a leader who could oversee all aspects of office management, building maintenance, catering, cleaning, security, health & safety, and both hard and soft FM services. With the upcoming office move, the ideal candidate needed strong project management skills and the ability to manage third-party vendors, regulatory compliance, and business continuity planning. Importantly, Sentiem sought a professional whose leadership style aligned with their inclusive, action-oriented culture.
Our Approach: Identifying the Right Talent for Sentiem
To meet Sentiem’s high standards, we conducted a targeted search focusing on candidates with:
• Extensive experience in property, building, and facilities management.
• A track record of managing hard and soft FM services within high-spec office environments.
• Strong contract negotiation, vendor management, and regulatory compliance expertise.
• Leadership capabilities to manage both internal teams and external contractors.
• Business continuity planning and emergency response experience.
• Industry-recognised qualifications such as IOSH/NEBOSH and IWFM membership.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with excellent stakeholder management skills.
We meticulously screened and shortlisted candidates who matched Sentiem’s technical and cultural requirements, ensuring they could lead the FM function with both strategic vision and operational excellence.
The Result: A Facilities Leader Driving Excellence
Following a rigorous selection process, we successfully placed a highly skilled Head of Facilities Management who:
• Took ownership of Sentiem’s new high-spec office transition, ensuring a seamless move.
• Established and maintained top-tier facilities services, enhancing the workplace experience.
• Led vendor negotiations and contract management, optimising costs and service quality.
• Ensured full compliance with health & safety regulations, mitigating risks effectively.
• Implemented robust business continuity plans and incident response protocols.
• Aligned with Sentiem’s values, contributing to a culture of collaboration and excellence.