Background & Client Overview
In January 2023, Usborne Publishing, one of the UK’s leading children’s book publishers, appointed Maxwell Stephens to recruit an experienced Facilities Manager to oversee its London headquarters and support its wider UK property operations.
With approximately 290 employees across London, Eynsham in Oxfordshire and Wolverhampton, Usborne required a Facilities professional capable of maintaining consistently high workplace standards across multiple locations.
The role was centred on the company’s headquarters at Saffron Hill, Farringdon, with additional responsibility for supporting the regional offices. The successful candidate needed to combine multi-site Facilities Management, health and safety, supplier management, maintenance coordination and stakeholder service while creating safe, functional and comfortable environments for employees and visitors.
The Challenge
Usborne Publishing needed a capable and dependable Facilities Manager who could take ownership of a broad range of building-related responsibilities while supporting several locations.
The position required someone with strong technical and operational FM experience, but equally important were excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-management skills.
Key requirements included:
Head Office Facilities Management
Taking responsibility for the effective day-to-day management of Usborne’s Saffron Hill headquarters and ensuring the building remained safe, functional and professionally maintained.
Multi-Site Support
Providing Facilities Management support to the organisation’s offices in Eynsham and Wolverhampton, helping maintain consistent standards across the wider estate.
Health & Safety Management
Ensuring appropriate health and safety procedures were implemented and maintained while supporting compliance across the organisation’s premises.
Building Maintenance
Coordinating planned and reactive maintenance and ensuring building-related issues were identified, prioritised and resolved efficiently.
Third-Party & Supplier Management
Managing relationships with external contractors and service providers, monitoring performance and ensuring services met Usborne’s requirements.
Workplace Standards
Maintaining comfortable, functional and well-presented environments for employees and visitors.
Stakeholder Engagement
Working closely with colleagues across the organisation and providing a responsive Facilities service to meet operational requirements.
Problem-Solving
Taking a proactive approach to Facilities issues and resolving problems before they caused unnecessary disruption to employees or business operations.
Our Recruitment Approach
Maxwell Stephens developed a targeted recruitment campaign focused on Facilities professionals with proven experience managing multi-site corporate environments.
A detailed understanding of Usborne Publishing’s requirements allowed us to assess candidates against both the technical responsibilities of the position and the interpersonal qualities required to succeed within the organisation.
Our search focused on professionals with experience in:
- multi-site Facilities Management
- office and workplace operations
- health and safety
- planned and reactive maintenance
- contractor and supplier management
- negotiation and commercial awareness
- stakeholder engagement
- problem-solving
- customer-focused service delivery
- Facilities administration and compliance
Particular emphasis was placed on finding someone who could combine strong operational knowledge with a proactive and approachable working style.
Following an extensive search and rigorous selection process, Maxwell Stephens presented Usborne Publishing with a carefully selected shortlist of qualified candidates.
Outcome & Impact
The recruitment process resulted in the successful appointment of an experienced Facilities Manager whose background closely matched Usborne Publishing’s requirements.
Strong Multi-Site Experience
The successful candidate brought substantial experience managing Facilities across multiple locations, providing Usborne with the capability required to oversee the London headquarters while supporting its regional offices.
Enhanced Health & Safety Oversight
A strong understanding of health and safety procedures enabled the Facilities Manager to maintain appropriate workplace standards and support a safe environment for staff and visitors.
Improved Facilities Coordination
Dedicated Facilities leadership strengthened the coordination of building maintenance and day-to-day operational requirements across the organisation.
Stronger Supplier Relationships
The candidate’s communication and negotiation skills supported effective management of third-party suppliers and contractors.
Proactive Problem-Solving
A proactive approach enabled Facilities issues to be identified and addressed efficiently, helping minimise disruption and maintain reliable workplace operations.
Improved Workplace Experience
By maintaining high standards across Usborne’s premises, the appointment supported a safer, more functional and comfortable working environment for employees.
Outcome
The successful appointment provided Usborne Publishing with a Facilities Manager capable of combining multi-site property operations, maintenance, health and safety, supplier management and stakeholder support.
The assignment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens’ ability to recruit Facilities professionals for multi-location corporate environments, where success depends on balancing operational expertise with strong communication, initiative and a commitment to workplace service.
Looking for an experienced Facilities Manager to oversee your headquarters and wider property portfolio? Contact Maxwell Stephens to discuss your recruitment requirements.