The ASSIST FM 2023 conference was held on Thursday 18th-19th May at The Hilton Hotel in Glasgow. The two day event was extremely successful and well attended by 28 Local Authority council delegates, guests, speakers, suppliers and our loyal partners. The Conference theme was ‘What’s your reality?’ looking into the future of the facilities management industry and really delving deep into the reality of what the future holds. 

Chris Ross, ASSIST FM Chair stated, ‘It was a wonderful two days to catch up with colleagues, suppliers and reflect upon the incredible achievements of Local Authority service providers in Scotland.  The conference was a real opportunity to hear from some inspirational speakers on a wide range of topics, operational matters to the wider national agenda. Our wide and varied range of suppliers this year added real innovation to the public sector, rounded off by a wonderful events reception to award those public sector heroes! 

The Conference had 55 exhibitors, 15 who are long time partners, 37 recurring suppliers and 3 brand new ones. The seminar sessions led by past Chair Keith Breasley and included talks from Brian Costello at Headstrong and Gordon McIntyre from Hospitality health talking about the importance of mental health in the workplace. We heard from Public Sector Alliance, Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association and many more. Keynote speaker Cor Hutton wowed the room with her inspiring story and left everyone on a high! 

ASSIST FM held a competition this year which determined the menu at The Hilton Hotel conference gala dinner – Local Authority Cook of the year. The competition allowed 6 Local Authorities to compete at The Braehead Cook School in March, where Willie Pike and Bruce Sangstar judged the 6 applicants and whittled the number down to three – Best starter, main and dessert, who all competed in the final at The Hilton and the winner was announced at the evening gala dinner. The winner of the competition was Nicola Arnold from Edinburgh Council. 

The Gala Dinner included 10 National Awards. Hosted by ASSIST FM’s very own Keith Breasley: 

Outstanding Contribution to Cleaning
Sponsored by GT Cleaning
The winner was Stirling Council

Outstanding Contribution to Catering
Sponsored by CRB Cunningham
The winner was Shetland Council

Outstanding Contribution to FM Services
Sponsored by Alliance Catering Equipment & Disposables
The winner was Edinburgh City Council

Local Authority Innovation Award
Sponsored by James Scott & Sons
The winner was West Lothian

Climate Initiative Award
Sponsored by Muller Milk and Ingredients
The winner was West Lothian

Digital and Technology Award
Sponsored by Tropical Ice
The winner was West Lothian

Community Focus Award
Sponsored by McCain Foods
The winner was Argyll and Bute Council

Supplier of The Year
Sponsored by ASSIST FM
The winner was Nilfisk

Grab and Go Award
Sponsored by Brakes
The winner was East Renfrewshire Council

Local Authority Cook of the Year
Sponsored by Muller Milk and Ingredients
First Place – Nicola Arnold, Edinburgh Council
Second Place – Martyn Cuthbert, East Ayrshire Council
Third Place – Jamie Kimmett, Stirling Council

We then enjoyed a night full of fun – ABBA tribute band, Voyage followed by a DJ. Everyone danced the night away.

Here are some quotes from the attendees:
 “It was invaluable to participate in Assist FM’s conference in Glasgow last week. IFAN is very grateful indeed for all the support we received.”
Maria Marshall – Independent Food Aid Network – ASSIST FM 2023 Charity Partner

“We had such an incredible time at the ASSIST FM conference.  It was a key opportunity for us to promote our School Plates programme in Scotland and THE place to network and be informed on current issues facing local authorities in Scotland.”
ProVeg – First time supplier

For further information please contact alan@totalizemedia.co.uk or 

sarah.duff@totalizemedia.co.uk.

For the first time we have created a stand-alone website for the ASSIST FM Conference – www.assistfmconference.co.uk

Please visit it for more information about 2018’s Conference.The 18th ASSIST FM Conference takes place in Glasgow on 23-24 August 2018, with an exhibitor set up day on Wednesday 22 August. This year for our conference there is an ‘Agents of Change’ theme and we will be highlighting speakers relevant to the ‘Year of Young People’ who are our future Agents of Change!

We will also have our supplier exhibition and ASSIST FM National Awards:

ASSIST FM Scottish School Cook of The Year

BEBL School Award Winners

ASSIST FM Catering Team of The Year

ASSIST FM Cleaning Team of The Year

ASSIST FM School Crossing Patroller of The Year

ASSIST FM Janitor or Caretaker of the Year

ASSIST FM Making A Difference Award

ASSIST FM National Chair Award

Keep watching the Conference website for further details on speakers, and conference content.

It has been three years since the last face to face ASSIST FM Conference. So when the 2022 Conference, themed ‘The Road To Recovery’ took place on the 17th and 18th May at the Glasgow Hilton, it was a huge success with the biggest delegate turnout ever.

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Jayne Jones, National Chair of ASSIST FM stated, ‘It has been a hugely challenging time for everyone, not least our staff and suppliers. It was just fantastic to see how many people came to the conference and were able to network. After such a long period of time when we were using online meetings, everyone enjoyed the chance to catch up face to face’

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The Conference had 60 exhibitors. The seminar sessions led by past Chair Keith Breasley included talks from Paul O’Brien, CEO APSE, Professor Mary Brennan of Edinburgh University, Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Paul Rankin, Michelin Starred Chef, Professor John McKendrick of Caledonian University, Professor Don Bundy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Sarah Watters, COSLA’s Director of Membership and Resource, Cameron Smith from SCLD, Jennifer Scott, and Linda Nelson of Dumfries &Galloway Council, and Ian Midwinter CEO of Scran Academy.

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Talks ranged from the Scottish Government relaunch of A Good Food Nation, as well as thoughts on the Hospitality Industry, employment opportunities for people with Learning Disabilities, school health and nutrition and programmes on cleaning and catering that have really been positive forces during the pandemic.

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Derek Wright, Blackpool Catering Services, David Cochrane, CEO of HIT Scotland, and Rose King, Regional Manager, Career Ready also held a session on their own thoughts about the future of hospitality.

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ASSIST FM also published a new cookery book that can be used by all Scottish Local Authorities, and is fully nutritionally analysed as per the Government guidelines.

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The Gala Dinner included 8 National Awards. Hosted by Deacon Blue drummer and TV presenter, Dougie Vipond, the winners were announced in the various categories, as follows:

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Outstanding Contribution to Cleaning 

Dumfries & Galloway Council

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Outstanding Contribution to Catering

Sponsored by Muller Milk & Ingredients

Robert Steven, South Lanarkshire Council

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Outstanding Contribution to FM Services

Renfrewshire Council

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Outstanding Collaboration and Local Authority Innovation Award

Sponsored by Parent Pay

Shetland Council

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Suppliers of The Year 

Quorn Foods and Harfield

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ASSIST FM Committee Special Award

Rachel Cunningham

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ASSIST Special Recognition Award

Nicky Joiner, East Renfrewshire Council

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Here are some quotes from the attendees:

‘It was a terrific two days and as a first post pandemic conference for me it was a most interesting and thoroughly enjoyable event. Good speakers on broad range of topics , fab exhibition , brilliant recipe book and the usual warm friendly atmosphere that the ASSIST ethos permeates at its events. Plus a new logo!

The event showed the resilience and good spirit of ‘can do’ for the sector in Scotland despite some really difficult times. I found that most heartening indeed.’

Lindsay Graham, Poverty & Inequality Commissioner

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‘We got to meet new people, like Levi Roots and had the opportunity to showcase some of our latest software. Customers were highly impressed with our meal analysis solution. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello! It was great to see you all in person again.’

CRB Cunninghams

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‘Thank you ASSIST FM for having Tugo at your event. It was great to catch up with so many people, and have positive feedback, on our range of products.’ 

Steve Guttteridge Tugo

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For further information please contact alan@totalizemedia.co.uk or

sarah.duff@totalizemedia.co.uk.

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The 2007 ASSIST Conference was deemed a great success by exhibitors and delegates alike.

Here are some of the comments:

Alan Brown, Ideal Services – ‘It was the best Conference yet!’

David Scialfe, AG Barr – ‘The exhibition has been great’

Charles Cooper, Jiffy Trucks – ‘Thank you for a superb event’

Michael Boyd, Meiko – ‘I expect places will be taken up quite early for next year’

Rachel Brown, Green Gourmet – ‘We had a great conference and…were able to speak to most of the Scottish authorities about our new products’

Fergus Chambers, Director, Glasgow Direct Care Services – The programme was excellent and some of the speakers were quite superb’

Margaret Gilmour, Service Manager, Stirling Council – ’It was an excellent event. The speakers on day two were especially good’The 2007 ASSIST Conference theme was The Big Picture and the speakers certainly made delegates think about some of the bigger issues. Our keynote speaker Colin Mair, Chief Executive of the Improvement Service, raised some important issues for local government in the future.

Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, outlined some of the elements that will make up the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) Scotland Act.

Simon Miller, from Best Foot Forward, gave us some interesting examples of carbon foot printing within organisations, and what climate change means for the planet.

Patrick Tansey motivated the delegates to smile through their working day. Hands up …who is still laughing like Muttley?On the second day we had an entertaining and enlightening talk from Colin Ransom on the Sunderland Council experience. Bill McGregor gave us the view from the Headteacher, whilst our final speaker, Gordon MacMillan (‘The Deliverer’) showed how obesity could be tackled outside of the school gates with the MEND Programme. The ASSIST Chair Award went to Robin Gourlay, of East Ayrshire Council, for his work on the introduction of organic food and for representing Scottish Local Authorities in such a positive light. The exhibition was a great success with 14 new suppliers attending. One of the newcomers, Innocent Smoothies, won the Best Stand award. All in all, a very successful conference. The ASSIST Committee would like to thank all delegates and suppliers for taking part.

ASSIST FM, along with Hobart UK and Brakes Scotland, masterminded a plan to reduce the food wastage from this year’s exhibition, and really help out a local organisation, Lanarkshire Community Food & Health Partnership, in the process.

Exhibitors at the ASSIST FM Conference Exhibition this year were encouraged to place any dry, chilled or frozen goods that were not used during the exhibition at designated areas in the exhibition hall so that they could be donated to local charity where the left-over food would then be donated to foodbanks across Lanarkshire.

A big thank you goes to Roger Kellow of Hobart UK for organising such a great and simple initiative that helps the people who need it most and reduced unnecessary food wastage!

The 2008 ASSIST Conference was deemed the best yet by exhibitors and delegates alike. Here are some of the comments:

Charles Cooper, NEC Trailers – ‘a great exhibition, we should do some good business from it’

Bruce Geary, Clackmannanshire Council – ’The speakers were superb’

Tom Carlton, Muller – ‘A most enjoyable conference’

Bill Kennedy. Tayside Contracts – ‘It was obvious that there was a lot of hard work put in. The conference was excellent’

The Conference theme was ‘The Final Frontier’ and although Mr Spock didn’t appear and the Chair of ASSIST, Catherine Nelson, did not get beamed up by Scotty there was a lot to talk about. Keynote speaker Lady Marie Stubbs was both thought-provoking and highly entertaining. Alastair MacNish was as controversial as usual as he spelt out his own thoughts on the Concordat. Iain Ramsay told the conference about the changes at Learning and Teaching Scotland and Fergus Chambers gave a very illuminating talk on the catering operation at the Beijing Olympics as well as plans for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. On the second day workshops took place with Gordon MacMillan, Charlie MacLean Bristol and Diane Leask. Toni McIlindon brought us up to date on legal implications for 2008/2009 and the conference was brought to an end by Mo Shapiro who made us all imagine problem people as dots in the distance. The exhibition was a great success with 11 new suppliers attending. 3663 won the Best Stand award. The ASSIST Chair Award went to Anne Lennie, of the City of Edinburgh Council, for services to the industry and The ASSIST Best Achiever Award was given to St Margaret’s Academy in Livingston. Andrea Bradley collected the award on behalf of the school. A terrific conference once again and the ASSIST Committee would like to thank all delegates and suppliers for taking part.

Another well received conference – hailed as the best yet!

Many had thought that the 2008 Conference was the best for a number of years but it was surpassed by the 2009 Conference. The quality of speakers was superb, marshalled well by the returning MC for the event, Adrienne Lawler. The keynote speaker was Lord Digby Jones and he did not disappoint. Speaking without notes he held the audience captivated with his thoughts about the ‘growing apartheid ‘between the public and private sectors. Mark McAteer of The Improvement Service followed Lord Jones with his own view on the changes that are necessary amongst local authorities, and provided some extremely sobering predictions about future local government funding. Pat Watters, Chair of COSLA, gave an update on the Concordat and his view on the issues that were the most important to the ASSIST membership. Verner Wheelock gave an in depth and fascinating talk on his views that concluded that all nutritional information was misleading at best and at worst was wrong. Nigel Risner completed day one and was roundly regarded as one of the best motivational speakers that the audience had ever heard.

The exhibition on day one was extremely well attended and 11 new suppliers were on show. Day two started with the ASSIST AGM, at which Ken Campbell was unanimously voted Chair of the Association. Ronnie Dinnie was voted on as Vice Chair. Shona Grant from Fife was welcomed onto the committee. Lindsay Graham of Redbrook Garve gave a talk about the Midlothian schools Pilot scheme that empowers the pupils to register their opinions on schools/meals, etc. She was followed by Jamie Maxton who outlined his thoughts on the future political landscape for Scotland and how this might affect the councils. Bill Kennedy introduced the School Cook of the Year scheme – SCOTY – and showed the benefit that Tayside Contracts have had from taking part. And finally Fergus Chambers came back to the conference a year on from his talk on Direct and Care Services becoming an LLP to give an update on Cordia and how well the transition has gone. His talk was, as always, extremely informative and entertaining. The awards this year were as follows:

ASSIST Chair award – Fife Council (for their apprenticeship scheme)

ASSIST Best Achiever award – Alison Sinclair, Tayside Contracts (Alison was runner up in SCOTY and her dessert was produced for the Gala Dinner)

ASSIST Best Stand – Green Gourmet

The Committee would like to thank Catherine Nelson for her tenure as Chair of ASSIST. Catherine has represented the Association vigorously and effectively and her efforts are very much appreciated.

30th & 31st August Glasgow Caledonian UniversityThis year’s Conference was held in Glasgow and saw the best turnout of delegates yet. The suppliers were delighted with the time they got to spend with the delegates. Many said it was the best ASSIST exhibition yet. The theme for the 2012 Conference was ‘Open to Change’ and the delegate sessions and exhibition were held at Caledonian University for the first time. Thanks go to our speakers;

Paul Jukes, Executive Director of Environmental Services, North Lanarkshire Council

Diane Leask, Quality Improvement Officer, East Renfrewshire Council

Andrew Dickson and Clare Ollerenshaw of Zero Waste Scotland

Gary Ennis of NSDesign

James Allred Marketing Manager of Unilever Food Solutions

Magnus Mcfarlane Barrow, CEO of Mary’s Meals

Colin McLeod of Tree of Knowledge

There were 49 exhibitors, eight of whom were at ASSIST for the first time. Craig Stevenson MD of Braehead Foods was awarded with the Chair Award for services to the industry. Green Gourmet won the award for best stand. The inaugural ASSIST Scottish School Cook of The Year prizes were also awarded at the dinner with Norrie Scott, Catering Manager of Perth High School, winning the accolade of our first ever School Cook of The Year. Congratulations to him and all our other competitors (see separate post on ASSIST Scottish School Cook of The Year )