Client Overview
Westway Trust is an award-winning charity responsible for managing and developing the 23-acre estate beneath the Westway flyover in North Kensington, West London. The Trust oversees a diverse mixed-use estate comprising sports facilities, community spaces, commercial units, markets, green spaces and public amenities, all with the aim of improving the lives of local residents and supporting the wider community.
To strengthen the management of this unique and complex estate, Westway Trust partnered with Maxwell Stephens to recruit a Technical Services & Estates Manager on a fixed-term basis.
The Challenge
Westway Trust required an experienced estates and technical services professional capable of overseeing a wide-ranging portfolio of buildings, infrastructure and public spaces.
Reporting into the senior leadership team, the successful candidate would provide operational leadership across hard facilities management, statutory compliance and estates maintenance while supporting the Trust's wider property strategy.
Key responsibilities included:
- Leading all technical services and estates maintenance activities across the estate.
- Managing planned preventative maintenance (PPM) programmes.
- Overseeing mechanical, electrical and building fabric maintenance.
- Acting as the Trust's Health & Safety Officer.
- Ensuring full statutory and regulatory compliance.
- Managing contractors, consultants and specialist service providers.
- Developing maintenance strategies and long-term asset plans.
- Leading procurement and contract management activities.
- Managing risk assessments, method statements and CDM compliance.
- Supporting capital works and refurbishment projects.
- Providing technical guidance to Property Management and Facilities teams.
- Driving continuous improvement across operational performance.
The successful candidate needed to combine strong technical knowledge with excellent leadership, stakeholder management and commercial awareness to support one of London's most distinctive mixed-use estates.
Our Approach
Working closely with Westway Trust, Maxwell Stephens developed a detailed understanding of both the operational requirements of the role and the organisation's community-focused culture.
Using our specialist Facilities and Estates Management network, we conducted a targeted executive search focused on professionals with experience managing complex, multi-use estates.
Our assessment concentrated on candidates who demonstrated:
- Extensive technical services and estates management experience.
- Strong mechanical and electrical (M&E) knowledge.
- Health & Safety leadership and statutory compliance expertise.
- Experience managing public, commercial or mixed-use estates.
- Contractor and procurement management capability.
- Capital projects and planned maintenance experience.
- Strong people leadership and stakeholder engagement skills.
- A proactive, hands-on and collaborative management style.
Each shortlisted candidate underwent a comprehensive interview and assessment process to ensure both technical capability and cultural alignment.
The Outcome
Maxwell Stephens successfully appointed an experienced Technical Services & Estates Manager who quickly became an integral member of the Estates team.
Drawing upon significant experience in technical facilities management and estate operations, the successful candidate introduced greater structure, improved compliance and enhanced maintenance planning across the Trust's extensive property portfolio.
Results Delivered
Enhanced Technical Services Management
The appointment strengthened oversight of building services, infrastructure and estate maintenance, improving operational performance across the Trust's diverse portfolio.
Improved Health & Safety Compliance
As the Trust's Health & Safety lead, the successful candidate strengthened compliance procedures, risk management processes and statutory governance across the estate.
Planned Maintenance Improvements
The introduction of robust planned preventative maintenance programmes reduced reactive maintenance while improving asset performance and lifecycle planning.
Stronger Contractor Management
Improved procurement, contractor oversight and performance management ensured higher service standards, greater accountability and improved value for money.
Support for Long-Term Estate Strategy
Working closely with the wider Property and Facilities teams, the appointed manager helped deliver maintenance improvements and supported the Trust's long-term vision for sustainable estate management.
The Impact
The appointment provided Westway Trust with experienced technical leadership capable of managing a highly diverse estate while supporting its wider mission of delivering outstanding community facilities and public spaces.
Through stronger compliance, improved maintenance planning and enhanced contractor management, the successful candidate helped ensure the Trust's estate remained safe, efficient and fit for the future.
This successful assignment demonstrates Maxwell Stephens' expertise in recruiting senior Technical Services, Estates and Facilities Management professionals for charities, public sector organisations and complex mixed-use estates.