Symonds FM has changed its name to Dalkia Workplace Services, bringing it closer to its parent Dalkia Group and its sister service companies, all part of the French utilities and telecoms giant Vivendi. This move completes the transition begun when Symonds FM was demerged from the Symonds Group and the remaining businesses sold to their management last year.

The company believes that the facilities management market place is changing and that new approaches are required to deliver the increasing client demand for improved operational standards and greater cost savings. "We believe that many of the current ways of doing things must change if the next step jump in client benefits is to be achieved," said managing director Prue Redfern (pictured). One of the key changes, says the company, is a shift to deliver more of the mainline services under a single umbrella, either internally or from a consortium of selected partners, rather than from a loose collection of subcontractors. This includes energy and waste management services which Dalkia believes will become increasingly important as environmental standards are raised.

Speaking to i-FM, Redfern said the company would focus on three areas: those services which are 'invisible' but have a major impact, such as asset management; highly visible 'hotel' services; and services which require high levels of reliability and continuity, such as security or records management. "Each requires a different response and a different delivery type. The market has moved substantially and the emphasis is now on best value. Clients are asking, 'What value does my management contractor bring?' The use of group companies to deliver services is no longer an issue."

Dalkia Workplace Services will be able to call on the expertise of sister companies Dalkia Energy & Technical Services, Dalkia Utilities Services and Parkersell, a lighting maintenance company. Financial structures and systems at Dalkia Group have been changed to strengthen the integration of the FM business. Lines of communication with Vivendi have also been shortened.

Richard Byatt