Winner: Estates and Facilities Team, The British Antarctic Survey

Sponsored by: Premier Technical Services Group

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Facilities and Estates team lead innovative facilities management practice while supporting partner businesses and positively impacting the wider economy. BAS provides extensive FM capability to the UK and international science community through complex Polar research operations. BAS is continuously providing first-class FM service to national and international collaborations, combined with delivering excellent infrastructure.

Results gleaned

BAS’s vision is to be a world-leading centre for Polar science and operations. The science it undertakes addresses some of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns. Making its vision a reality depends on the excellence and diversity of their FM staff. BAS’s staff cover two distinct areas of responsibility: the UK-based team is responsible for headquarters in Cambridge and dispersed launch sites, while the Polar team is responsible for five research stations based in Antarctica.

Best practice learning

BAS has recently upgraded its CMMS system to Maximo and is steadily building its data to ensure the development of a data driven estate. A thorough set of metrics have been developed in line with the Estates Strategy and corporate objectives.

Key metrics are:

  • PPM Compliance: the PPM schedule is prioritised with three levels. Priority one is Statutory work, Priority two is life-critical work and three is general maintenance. The goal for all PPM compliance is set to 100%.
  • Planned v Reactive works: an asset care programme is utilised where all major failures are subject to root cause analysis and all reactive works data is analysed utilising MTBF, (mean time between failure), and MTTR, (mean time to repair).
  • Along with regular reviews of existing maintenance, (REM), BAS adapts and develops a PPM schedule to ensure that unplanned failures are minimised.

An example of leadership in action can be shown during the move of Halley station on the Brunt Ice Shelf following the discovery of a crack in the shelf, which would have left the station stranded. The move of the station was filmed by the BBC and subsequently aired as ‘Horizon – Ice Station Rescue’.

Key quote

“We welcome our partners and wider suppliers to join in our FM and workplace collaboration. Many of our FM projects both in the UK and in the Polar regions would not be possible without the private FM sector. One example of BAS collaboration was in January 2023. BAS ran an industry day to learn about us and how suppliers can bid for work with our commercial team. We also informed the FM industry of the wider projects both in SFM and HFM. The complexity of public finances is difficult for smaller FM businesses to understand; therefore, we reached out. This was a momentous success, and we now have a diverse range of suppliers. This is good for the wider community and economy.” – Paul Dunn CIWFM & Pete Smith MIWFM, BAS Facilities and Estates Team