ASSIST FM Events 2013 

This year's ASSIST conference, sponsored by Muller Wiseman, will be held in Glasgow for the third year running. The venue for the Conference and Exhibition is Glasgow Caledonian University. The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Talking Heads’...

ASSIST CONFERENCE 2013 – TALKING HEADS

29-30 August – Caledonian University, Glasgow

This year’s ASSIST conference, sponsored by Muller Wiseman, will be held in Glasgow for the third year running.The venue for the Conference and Exhibition is Glasgow Caledonian University. The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Talking Heads’.Conference Delegates will be coming from councils all over Scotland from Highland and Moray in the north to the Scottish Borders in the south, and will include the decision makers for purchasing FM related products.As Bill Kennedy, National Chair of ASSIST states, ‘Our theme for the Conference this year is ‘Talking Heads’ – one of the key objectives for ASSIST is to generate discussion and information-sharing between councils – we are not in competition with each other and we need to share best practice and lessons learned. That’s what the launch of our Scottish School Meals site has been all about. It is really important for each authority to look at ways it can improve its service, even when budgets are being cut. Marketing is an important part of that mix.’This year ASSIST has great mix of speakers including Rory Mair, Chief Executive Officer, COSLA, David Mories from The Glasgow 2014, Commonwealth Games organisation, Elsie Downham of The Soil Association, Colin Mair, Chief Executive Officer of The Improvement Service, Marie-Claire James of The Federation of Chefs Scotland, and James Anthony.Each of our speakers will give their own individual takes on what the delegates can do to develop their business. We purposely invited key influencers from government and local authorities this year to give us their take on the future of Facilities management within Scottish local authorities.Bill goes on to say, ‘ASSIST as an organisation was established to create and present a shared voice on all matters relating to Facilities Management throughout Scotland’s 32 local authorities. The organisation is even more important today than ever. As it is a difficult year for council finances we have frozen our delegate fee at £95, thanks in part to sponsorship from Muller Wiseman, and our exhibitors. We work closely with all our suppliers and our exhibition this year will have 46 stands. All will be exhibiting products that fit our members specifications, and some have created products specifically for our market.’The format for the conference will remain as in past years with the supplier exhibition taking place on Day One.

Exhibitors this year include:

BRAKES UNICO PREMIER CRB MULLER CALYPSO BATLEYS GREEN GOURMET QUORN 3663 CATERING FALCON MCCAIN FOOD PARTNERS ARROW SUPPLIES COOLDELIGHT MULLER WISEMAN HARFIELD NRS NISBETS DIVERSEY THERMOBOX SPACERIGHT PARENT PAY FDH AGBARR UK FOODHALL COOK SCHOOL FIFE CREAMMERY GT CLEANING SECRET SAUSAGES SCOMAC HOBART SOIL ASSOCIATION ER MOFFAT UNILEVER CONTRACT FURNITURE SPECIALISTS IDEAL BUNZL CHS BUNZL CATERING SUPPLIES DR OETKER PASTA KING ROLLOVER MAKRO KARCHER ETI CARING INT NESTLE

Bill Kennedy is keen that ASSIST continues to address important issues for all its members. ‘This year we will be launching a major Commonwealth Promotion as well as highlighting updates to our website, running a third Scottish School Cook of The Year promotion, and introducing a new ASSIST Awards scheme for Scotland. There will be three awards at this year’s conference:

ASSIST Chair Award – last year’s winner was Craig Stevenson of Braehead Foods, for services to industry and continued support of ASSIST.

ASSIST Scottish School Cook of The Year – last year won by Norrie Scott of Tayside Contracts.

ASSIST Best Stand – last year won by Green Gourmet.

The ASSIST website is www.assistfm.comThe School meals site is at www.scottishschoolmeals.co.ukIf you wish to contact ASSIST please email: info@assistfm.com or call Alan Cunningham for more information on 07768 584517.