The annual BIFM London Region conference took place this week at the Wellcome Trust on Euston Road. The event was attended by a diverse range of Facilities Management professionals and is the region’s key educational event, bringing together a range of thought-provoking speakers to challenge and inform delegates.
This year’s theme was ‘wellbeing’, and the programme included speakers from England Rugby, Active, Herman Miller, Compass Group, and the WELL Building Standard, all expertly chaired by TV personality and tennis star Andrew Castle.
The various seminars discussed how to bring wellbeing into the workplace through training and development, design, food and management.
After registration and refreshments, the day began with a welcome from chairman for the London Region, Jason Cousins and welcome introduction from Andrew Castle. Paddy McMaster, senior learning and development partner at England Rugby then explained how the Rugby Football Union (RFU) supports and develops its people, particularly around the area of wellbeing, and then gave insight into how facilities professionals can learn from the organisation’s world class approach.
Straight into another insightful and enthusiastic talk, Whitney Austin Gray took to the floor to talk about The WELL Building Standard. She looked at how specific conditions, can enhance the health and wellbeing of occupants through holistic approaches in building architecture and design.
The bacon rolls, rocket and cream cheese bruschetta’s and fruit platters were then out for all to enjoy during the coffee break before the pre-lunch sessions, which saw Active review the processes for creating a workplace to enhance wellbeing and Compass Group examine food sustainability and nutritional programmes.
Following the foodie chat, it was the perfect time for delegates to replenish their sugar levels with a nutritious and delicious lunch of braised beef, salmon fillets or courgette fritters accompanied by many colourful salads.
Lillian Antonio from Herman Miller kicked off the afternoon to discuss ‘What the body wants’. She delved into the impact of sedentary office behaviours, and the effects they are having on our bodies and the importance of the full range of movement to maintain healthy and productive staff. We all became (if not already) acutely aware of the what is going on behind the aches the pains we know so well.
Andy Reynolds, founder of Revitalised, then explained how to use tech to support employee engagement, health and wellbeing. He examined the increasing importance of digital technology in the drive for fuller staff engagement.
Performance guru Jamil Qureshi then closed the afternoon sessions on a high, by talking about performance-enhancing techniques to help every FM be the best they can be. Quereshi’s impressive career has seen him work with the European Ryder Cup team, Premier League football sides, the LA Lakers and the New York Knicks.
For coverage of the event go to Twitter and follow @BIFM_London and #LondonConf17
The main sponsors this year were: Principle Cleaning, Mayflower Washroom Solutions and BPR Group and our exhibitors: Custom Security Systems, Optimum Group Services (OGS), Julius Rutherford, PRS, Guardian Water Treatment and Environmental Compliance and Services.
