Background & Client Overview
Travis Perkins, a leading supplier to the UK building and construction industry, appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Facilities Manager within its Group Property function.
The position carried responsibility for an extensive geographical portfolio of approximately 400 sites, requiring a highly capable FM professional who could maintain consistent service standards across a large and operationally diverse estate.
The successful candidate would act as a key point of contact for Facilities Management matters across the region, overseeing hard and soft services, supplier performance, statutory compliance, procurement initiatives and cost control.
Initially required on a temporary basis with the potential to become permanent, the appointment also needed to provide immediate continuity while offering the capability for a successful longer-term transition.
The Challenge
The scale of the Travis Perkins estate made this a particularly demanding Facilities Management appointment.
The successful candidate needed to operate effectively across hundreds of locations while managing suppliers, maintaining compliance and building productive relationships with colleagues and senior stakeholders throughout the business.
Key responsibilities included:
Large-Scale Portfolio Management
Managing Facilities services across approximately 400 sites and ensuring consistent operational standards throughout a geographically dispersed estate.
Hard & Soft Facilities Management
Overseeing services including mechanical and electrical maintenance, cleaning, waste management and catering.
Supplier Relationship Management
Leading relationships with outsourced FM providers, including direct management of supplier account managers and maintaining clear accountability for service delivery.
Supplier & Building Audits
Conducting audits to assess supplier performance, building condition and compliance across the portfolio.
Asset Condition Reporting
Producing and reviewing asset condition information to support maintenance planning and informed property decisions.
Planned Preventive Maintenance
Using inspection and asset information to help shape effective planned preventive maintenance (PPM) regimes across the estate.
Procurement & Value for Money
Supporting regional and national procurement programmes designed to strengthen commercial performance and achieve value for money.
Statutory Compliance
Ensuring Facilities operations remained aligned with relevant UK legislation and that statutory responsibilities were appropriately managed.
Incident Management
Acting as a key contact for FM-related incidents and coordinating effective responses to operational issues.
Senior Stakeholder Engagement
Working confidently with colleagues and senior stakeholders across the organisation, communicating Facilities priorities and influencing decisions where required.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens developed a comprehensive search strategy focused on Facilities professionals with experience managing large, geographically dispersed estates and complex outsourced service arrangements.
Market Mapping
We reviewed the market to identify professionals with the right combination of Facilities Management, procurement and supplier-management experience.
Given the scale of the portfolio, particular attention was paid to candidates who had already demonstrated their ability to manage significant multi-site operations.
Targeted Candidate Engagement
Using our specialist Facilities Management network, we proactively approached candidates with relevant experience across both hard and soft FM services.
Rigorous Assessment
Candidates were assessed against key requirements including:
- large-scale multi-site Facilities Management
- hard and soft service delivery
- supplier and contractor management
- procurement and commercial awareness
- budget management
- SLA and performance monitoring
- statutory compliance
- planned preventive maintenance
- asset condition reporting
- senior stakeholder engagement
- incident management
- ability to operate effectively across a large geographical region
The temp-to-perm nature of the assignment was also important. Candidates needed to be capable of making an immediate contribution while demonstrating the suitability and motivation for a longer-term appointment.
Close Client Collaboration
Throughout the process, Maxwell Stephens worked closely with Travis Perkins to understand both the technical requirements of the position and the working style needed to integrate effectively into the Group Property team.
Following a detailed search and assessment process, we successfully placed a highly experienced Facilities Manager on a temp-to-perm basis.
Outcome & Impact
The successful candidate brought more than 10 years of Facilities Management experience, together with strong knowledge of both hard and soft FM services and extensive supplier-management capability.
Seamless Transition
The candidate integrated quickly into the role, helping maintain continuity of Facilities services across the extensive property portfolio during the transition period.
Stronger Supplier Management
A proactive approach to supplier relationships supported clearer accountability and helped maintain consistent service performance across multiple sites.
Enhanced Compliance
Regular monitoring and a strong understanding of statutory requirements helped ensure Facilities activities remained aligned with relevant legislation and contractual obligations.
Improved Performance Oversight
Supplier audits, building reviews and asset condition reporting provided greater visibility of performance and supported more informed Facilities decisions.
Stronger Maintenance Planning
The candidate's understanding of building condition and maintenance requirements helped inform effective PPM activity across the portfolio.
Greater Commercial Efficiency
Experience in procurement and budget management supported Travis Perkins' focus on achieving cost savings, operational efficiencies and value for money.
Effective Stakeholder Management
Strong communication and influencing skills enabled the Facilities Manager to work effectively with senior stakeholders, colleagues and service providers across a geographically dispersed organisation.
Outcome
The successful placement provided Travis Perkins with a Facilities Manager capable of overseeing approximately 400 sites while balancing service delivery, supplier performance, compliance, procurement and commercial control.
The temp-to-perm appointment also provided the organisation with continuity at a critical point while allowing both parties to establish a strong longer-term fit.
The assignment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' ability to recruit experienced Facilities professionals for large and complex multi-site estates, where success depends on combining operational expertise with commercial awareness, supplier leadership and confident stakeholder management.
Looking for an experienced Facilities Manager to oversee a large or geographically dispersed property portfolio? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.