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DHS outsources facilities management to Broll
Date published 15 January 2009
Kwazulu-Natal's Durban High School (DHS) has appointed property services giant Broll to undertake its entire facilities management function. Situated on the Berea, DHS has perpetuated a 'Heritage of Excellence' for more than 140 years, being Durban's oldest school. It is the first public high school to opt for this service from Broll, which also offers the service to four private schools in the province.
Facilities management for schools encompasses elements such as the maintenance of administration buildings, classrooms, boarding facilities and staff housing, the management and logistics of sporting events, the management of cleaning and hygiene of high-volume usage facilities, the maintenance of sporting facilities, conservation programmes for the upkeep of grounds and other key facilities, water treatment plants and swimming pools.
Broll has undertaken preparations to ensure a smooth start to the new 2009 school year at DHS, where it will undertake the facilities management for all non-educational elements in the running of the school.
The trick, explains Broll's Director of Facilities Managament Jacques Mostert is to ensure that these services are appropriately and affordably undertaken. This is the fifth school in KwaZulu-Natal which has appointed Broll to undertake the facilities management services. Broll's clients include Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Kearsney College in Botha's Hill, St Henry's Marist Brothers' College in Glenwood and Thomas More College in Kloof.
"Facilities Management is a relatively new concept in South Africa and certainly for schools. However, it is fast gaining acceptance because of its ability to allow schools to control expenditure while improving delivery," says Mostert. "It's not only about saving money... It's about achieving best value for money. Essentially educators are able to focus on what they do best, leaving the non-core and support services to the facilities manager," he explains.
Mostert said that outsourced facilities management is a service which is essential to the effective running of many major corporations. Included on Broll's facilities management client list are Fujitsu Siemens, Discovery and ANC headquarters (Luthuli House). Facilities Management is also frequently applied to the running of sports stadia with grounds upkeep, corporate hospitality, legislative requirements of international sporting bodies, broadcasting and other elements applied. Broll is responsible for the facilities management of Liberty Life Wanderers, Supersport Park and Buffalo Park.
"Schools are equally able to benefit from this service which provides transparent costing, collective-buying power, reduced administration load and the ease of a single point-of-contact," Mostert said.
Author: Property Reporter - Mercury (Durban)
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