Category: Industry News

Cultivating Leadership Excellence at OCS with The Alchemist Programme

Posted on by lokeshkaushik

A selected cohort of our global senior leadership team has been chosen to participate in a year-long leadership training programme, facilitated in collaboration with the University of Cape Town Graduate Business School.

The Alchemist programme, with over a decade of proven success, is dedicated to cultivating leadership skills within the OCS business. It focuses on empowering emerging leaders with the necessary tools to future-proof themselves and, consequently, enhance the overall resilience of our organisation. Championed by the executive committee, notably Group CEO Rob Legge, OCS is fully committed to ensuring the continued success of the organisation for both our colleagues and customers. Initiatives like The Alchemist contribute to elevating the value proposition of our business by fostering a culture of skilful and thoughtful management, ultimately influencing the performance of our personnel across all levels.

Cultivating Leadership Excellence at OCS with The Alchemist Programme
Since its inception, The Alchemist programme has played a pivotal role in nurturing professionals who have ascended to leadership positions within and beyond our business. Noteworthy alumni, including Daniel Dickson, CEO UK and Ireland, Sean Fisher, CEO of Cleaning, and Steven Moore, Managing Director for Security, underscore the programme’s profound impact on leadership development.

The latest cohort of The Alchemist programme includes senior leaders from across the global business such as Yohanes Jeffry Johary, Managing Director of OCS Group Indonesia, Bruce McDonnell, Managing Director of Private Sector FM, OCS Group UK, Aine Mulcahy, Managing Director of OCS Group Ireland and Ann Rogers-Bell, Managing Director at PCS Thailand. The programme commenced last week with two introductory sessions held at our London office, featuring faculty members from the University of Cape Town.

Over the next 11 months, participants will engage in a diverse range of classroom sessions, one-to-one coaching, and virtual sessions. The programme will culminate in a final presentation to business leaders on an assigned topic, with successful completion leading to the conferral of a certificate of completion.

We extend our congratulations to our colleagues embarking on this significant journey, applauding their initiative in becoming even more effective leaders within our organisation.

Unity: Arthur McKay to operate under OCS banner

Posted on by ameliaroberts

The OCS TRUE values – Trust, Respect, Unity and Empowerment – have been the driving force for us as we have transformed as a business following the merger of OCS and Atalian Servest.

Arthur McKay, a leading building support service organisation, was an Atalian Servest company that provided smart and integrated services to over 1,000 client sites around the UK. As part of the consolidation of our operations and unification of our purpose and vision, Arthur McKay will no longer existing as a separate entity and is instead operating under the OCS banner.

We will continue to provide the same services and solutions – mechanical and electrical, fire protection, building fabric and data networks, to name just a few. Our 1,500 colleagues from Arthur McKay will continue to utilise their specialist knowledge and skills to ensure that customers benefit from a solution tailored to their specific needs, but now have the additional benefit of the backing and support of the OCS business.

The unification of Arthur McKay and our Hard Services division is an exciting change and one in which we hope will take us one step closer to achieving our mission of making people and places the best they can be.

“Bringing Arthur McKay and the rest of the M&E and Hard Services businesses together as a single OCS division will provide a far greater depth of capability and capacity. This will ensure that our customers receive the very best service and enable the drive for innovation.”

Nick Maggs

Managing Director – Hard Services

Group CEO, Rob Legge, outlines the OCS Best Strategy and Approach

Posted on by ameliaroberts

The international facilities management landscape has been dominated by the same global players for a number of years. However, when OCS Group and Atalian Servest’s operations in the UK, Ireland, and Asia merged, it created a new company which had the potential to act as an industry leader and disruptor.

I have been involved in facilities management for close to three decades and it has become a real part of my DNA. Our merger earlier in 2023 was an opportunity to drive forward not only the business, but the entire industry. With our newly expanded, critical scale, we saw the opportunity to take stock of our purpose and values and ensure we were building the most compelling offering for our customers.

Our approach

When formulating a plan for the next phase of OCS’ journey, we established a collective vision of wanting to be the partner of choice in the industry, providing the most valuable service to any customer we worked with across each of our geographies. The culmination of this work was the formulation of OCS’ new strategy, BEST. It has been established to enhance how we serve our customers, empower our workforce, and contribute to the well-being of the communities we touch.

Today, our mission at OCS is clear: to make people and places the best they can be. We’ve embarked on this journey with the aim to create exceptional experiences, enhance productivity, refine our practices, foster communities, and ultimately, deliver outstanding outcomes. These aspects form the core of our strategy and are reinforced by our TRUE values.

Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment—these values are the foundation of everything we do.

They guide our interactions with customers, colleagues, partners, and the communities we serve, ensuring a cohesive approach to our mission.

In an ever-evolving world, we believe that creating exceptional experiences is paramount. We understand that the value we bring is not just in our services but in the experiences we create. From a well-maintained office space that enhances productivity, to a clean and safe healthcare facility that promotes well-being, OCS is dedicated to improving every aspect of the human experience within the spaces we manage.

Our business is powered by best practice, consistency and our unique attention to detail. Ultimately, we will look to set the benchmark for our industry, harnessing the power of technology, innovation, and human expertise to create efficiencies for our customers.

However, this is not a one-step change but rather a continual process. To succeed in our mission, we must consistently look at improving our practices and ensure that our work aligns with the highest ethical and sustainability standards. Our commitment to best practices guarantees that we are not just compliant, but we set the standard for excellence in our industry.

Empowering our workforce

Overall, OCS is made up of 120,000 individuals, most of whom are workers on the frontline. These are the people who sit at the core of our business, and it is only by empowering them that we can truly thrive. We encourage our colleagues to take ownership, make decisions, and shape the future of our business. This not only elevates the service we provide, but also gives our workforce the opportunity to progress their careers in our business.

As a business we have a fundamental commitment to social mobility. We ensure we recruit from the widest possible talent pool; we offer each of our colleagues ongoing training to support their career progression and we foster and invest in a diverse and inclusive culture.

Serving communities

Last but not least, we consider ourselves integral parts of the communities we serve. Our goal is to create a positive impact on the people and places we touch, fostering a sense of belonging and well-being. We aspire to be responsible and sustainable members of every community we serve.

We adopt this mindset right the way through the business and are continuously looking to evolve our approach to each of the ‘E’, the ‘S’ and the ’G’. It runs from our 2040 net-zero commitment, down to the work we do to supporting the individual communities we work in across each of our geographies.

OCS’ BEST strategy and TRUE values are at the heart of our mission to make people and places the best they can be.

We also believe they will be fundamental to our future growth as a business and industry leader – our commitment to this strategy and our values sets the stage for us to set a new standard in the industry. OCS is in a unique position and is primed for growth. We are a dynamic business and it is my ambition to make this company the market leaders in the facilities management industry. Reflecting on the first 6 months of my role as Global CEO, I believe we have the team to deliver on this ambition.

 

Rob Legge, Group CEO

OCS Group launches OSC Academy to offer colleagues world-class training in data skills

Posted on by ameliaroberts

OCS, a leading global facilities service provider, has invited employees from across its business to become part of its newly created OCS Academy which is designed to help develop vital data skills and support career progression. It forms part of the Group’s commitment to empowering its people, giving them the tools and support to thrive.

The training will be delivered by Multiverse, a tech company focused on high-quality education and training through applied learning. In an initial trial, 15 OCS colleagues will enrol on a 15-month data apprenticeship, with plans to expand this next year. This investment by OCS into these apprenticeships aims to improve data-driven decision-making and efficiency across the business, supporting clients and employees to deliver better outcomes.

It comes as research within the company found that most employees whose role requires some data analysis spend a considerable amount of time each week wrangling data. 91% of respondents said they wanted to improve their data skills.

Daniel Dickson, Chief Executive Officer, UK & Ireland, said: “As part of our OCS TRUE values, we are committed to ‘empowering our colleagues through excellent working environments’ and providing these opportunities for developing new skills, is key to that. Our colleagues are already using data heavily to inform their decisions and deliver results for customers, and this new training will empower them to do so more efficiently and effectively. Not only are these vital skills that will help them in their job, but they are skills that will support them throughout their careers.”

Euan Blair, CEO of Multiverse, said: “The OCS Academy has been designed to transform careers for the individuals that receive this world-class training while transforming their ability to make data-driven decisions and use technology to drive efficiency and results. Through meaningful, applied learning, apprentices at OCS will gain the relevant skills that will propel them forward in their career journey, and support them in their role today and in the future.”

Multiverse delivers world-class training in a wide range of qualifications in tech, data and engineering. Apprentices benefit from coaching with an industry expert and are supported by a thriving community with events, socials, mentoring and leadership programmes.

OCS Australia – Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Award winner

Posted on by lokeshkaushik

OCS Australia has won the Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Award at the Work Health and Safety Foundation (WHS) Awards 2023.

Gareth Marriott, OCS Managing Director for Australia and New Zealand, says that looking after people, whether that be their health and safety at work, or embracing and celebrating their diversity, is a priority at OCS.

“Winning the Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Award makes me extremely proud. Proud of the work we do, and most importantly proud of the people we work with.”

OCS Australia is committed to celebrating diversity and values the contributions that its 700+ colleagues, from 50 different nations, cultures and ethnic backgrounds put in every day.

“This achievement is more than just a mark of distinction; it’s a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. This accolade underscores the breadth and depth of our dedication not only to diversity and inclusion but also to the health and safety of our employees.

There were 12 other award categories and over 120 submissions at the WHS Awards, of which OCS Australia were finalists in three of them. These included the Innovation in WHS Award (Product), WHS Management System Award, and Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Award.

“Ensuring our team members get home safely every day will always be our priority,” Marriott says. “It’s rewarding to have our dedication in this space acknowledged, but we understand that there’s always room for growth. We’re excited to continue our journey of learning and improvement.”

Midcity expanding into Victoria

Posted on by lokeshkaushik

Midcity, OCS Australia’s specialist insurance building repairs and commercial building and maintenance business, recently expanded into Victoria to better serve its customer base. .

Leading the expansion are Cara Grambeau (State Manager) and David Jones (State Construction Manager). The pair, based in Melbourne, will be using their considerable experience and knowledge to bring Midcity’s specialised building services to the metro area and wider Victoria.

OCS Australia Managing director, Gareth Marriott, says he has no doubt that Midcity’s expansion and ability to provide specialist services at a high standard will result in great customer outcomes in the region.

“It’s been an exciting time; these two experienced professionals are a great asset to the team and I’m looking forward to seeing how we can really shift the dial for our Victoria-based customers.”

Insurance repair work can be comprehensive, and restoring a property requires a team of highly skilled tradespeople. That’s why Midcity has hand-picked an expert subcontractor team of electricians, engineers, painters, plasterers, plumbers, roofers and specialist heritage craftsmen (and women) with a proven track record of successful project outcomes, and a reputation for quality and superior service.

The commercial building and maintenance side of the business includes highly qualified and experienced estimators and project managers, all with extensive experience successfully delivering large-scale and intricate commercial projects.

Marriott says it’s only a few months in and the team have already made considerable progress in Melbourne. “Watch this space,” he says.

Gill O’Riordan Commences as ISIA President

Posted on by daireleonard

OCS are thrilled to announce that Gill O’Riordan, Director of Strategic Solutions has commenced her Presidency of the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA). This is an outstanding personal achievement for Gill and everyone here at OCS Ireland is incredibly proud to call her our colleague.

OCS has a long and proud association with the ISIA and we are privileged to have the serving ISIA President and recent outgoing President, Lorraine O’Neill, Director of Security Services, in our team, pictured above with OCS Ireland Managing Director Aine Mulcahy.

The ISIA has been representing the needs of the private security industry for over 40 years and is the only trade association representing the full spectrum of companies in the private security industry.

Ann Rogers-Bell welcomes Acting President of Stamford International University to PCS head office

Posted on by ameliaroberts

On 4th August 2023, Ann Rogers-Bell, Managing Director of PCS Thailand, warmly welcomed Dr. Apithep Saekow, Acting President of Stamford International University, to the PCS head office.

Dr. Apithep Saekow attended the office for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Dr. Manjiri Kunte, Programme Director at Stamford International University and Phassanai Doyle, Human Resources Director at PCS Thailand.

The MoU focused on internship programmes, industry research and employment opportunities. It provided a fantastic opportunity for PCS Thailand and Stamford International University to exchange both knowledge and expertise with one another.

OCS reflects on reconciliation progress during NAIDOC Week

Posted on by lokeshkaushik

NAIDOC week provided a great opportunity for OCS Australia to reflect on its reconciliation progress and share new initiatives that support their journey of cultural discovery.

Experienced First Nations advocate and proud Quandamooka (Moreton Bay) man, Cameron Costello, o joined OCS as OCS First Nations Ambassador, providing the organisation with guidance as OCS commenced our journey earlier this year.

OCS are honoured to be a major sponsor of the Wynnum Wolves Football Club, supporting scholarships and indigenous awareness programmes. The highlight of this partnership is the creation of their own indigenous jerseys, the first in the club’s 102-year history,  worn by more than 1,500 players and member.

OCS has also joined the growing number of Australian businesses coming together to support meaningful social equity and change. Their draft OCS Australia Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) outlines actions towards achieving OCS’ vision to contribute to positive change in social, economic and health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

As OCS looks ahead, they will register their RAP in the early months of 2024 and are seeking to work with a local indigenous artist to design their RAP cover. The RAP roadmap will guide OCS outlining key actions to be taken throughout the coming year.

Gareth Marriott, OCS Managing Director Australia & New Zealand emphasized, “Our journey is ongoing as we pursue our mission of making people and places the best they can be.”

Collaboration and determination key to sustainable outcomes

Posted on by lokeshkaushik

Despite the distractions of the COVID-19 pandemic, flooding, global uncertainty, and labour constraints, OCS Australia has gone from strength to strength, taking steps towards creating a better future for generations to come.

The initiatives and partnerships we have committed to are shared in our 2022 OCS Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Sustainability Report, released this week.

OCS ANZ Managing Director, Gareth Marriott, says having a sound sustainability framework is more valuable than ever.

“Our framework puts our people, customers, and communities at the centre of all that we do. Alongside providing exceptional facilities management services, we aim to make a positive social and environmental impact every day.”

Gareth says one thing that has stood out for him in 2022 is the focus on partnerships.

“We have really focused on partnering with our customers, industry experts and supply partners to achieve our respective climate action and sustainability goals.

“We have seen a rise in innovative and collaborative solutions to everyday problems and increased opportunities for our team members to take on new responsibilities.

“We’re also proud to partner with Toitū Envirocare, and in New Zealand, the Sustainable Business Council and the Climate Leader Coalition – all three help our Australian business to also stay abreast of current challenges and opportunities.”

Carbon reduction has been under the microscope for OCS in 2022, and we enlisted Toitū Envirocare to help us generate new science-based carbon reduction targets.

“Climate change presents environmental, social, and economic crises on a whole new level. For nearly two millennia, humans have been carbonising the planet, and we must act to decarbonise.

“Over the last 50 years climate-induced weather events, such as droughts, fires and floods, have cost Australian communities an estimated $120 billion. And that doesn’t reflect the human cost. Setting new science-based targets is a step in the right direction, however it’s a small drop in what’s required globally – we need to all work together now if we are to effect real change.”

OCS is also proud to have achieved, for the third year, Toitū net carbonzero certification in line with ISO14064-1, reflecting our commitment to leaving our planet in a better state for future generations.

With a diverse team of over 4,000 people, made up of 89 cultures, OCS ANZ is making a conscious effort to ensure our operations are environmentally responsible and have a positive impact on the communities we serve.

You can view the report here.

OCS celebrates International Women’s Day

Posted on by lokeshkaushik

In celebration of International Women’s Day we recently caught up two members of our OCS Australia family – Erzelina Hyska and Adriana Freire. They share their career development advice and give us a little insight into their individual journeys with OCS and what they love about working here.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #EmbraceEquity, which is a statement that holds true for us at OCS. Driving the success of our women is not just something we say – it’s something we do.

 

  1. Erzelina Hyska

Erzelina Hyska started working for OCS as a cleaner in a Melbourne shopping centre in early 2020. Her potential was soon recognised by her team leader, who was quick to appoint her as shift supervisor.

After a break during COVID-19 Erzelina returned to OCS to take on a new and even more challenging role – Site Manager at a food manufacturing site. As Site Manager, Erzelina leads a team of twelve OCS cleaners operating in a demanding environment with strict food safety requirements.

Despite being judged by friends when she got into the cleaning industry, for Erzelina this was her happy place. And this passion and dedication has led her to where she is today, having taken several steps up the ladder within OCS. Go Erzelina!

We asked Erzelina about her experiences working at OCS.

Q. Tell us about your journey at OCS. In what role did you start and what are you doing at the moment?

A. I started working for OCS as a cleaner three years ago in a shopping centre in Melbourne. Soon after I took on the job, I was asked to take on a fulltime supervisor role where I was in charge of seven cleaners. After a short break due to COVID-19, I was contacted by my former manager who wanted to know if I was interested in a position as site manager. I certainly was! I now look after twelve workers who are responsible for making sure our customer’s site is absolutely spotless.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your work?

A. That would have to be my team. We are one. Everyone jumps in when needed and it’s amazing to know that you’re well looked after. Every day people check in on me to ask me how I’m doing and if I need any help. Apart from the OCS team, it’s great to have such a positive connection with our customer as well.

Q. What advice would you have for other women when it comes to career development?

A. Do what you love. Follow your dreams. When I started cleaning at quite a young age, my friends would judge me. Luckily, I didn’t care about what they thought. I’ve got two girls at home and I teach them to never be ashamed of what you do – if what you do, is what you enjoy.

Q. Are there any women who have inspired you in your life?

A. My mother is not only my biggest supporter, but also the one who has inspired me the most. She is such a strong woman and has always said to me ‘You can do it!’.

 

  1. Adriana Freire

Adriana Freire only recently started her journey with OCS when she came on board as the Site Manager for Westfield Mount Druitt in August last year.

Together with her team of around 30 people, she makes sure the whole shopping centre is sparkling clean. With more than 65,000 sqm of floor space and around 11,4 million annual customer visits that’s quite challenging. But as Adriana puts it: “life would be boring without challenges”.

Coming from Brazil 13 years ago and now working in a completely different field than her previous experience, Adriana has had her moments of insecurities. Her tips for overcoming that include: to have trust in yourself and gather people around you who are there for you. Also, always remember: “women are strong and powerful, we can do anything”. We couldn’t agree more, Adriana.

We asked Adriana about her experiences working at OCS.

Q. Tell us about what you do at OCS.

A. I started working as the Site Manager for Westfield Mount Druitt in August last year, so I’m still pretty fresh at OCS. Within my role, I manage a team of around 30 people and I’m the first point of contact for the customer. We work 24/7 in three shifts: mornings, afternoons and night shifts/weekends.

Together we make sure the whole shopping centre is sparkling clean. With more than 65,000 sqm of floor space and around 11.4 million customer visits annually, that’s quite challenging. But life would be boring without challenges.

Q. What do you enjoy most about your work?

A. Building a relationship with our customer is something I’ve really enjoyed. And the fact that every day is a different day works well for me – I’d get tired of doing exactly the same day in, day out.

Also, I love working in a team and collaborating with people. In my view, you should lead by example, so I don’t  sit in my office much, I spend time with my people. I think that’s the most effective way to create a great team.

Q. What advice would you have for other women when it comes to career development?

A. Do everything you want. Sometimes women think they’re not capable of doing certain types of work, but I always say: you can do anything! Women are strong and powerful. So, I’d encourage everyone to follow their dreams.

I used to work at a bank back when I lived in Brazil, so I’m in a totally different field now. And yes, I have to admit that sometimes that has made me unsure, but you need to trust in yourself. Also, gather people around you who are there for you. My husband gives me great support, because he’s in a similar situation.

Q. Are there any women who have inspired you in your life?

A. I know it’s cliché, but my mum has been my main inspiration. She is such a strong woman. Sometimes, when I feel overwhelmed or low, I call her and she reassures me that I’m on the right path. Also, when I look at her career and life it makes me so proud. She was the only woman working for one of the largest telecom companies in Brazil and she pushed through so many boundaries.

I have to say that my father inspires me a lot too. He works for the federal highway police and always wanted me to work in that field as well, because there were not many women in that field. Twenty years ago, most federal highway police were men – only 1 out of 100 were women. But I travelled the world instead. Luckily when I decided to move from Brazil to Australia, both my parents gave me all the support I needed.

Atalian UK, Ireland and Asia operations to merge with OCS Group to create new, leading international FM provider

Posted on by ameliaroberts

Following the recent acquisition of OCS Group by Clayton Dubilier & Rice, Atalian confirms the sale of its operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Asia to the private investment firm.

In a move that will create one of the world’s largest international facilities service providers, Atalian Global Services has confirmed the sale of its UK, Ireland and Asia operations, along with its specialist automotive division Aktrion, to Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), the private investment firm that recently acquired OCS Group, with the intention that the businesses be merged over the next twelve months, opening a new chapter for the two firms.

Atalian’s Group CEO Rob Legge will become Group CEO of the newly merged businesses.