Last month saw the annual ASSIST FM Conference come to Glasgow in its 19th year with the theme of ‘Watchers on the Wall’ tying together the TV phenomenon, Game of Thrones, and the role that ASSIST FM plays in watching over its services and protecting them in difficult conditions.

On day one, Dr Jeremy Leach presented to a packed out seminar on his Nudge Theory which looks at ‘how to nudge people using behavioural sciences’ and how to apply this to the FM sector. Jeanette Orrey MBE followed, delving into her impressive career from dinner lady to the founder of Food for Life and becoming a commissioner on Food and Poverty with the Fabian Society in 2015. Dr Colin Espie, Professor of Sleep Medicine from the University of Oxford presented on ‘What is Sleep and Why Does it Matter?’, providing an insightful look into the importance of sleep and the workplace. The seminars then concluded with an emotional and inspirational session from Nigel Owens MBE, the Welsh international Rugby Referee who truly captivated the audience.

The feedback from delegates was fantastic and Sue Nield of Highland Council said that “I especially enjoyed the speakers this year, the messages they shared are especially important due to the ever-challenging climates ahead.”

After the seminar, delegates were invited to attend the biggest ASSIST FM Conference Exhibition to date, with more suppliers in attendance than ever before, including a number of organisations new to the event such as Nespresso Professional and The Scottish Salmon Company. ASSIST FM also continued with their fantastic initiative backed by Hobart UK and Brakes Scotland to get the exhibitors to donate any unconsumed stock to a local food bank, combating food waste as well as supporting a local cause.

Jason McKeon from Unilever Food Solutions described the Conference as a “Great opportunity to chat with Local Authorities, Buyers, Industry leaders and decision-makers over 2 days” and “the best in class industry event for FM in the UK by a mile.”

Day two saw an update for Local Authorities from Education Scotland delivered by Shirley Beattie which sparked great discussion from the delegates in attendance. Paul Fletcher and Kevin Onanu from Achieve More Scotland spoke about their work to tackle poverty and ‘enable the life chances and health and wellbeing of young people and families at risk’. Catherine Agnew, Chief Inspector for Children at the Care Inspectorate discussed the role of the Care Inspectorate and the upcoming partnership that will be developed between the Care Inspectorate and Local Authority FM services. Gary Ennis of NS Design provided a compelling crash course in getting the most out of Social Media and the importance of developing your online presence. Most notably though was the presentation from Dr John McKendrick of Glasgow Caledonian University where he shared the research findings that himself and a team of students have been working on for ASSIST FM on issues pertaining to School Meals Provision in Scotland. The research will be published by Glasgow Caledonian University and ASSIST FM in the coming months.

The ASSIST FM Conference 2019 was a fantastic and informative event that has become unsurpassable for the Facilities Management sector in Scotland.

Delegates and suppliers alike heralded the 2005 A.S.S.I.S.T. Conference as a great success. The conference began with an interesting and challenging talk from Paul O’Brien, CEO of APSE. This was followed by an excellent Supplier Exhibition. Winner of the Best Stand competition went to Jan Harding at Creative Interiors.In the afternoon of the first day there were three workshops hosted by Des Murray of APSE, Ken Campbell, Vice Chair of A.S.S.I.S.T., and Gordon Gray of Glasgow City Council. Day One of the conference came to a close with a superb talk by World Athletic Champion, Steve Cram.

Day Two started with the launch of the RHM Healthier School Meals Competition and was followed by two extremely interesting talks from Caroline Gardner, Deputy Auditor General and Controller of Audit, Audit Scotland and Scott Haldane, Director of Finance, National Services Scotland (NHS). Later in the morning a presentation by Les Dalrymple, Deputy Chief Executive of East Renfrewshire Council opened a lively debate on Modernising Employment and Equal Pay.

The Chairperson’s Award for Services to the Industry was presented to Lynne Howe of Tayside Contracts, who recently won the title UK School Cook of the Year. Another highlight of the conference was the launch of the A.S.S.I.S.T. Research Project, copies of which were available to all delegates. Please fill in our contact form to request a copy of the report.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, we have unfortunately had to take the decision to postpone our 20th annual ASSIST FM Conference. We’ll be back next, from the 26-27th August, with our full conference and supplier exhibition which has become the premier event for FM Suppliers in the 32 Scottish Local Authorities.

Further information about our 2021 conference will be announced in due course and in the meantime our ASSIST FM committee is working hard to keep our members informed about how the Facilities Management sector is being impacted by the virus.

We have held webinars for our Local Authority members and our suppliers, and will aim to host further online events as we receive more information from our colleagues in the Scottish Government and public sector organisations. Information about any future ASSIST FM events will be circulated with our members and suppliers when the details have been finalised.

Due to the pandemic, we have also put our National Awards and Scottish School Cook of the Year competition on hold until further notice, but we will be looking to celebrate our staff who have been so vital in ensuring that our most vulnerable and shielding pupils are still benefiting from our service at our future events.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions both about the ASSIST FM Conference or about how the pandemic is impacting our sector. We hope to see you at one of our future events, both online and offline, and look forward to working together with you to get through this uncertain time.

 

The 2006 A.S.S.I.S.T. Conference tackled many of the difficult issues that are currently affecting the membership. Issues such as Equal Pay, Promoting Health in Schools, How to be a Successful Woman in Business and also Partnership Working. Chaired by Fergus Chambers, Chair A.S.S.I.S.T, the first session of the conference was opened by Pat Watters with a typically challenging and thought-provoking talk. Paul O’Brien CEO APSE and Alex Linkston, CEO of West Lothian Council joined the debate. The Leading Ladies session hosted by Viv Lumsden saw three business women with very interesting takes on how to become successful in male dominated industries. Diane West, Assistant Managing Director of The Daily Record and Sunday Mail, Samantha Barbour, Chief Executive of Scottish Business in the Community, and Fiona Lees, Chief Executive, East Ayrshire Council discussed their take on how they have become a success in their respective fields. Paul O’Brien, CEO APSE, Margaret Paterson, Leader of Clackmannanshire Council and Grant Henderson, Operations Director, Amey Business Services, discussed the hot topic of Partnership Working, and Dr Roberta Sonnino from Cardiff University gave a fascinating talk on how Italians source local and organic food and the contrasting attitudes within the Italian culture that could provide a positive affect for our own school meal provision.

Our supplier exhibition was a great success with over fifteen new suppliers attending amongst the 54 exhibitors. The Chairperson’s Award for Services to the Industry was presented to Gillian Kynoch of the Scottish Executive for her work in supporting Scottish Councils in the Hungry For Success programme.

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.

‍

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’

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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:

‍

Outstanding Contribution to Cleaning 

Dumfries & Galloway Council

‍

Outstanding Contribution to Catering

Sponsored by Muller Milk & Ingredients

Robert Steven, South Lanarkshire Council

‍

Outstanding Contribution to FM Services

Renfrewshire Council

‍

Outstanding Collaboration and Local Authority Innovation Award

Sponsored by Parent Pay

Shetland Council

‍

Suppliers of The Year 

Quorn Foods and Harfield

‍

ASSIST FM Committee Special Award

Rachel Cunningham

‍

ASSIST Special Recognition Award

Nicky Joiner, East Renfrewshire Council

‍

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

‍

‘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

‍

‘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

‍

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

sarah.duff@totalizemedia.co.uk.

‍

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.