DMA Digest Newsletter October 2024 - DMA Group Skip to main content

Welcome to our inaugural issue of our bi-annual DMA Digest

We know we’ve been quiet lately, but rest assured, it’s not because we don’t have anything to shout about! On the contrary, a lot has been happening behind the scenes, and we’re eager to share it all with you. We know it’s crucial to keep you, our valued customers, up to date with the latest news and developments and how they impact you. We’re proud to say that our brand is growing and attracting significant attention as change-makers and industry disruptors. This growth directly benefits you, by enhancing the quality and scope of the services we offer. Our innovations and industry leadership mean you can expect more cutting-edge solutions and continuous improvements, ensuring your needs are met now and in the future.

New Partnerships

We are thrilled to announce that over the last 12 months, we have welcomed some new customers to our growing family. Each brings diverse perspectives and unique needs, which we are committed to addressing with tailored solutions. We look forward to building strong relationships and celebrating mutual successes in the coming years. Thank you for joining us on this exciting adventure!

Welcome Back: The Beaumont Hotel

We are delighted to extend a warm welcome back to The Beaumont Hotel. Having partnered with us in the past, we are excited to explore new opportunities together, enhancing their offerings and providing exceptional experiences for their guests. Welcome back, The Beaumont Hotel; we look forward to achieving great things together!

Recent & Future Events

Schools & Academies Show

We were thrilled to attend and exhibit at the Schools and Academies Show held at ExCel, London, this year. This event gave us an invaluable opportunity to connect with educators and school leaders, allowing us to gain insights into the current challenges and opportunities within the education sector. Our discussions were enlightening and pivotal in shaping our future initiatives to better serve our customers in the educational field.

EMEX Expo November 2024

We are excited to announce that Steve McGregor, Group Managing Director of DMA, will join a distinguished panel discussion at this year’s EMEX Expo. Steve will participate in the panel on November 20th at 15:10 in the Built Environment and Transport Theatre, where they will explore how digital platforms can unlock cost savings.

He will be joined by Jo Sutherland, Managing Director of Magenta Associates, and Stephen Hunter, Director of AI at WILL+Partners. Steve will share his insights on how digital service management platforms transform building management by delivering substantial cost savings, boosting productivity, and increasing efficiency.

You can register for FREE if you wish to attend by clicking here.

Anticipate London – December 2024

Steve will also be speaking at Anticipate London on Tuesday 3rd December, 12.15 – 12.45 on the topic of ‘Sustainability From The Start’ on the FM stage in December. Steve will address the critical issue of capital expenditure (CAPEX) and the lack of true condition reporting in commercial buildings, which can lead to inefficiencies and vulnerabilities in asset management. He advocates that investing in renewable solutions is futile if the essential elements are not in place. By leveraging advanced digital management solutions, we can effectively track and monitor assets, identifying critical areas for upgrades to meet sustainability targets. This approach fosters communication and accountability among all stakeholders and enhances the entire supply chain’s efficiency.

There’s still time to get a free visitor pass here.

Awards Update

We have worked diligently over the past 18 months to establish our presence in the awards arena, with our latest win being the IWFM Impact Award for Best SME Led Innovation for our design and development of our service management platform BiO. Whilst we haven’t clinched the top spot in every competition, we are proud to have been shortlisted for the i-fm.net Technology in FM Award and the BESA Technical Innovation of the Year Award. Additionally, we also won the Energy Saving Awards for our work with Rye & Winchelsea District Memorial Hospital.

We believe this consistent progress underscores our growth and our positive impact on our industry and testify to our commitment to excellence and innovation, reinforcing our position as a forward-thinking, disruptive, and influential player in the market.

You can read more about our latest IWFM win here.

Featured Press

In recent months, we have been heavily featured in the press, garnering significant attention for our contributions to the industry. Most notably, we were recognised alongside SBFM, Pareto and Larch Consulting in the March 2024 issue of Facilitate Magazine as an SME disrupting the facilities management market. This recognition highlights our innovative approach and relentless commitment to excellence and places us among the leading names driving positive change within the sector.

You can read our MD Steve McGregor’s interview here.

Service Offering Update

Integrated Managed Services

We’re thrilled to introduce our new Integrated Managed Services (IMS), a solution designed to streamline supply chain management for our customers through Bio®. By consolidating the supply chain and its services under one management platform, we offer more efficient, consistent, and high-quality operations. This ensures all aspects of supply chain management, like procurement, logistics, inventory, and compliance, are handled efficiently and meticulously.

For our customers, this translates to a simplified service experience without the hassle of coordinating with multiple service providers. With IMS, customers benefit from improved communication, faster response times, and the confidence that their supply chain is managed by experts. Additionally, IMS offers better management solutions for customers with their own in-house maintenance labour.

Our customer, DEBRA, has already experienced the benefits of our new solution first-hand. As a national charity supporting individuals and families affected by Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), DEBRA requires a high standard of facility management to create safe and supportive environments. By partnering with us, DEBRA has seen significant improvements in operational efficiency and service quality, allowing them to focus more on their core mission. This success story is a testament to the positive impact that our Integrated Managed Services can deliver.

DMA Integrated managed services

You can read more about our IMS solution here: Integrated Managed Services

Technology Update

BiO®

We are committed to continuously enhancing our service management platform, BiO®, to meet the evolving needs of our customers. Our latest developments focus on improving user experience, increasing efficiency, and integrating advanced technologies to streamline operations. We have listened to user feedback and implemented updates that enhance functionality and accessibility, ensuring that BiO® remains a valuable tool for service management.

We’re excited to introduce two new widgets to enhance our customers’ BiO® experience!

  • The Upcoming Visits Widget allows customers to see the scheduled dates when our engineers and service partners will be on-site, up to a month in advance, along with the work they’ll be performing. This widget summarises the date, site, and service on the customer dashboard.
  • The First Time Fix Widget displays first-time fix rates for Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), reactive services, and combined jobs. This widget tracks a rolling 12-month monthly measure of the percentage of jobs completed in a single visit compared to all jobs that could have been resolved in one visit during that month. You can easily toggle each service on or off by clicking the labels at the bottom of the graph, allowing you to view first-time fix rates for PPM only, reactive only, combined only, or any combination of the three.

Projects Update

Here’s a quick look at some of our latest projects, highlighting our ability to deliver complex facilities management work across different sectors.

University College London (UCL)

As part of a long-term multi-million design and build framework arrangement, we have completed a number of high-profile specialist bioscience projects at the university. These involved stripping out and removal prior to upgrades to the building fabric, structural enhancements, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems while the facilities remained operational.

Port of Dover

This complex project included final fire strategy assessments, fire door installations, fire-resistant constructions, and passive fire protection measures, including new glazing systems, ventilation installations, ceiling tile replacements, and final finishes within 62 buildings over a one-year period. In addition, we replaced fire panels while keeping buildings operational and designed and installed a new fire alarm network.

Ongoing and Upcoming Projects

Further projects at UCL include a full-scale refurbishment in a live operational environment which includes redecoration, MEP upgrades, and equipment installation.

  • RMG William Cobbett House: A critical project involving lightning conductor relocation, parapet sealing, and waterproofing.
  • Queen Mary University London: Specialist district heating scheme works and MEP overhaul
  • citizenM: Alterations for coffee shop fit-out

From complex MEP upgrades to sensitive refurbishments, DMA Group continues to deliver high-quality solutions, keeping facilities running smoothly and efficiently.

projects image
DMA Energy Advice and Consultancy

Energy Services Update

We are proud to spotlight some of our pioneering energy services projects that underscore our commitment to sustainable and innovative solutions.  Our projects are designed not only to meet but exceed expectations, fostering lasting partnerships and delivering substantial savings. Check out what we’ve been up to!

The Weald Sports Centre

We completed this energy services project to reduce energy and cut carbon. The installation included two air source heat pumps serving heating and hot water and pool heating, with all associated civils work. The project also included hot water & boiler upgrades and a solar PV installation and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. We also implemented a new Building Management System (BMS) with enhanced energy controls for optimised performance.

Five Villages Housing Association

Following a solar PV installation completed in March 2024, and battery storage due by October 2024, this project focuses on solar PV panels that have cut grid dependence by 50% and resulted in a CO2 reduction, equivalent to planting 336 trees!

By integrating renewable technologies and modern controls, we are leading the way in sustainable energy solutions!

ESG Update

Our continuous commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility has significantly ramped up our Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. We are determined to positively impact the communities we serve and the environment we share. By integrating ESG principles into our core business strategies, we foster a culture of accountability and ethical practices and drive innovation and efficiency across our operations.

Environmental

Carbon-Positive Partnership: Our partnership with ‘Earthly’ has made us carbon-positive, showcasing our commitment to sustainability and proactive environmental responsibility.

Addressing Scope 3 Emissions: We understand the importance of tackling Scope 3 emissions and are dedicated to transparent reporting and reducing our carbon footprint. We currently monitor upstream transportation, waste from operations, business travel, employee commuting, and downstream transportation.

Energy Audit and Implementation: Our energy audit at Rye and Winchelsea & District Memorial Hospital led to the hospital becoming the first Carbon Neutral Community Hospital in the UK through energy-efficient technologies and practices.

Social

Apprenticeship Programme: We promote local talent development through our apprenticeship programme, which currently includes six apprentices from the community. Our partnership with Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) will establish an annual apprenticeship initiative. We are also supporting LATs T-Level students, by providing speaking engagements, work experience, apprenticeships, and mentoring,

If there are any apprenticeship opportunities within your organisation that could be enhanced through our collaboration, we would love to hear about them. Contact Valerie Miller.

Educational Partnerships & Career Awareness Initiatives: Our strong ties with local schools and colleges in East, Mid, and West Kent are key to nurturing this talent pipeline. We offer career fairs, workshops, work placements, and mentorships to give young people valuable insights and hands-on experience. Our Managing Director engages with local educational institutions, delivering inspiring talks to highlight opportunities in our industry.

Environmental Contributions: In partnership with Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, we marked World Environmental Day by donating and planting a Sweetgum tree at St. Martins Estate, reflecting our efforts to impact the environment and community positively.

Award Sponsorships: We sponsor the Leigh Academies Trust Annual Awards to demonstrate our commitment to community engagement and support excellence in education.

Appointments

We are thrilled to announce some recent appointments to our DMA family, which significantly enhance the services we offer to our customers. With the addition of experienced professionals in key management and supervisory roles, we are poised to elevate our operational excellence and customer-centric approach. Their diverse expertise will ensure we continue delivering innovative solutions tailored to our customers’ needs.

DMA Group Katie Simmons2

Katie is an accomplished Operations Manager who brings leadership to resource planning, procurement, pricing, and the execution of small works at DMA. With a keen focus on driving value creation, she leverages her expertise to enhance operational relationships, processes, and technology. Katie is dedicated to ensuring exemplary customer service by effectively managing operational KPIs and collaborating closely with the Customer Experience team to foster continuous improvement in customer satisfaction.

DMA Group Louise Kitcatt

Louise is an innovative Talent Acquisition Manager dedicated to shaping the future of human resources. In this exciting role, she leads initiatives in searching, selecting, and retaining top talent within DMA. With a keen focus on overcoming the skills gap in the FM market, Louise collaborates with the leadership team to attract, inspire, and develop new and existing talent, ensuring our team consistently delivers exceptional results. Her core mission revolves around building and maintaining a strong talent pipeline that meets our customers’ expectations.

DMA Group Dean Freed

Dean is our dedicated field service supervisor within our operations team, who works throughout Kent. He manages maintenance engineers and service partners while supporting our Field Service Manager to ensure operational quality and efficiency. With a strong focus on technical delivery and customer care, Dean oversees service operations, routine maintenance, surveys, fault finding, repair, and installation across diverse commercial, industrial, and domestic settings. His expertise and commitment contribute significantly to the smooth functioning of the operations team.

DMA Group Paul Bullivant

Paul Bullivant has joined our technical team as a Senior Software Developer. With his extensive experience and expertise, Paul will join the team in the development of BiO®, driving innovation and enhancing its capabilities.

Are you following us?

LinkedIn Network

Staying informed about the latest developments at DMA has never been easier! Our company LinkedIn page is your go-to source for news updates, announcements, and valuable industry insights. By following us, you can effortlessly keep track of everything happening within our organisation, ensuring you get all the important information. We are committed to delivering relevant content that adds value to your experience with us, allowing you to stay connected and engaged with our progress and innovations.

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Inside DMA on YouTube

We’re now on YouTube! Here, we bring you exclusive interviews with the talented makers and shakers behind DMA. Our channel is designed to provide an insider’s perspective on our team’s creativity, passion, and dedication to innovation. We feature key individuals who shape our organisation, exploring their insights, experiences, and the driving forces behind our projects. It’s the collaborative spirit that fuels our success!

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DMA Group Linkedin on phone

Keep an Eye Out for NPS

Your Feedback Matters

We are excited to announce that our upcoming Net Promoter Score (NPS) feedback survey will launch soon! This survey is a pivotal tool for us, designed to gauge your satisfaction and loyalty towards our services. It works by asking a simple question: “On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our company to a friend or colleague?” Your responses will help us understand areas where we excel and identify opportunities for improvement. This feedback is crucial, as it directly informs our strategies and initiatives to enhance your experience with us. We genuinely value your input, and together, we can drive continuous improvement, ensuring our offerings align closely with your needs and expectations.

Stay tuned for more details!