Detail on Client Projects

Bank of America - Contingency Planning and Implementation

 We advised the Bank on a major contingency planning exercise, which involved liaising with a number of the individual Bank's business units to prepare a detailed requirements definition. We subsequently undertook a property search and identified a suitable building. We carried out negotiations on behalf of the Bank and agreed terms, including fit out and servicing. The project has now reached a successful conclusion within time and budget.

BBC - Outsourcing Bid Support

Actium advised the MWB, Carillion and BT consortium in an open bid competition for outsourcing the BBC property portfolio. The bid preparation involved innovative property management and financing structures.

BBC – Contract Review

Actium worked alongside Concerto Consulting on a performance review of the BBC national real estate contract. The study involved detailed interviews with senior staff at BBC Workplace and also interviews with members of the supplier team. Recommendations were made in terms of contract performance improvement and also in relation to liaison and reporting methodology

Broadoaks - Product Development

We were appointed as strategy and marketing consultants on a large 40 acre development site in Surrey to develop new property products, compare total property costs, prepare an analysis of occupier demand and also develop an FM strategy. We prepared two reports together with City University Business School, which provided a detailed appraisal of the development from "an occupier" and "a facilities management" perspective. Subsequently we looked at the feasibility of developing an on site business club.

Brunel University - Residential Accommodation Strategy

Actium advised Brunel University on their student accommodation portfolio and prepared a residential accommodation strategy. We investigated business and demand drivers and also carried out a soft market testing against pre-stated parameters with a number of major supplier partners for the transfer of 2700 study bedrooms and the development of an additional 2400 study bedrooms on the main campus. Go to top

BT - Flexible Work Study

BT asked us to extend the successful TOCS format to show the effect of flexible working on the TOCS building, including not only the Total Office Cost Survey headings that had already been used, but also a further 14 cost heads for IT, and change management. The results showed significant economic benefits for flexible working.

Cadbury Schweppes - Property Management Information

We carried out a new data project for Cadbury Schweppes who were carrying out an information development programme to identify the key inputs for a property management system.

CEPA – Total Office Cost Arbitration Advice

Actium was instructed by CEPA to advise the Government appointed Statutory Arbiter in relation to the accommodation quantum of the renewal of a London Underground Infraco contract. Our approach to the study was to carry out a detailed benchmark of 15 expenditure heads of a major London office HQ of 250,000 sq ft together with a major engineering depot.

Chesterton - Dramatic Productions

One of the more entertaining areas Actium has been involved in is a dramatic look at workplace change in association with AKT Productions. We were delighted to be instructed by Chesterton to use this powerful medium to put on a play entitled "Behind the Iron Mask" at MIPIM. The play explores modern occupier issues and the venture has been so successful for Chesterton that the play has been rolled out in the UK both for promotional and training purposes and future ventures are on the cards.

CityUniversity - Estates Strategy

Actium prepared a new estate strategy for City University's 1 million sq ft of space in over 20 locations on the edge of the City of London. The challenges facing City were not untypical in the sector. In order to deliver their business plan they needed to improve the quality and attractiveness of their existing property and at the same time put in place plans for expansion. In addition to assisting in the preparation of an effective detailed strategic plan we were able to help them gain greater understanding of the importance of property as a critical success factor in the management of their business.

Docking Station - Product Development

Actium were instructed to help develop the business plan and raise capital for an innovative new start up venture which seeks to introduce a network of leisure/business clubs to the High Street across Europe's major cities. We also assisted with product development and market analysis.

EDS - Accommodation Strategy

Actium advised on the development of a UK accommodation strategy for EDS. The work was predominately being carried out at main board level where the key business, HR, finance and cultural change issues were analysed to form the basis of an integrated approach to real estate, workplace and support service procurement.

Equion and Laing Investment Management - Outsourcing Bid Support

Actium advised Laing Investments in their bid for the outsourcing of the Surrey County Council office accommodation portfolio, which involved the relocation of the County Hall from Kingston.

Herefordshire Council – Accommodation Strategy

Actium worked alongside Knight Frank in carrying out an Accommodation Strategy for the back office portfolio. The study involved interviews of service department heads to establish an accommodation needs assessment in the context of the establishment of the new partnership with the Herefordshire PCT, new ways of working, interface with a new front office strategy and an ICT led change management initiative. This was followed by a fitness for purpose assessment of the current portfolio and a financial and non-financial option appraisal. The study resulted in the acquisition by the Council of a new site in Plough Lane which will be developed into a new joint HQ for the Council and the PCT partnership.

Herefordshire Council – Town Hall and Shire Hall Study

Actium worked alongside Bisset Adams the specialist Architects to develop an option appraisal for the future use and development of the 1900 built Old Town Hall and the 1815 built Shire Hall in Hereford's historic centre. The study involved detailed consultation with key stakeholders including representatives of the democratic function, heritage and museum officers, planners and conservation experts. Three options were costed, designed and appraised within the context of stakeholder demand, heritage constraints and affordability.

Herefordshire Council – Special School Option Appraisal

Actium worked alongside Sherlock Consulting, special school consultants and also special school architects to develop an option appraisal which examined special school service delivery in the context of new regulations, existing demand and current provision. The options were evaluated both in financial and non-financial terms and Education Officers accepted our recommendation as the best way forward

Hertfordshire County Council - Best Value Accommodation Review

Actium developed a methodology for Hertfordshire County Council, which combined a high level resource mapping exercise by service departments followed by a property data survey to determine accuracy and availability as part of an information development program.

Home Office - Accommodation Efficiency Audit

Actium carried out an accommodation efficiency audit of the Home Office UK non-prison estate in connection with the comprehensive spending review. The focus of the study was to examine the potential for property cost savings through: reductions in space usage; co-location of offices of different Directorates and pooled management arrangements. The individual business needs and objectives of 35 separate Home Office businesses were reviewed in order to establish their use and need of property resources. Our findings included the potential saving of 40% of existing office space coupled with the introduction of different working practices.

IPD Occupiers Property Databank - International Total Occupancy Cost Code

Subsequently to helping prepare the Total Occupancy Cost Code (TOCC) Actium was asked by IPD Occupiers Property Databank to help write the International Total Occupancy Cost Code (ITOCC). 70 corporates and consultants participated in the exercise. We look forward to ITOCC becoming recognized as the leading global metric of its kind in the same way that the Total Occupancy Cost Code (TOCC) has gained recognition in the UK. TOCC was endorsed by the RICS, IFMA, NACORE, BIFM and IDRC.

Jarvis UPP - Advice and Implementation

Actium assisted Jarvis UPP in the development of their student "entertainment" offering within their student accommodation package to universities. Recently we carried out an implementation exercise by re-tendering BAR SV at Manchester Student Village and agreed heads of terms with an operator. We are now looking at a number of other University opportunities with Jarvis UPP.

Laing Property - Product Development and Feasibility Studies

We acted for Laing Property on three studies which included a general assessment of new property products allied to managed space, a feasibility study for the redevelopment of a London railway station and a customer survey for the development of a new London business centre.

Land Securities – Landflex Product Review

Actium was instructed to carry out a product review of Landflex which had been developed by Land Securities over a period of five years as a medium term managed service product that was particularly suited to those occupiers who required flexible managed office solutions in London. Our review captured the potential strengths and weaknesses of the current product and recommended improvements and also potential enhancements for the potential benefit of both the supplier and the customer. In the course of our study we relied on first hand feedback from a wide range of customers, agents and suppliers in order to gauge perceptions and levels of satisfaction. We also prepared a detailed elemental cost breakdown of the product against our own Total Office Cost Survey (10^th edition) which proved to be a useful comparator.

Land Securities - Landflex Total Cost Analysis

Actium advised Land Securities on their major Landflex buildings within the London Portfolio to prepare a cost comparison to benchmark the Landflex product in respect of major buildings at Aldersgate, Eastbourne Terrace, Soho Square, Mark Lane  and Empress State Building. In these studies we carried out a detailed benchmark with our own Total Office Cost Survey for 2008 and 2009. These studies were used to validate the cost competitiveness of the Land Securities offering to their major customers.

London Electricity - Serviced Office Feasibility Study

Actium carried out a detailed feasibility on behalf of London Electricity to convert part of their London portfolio to a major serviced office facility. The study looked at demand for economic, standard and premium serviced offices and potential pricing of a number of different serviced office products.

London Borough of Bromley – Businees Start Up Centre

Actium were instructed to prepare a feasibility study for the conversion of Anerley Town hall to a business start up centre to aid a local regeneration initiative for a relatively depressed part of the borough.

London Borough of Ealing – Programme Management

London Borough of Ealing instructed Actium Consult to carry out an accommodation project management review in respect of a large refurbishment project in June 2004 and subsequently the programme management of the project to September 2004. The Council has now extended our programme management instruction up to September 2006. They have also instructed Actium to advise on introducing flexible working. The construction phase of the project has been delivered on time and under budget. More details and pictures on Ealing Council programme management

London Borough of Greenwich –Accommodation Study and Design Brief

Actium provided the Council with an accommodation needs assessment based on staff interviews, document review, data collection and analysis. Our terms of reference included the preparation of a space model with detailed assumptions giving a breakdown of the size and numbers of workstations required together with ancillary space in a proposed new administrative centre in Woolwich. Actium carried out a Total Office Cost Study on 40 existing Council occupied office buildings and a comparative total office cost assessment with the development of a new 20,000 sq m Civic Centre. Actium provided a detailed design brief for a new Civic Centre, local service centre, library and education facility in Woolwich and a combined leisure centre, local service centre and library in Eltham. More details and pictures on this accommodation needs assessment process.

London Borough of Haringey - Office Accommodation Strategy

Actium was jointly retained by the London Borough of Haringey to advise on its office accommodation strategy. We have just undertaken our Stage 2 report, which is to review the strategic options available to the Council in relation to meeting its accommodation needs in the future. This has involved a cost benefit analysis of alternative strategies and in particular comparing status quo with centralisation of admin functions or the establishment of area 'workstyle' offices, which would involve a more devolved distribution of staff.

London Borough of Havering - Strategic Accommodation Review

Actium was jointly retained by the Council to carry out a review of its strategic operational property to assess opportunities to generate capital receipts and reduce revenue costs. The Council has agreed to pursue a number of innovative new ideas for modern service delivery and is looking to review its accommodation needs so that they efficiently and effectively enable its vision for future services to be delivered.

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames - Strategic Accommodation Review and Ongoing Studies

Actium was instructed to prepare an Accommodation Strategy for the Council. Our study was based on a thorough analysis of service delivery needs in relation to accommodation, total occupancy cost and space utilisation. Working with management and staff we used a model that addressed definition of the goals of the organisation in the light of the reality of the existing portfolio, the possible options thus generated and finally the will of the organisation to subscribe to the chosen options. Resources used in this study were a property strategy consultant, a property data analyst and a change management specialist. Our study has been well received by both Council staff and members and as a result of our work to date we have now been asked to help advise on Feasibility Studies for some key Council sites, New Ways of Working Initiative, Performance and Data Management, Property Management Processes and the project management of a Care Home development.

London Borough of Southwark

Actium was jointly instructed with CB Richard Ellis to carry out a review of Southwark's office accommodation, to assess opportunities for generating capital receipts and reducing revenue costs and to determine the most suitable office portfolio for its service delivery needs.

London Borough of Newham

Actium was appointed to prepare a detailed accommodation strategy for Newham in conjunction with Knight Frank which assessed the requirement for "back office" space and the rationalisation and disposal of their existing fragmented and relatively inefficient office portfolio within the borough. Our study looked at the potential for the Council to move to New Ways of Working, release the Council from current accommodation that was below modern office standards, motivate staff through the provision of an environment within which they can improve performance and enhance Local Service Centres which are accessible to the customer. Our report recommended a substantial reduction in the total amount of existing office space and a transformation in staff productivity by creating a step change in the working environment. We prepared a detailed business plan for the purchase of Building 1000 in Albert Docks which included both financial and non-financial factors and also a detailed option comparison with a new build option at Canning Town. Our report was submitted to the full Council and a decision was taken to purchase Building 1000 for £75m. We also prepared a design brief for the fit out of Building 1000 together with a detailed accommodation schedule. Subsequently we also advised the Council on the fit out and programme for Building 1000, and worked with them to select and appoint Architects, M and E Engineers, Structural Engineers and FM consultants.

London Underground Infracos - Accommodation Strategy

Actium was instructed to prepare an accommodation strategy for the JNP, BCV and SSL Infracos prior to vesting. We carried out a business review of each of the 3 companies to assess their accommodation requirements from a real estate, workplace and operational perspective. We built a total occupancy cost model to test their current position and also to compare a range of building and location options throughout the London area. We also tested a range of weighted non-financial factors and included these within the decision criteria.

Marylebone Warwick Balfour - JP Morgan Outsourcing

Actium was the lead consultant advising Marylebone Warwick Balfour on the outsourcing of the JP Morgan property portfolio. We prepared the bid documentation and responded to the detailed enquiries of the Bank over a period of 12 months. We were also responsible for a series of presentations to the Bank and preparing a cost model for outsourcing 6000 workstations.

Nursing & Midwifery Council - Accommodation Strategy

Following the publication of the Government White Paper, which required Regulatory Bodies to consider harmonising their activities Actium was instructed in conjunction with Knight Frank to carry out an Accommodation Strategy for the Nursing and Midwifery Council to enable them to plan their accommodation over the next fifteen years. The development of the strategy included an examination of corporate and user needs in relation to accommodation requirements. It also looked at the possibility of the harmonisation of property resources with other regulators who we made b with. The Council made it clear to us in its requirements that any conclusions drawn by the study must be evidence based. Accordingly the approach taken by us fully captured the strategic business drivers and also the organisational and cultural aspects of the organisation as well as a detailed investigation of existing accommodation needs and current resources. Our recommendations to the Council included both a London solution to their needs and also a recommended solution for representation in other countries within the UK. We also included an analysis of new ways of working in the office, home working, relocation costs and change management.

OGCbuying.solutions

Actium was instructed by OGCbuying.solutions to prepare a detailed specification for the letting of a framework agreement for space planning, workspace design and associated services for use by the Public Sector throughout the UK, which will facilitate the evaluation of the tender proposals submitted by potential suppliers and the selection of a range of suppliers to provide a comprehensive range of space planning, workspace design and associated services. The framework includes a detailed section on new ways of working opportunities. Actium was awarded an "excellent" grade for all aspects of this work by OGC.

Partnerships UK – London Probation Board

Actium was asked by Partnerships UK to provide advice to the London Probation Board in relation to their portfolio strategy for London. We examined the front office and back office requirements and also the location dependencies of neighbourhood offices and hostels.

Portal – Total Cost Analysis

Actium was asked by Portal to prepare a cost comparison to benchmark their product offerings, which comprised bespoke developments of managed call centre and office product with significant data centre support facilities. Our approach was to utilise the results of the Actium Consult Total Office Cost Survey 2009 (11^th edition).

Portsmouth City Council

Actium was appointed in conjunction with Knight Frank to prepare a new accommodation strategy as a potential first step in a major accommodation change initiative. The study was designed to challenge current ways of working and be appropriately radical to solve current accommodation and related service delivery problems. The scope of the review incorporated twenty six different buildings used for corporate activity and included all directorates. The review assumed that there was a potential corporate willingness and ability to embrace new ways of working and rationalise offices for the greater good of the organisation as a whole. In order to achieve this end, we undertook a full valuation overview of all offices, a development appraisal of the main city centre office and a current needs assessment of Council employees at all levels. We found that the Council currently occupied a large variety of different buildings, some of which are in good condition. However, very few of the buildings fulfilled the requirements of modern Council. We also found that a centralisation of the office functions of the Council under one roof in the town centre would produce significant operational efficiencies. We investigated four new site options in both financial and non-financial terms and recommended a preferred option that was potentially self-financing.

Seagram - Total Office Cost Audit

We acted for Seagram Spirits and Wine Group in developing an audit of their occupational cost base, a strategic "workplace pricing" model and a flexible space strategy for their West London staff requirements.

Siemens - Total Occupancy Cost Audits

We assisted Siemens in the development of the financial business case for their recent HQ move to Frimley Park (click here for more details on this relocation business case for more details).

We are regularly instructed by Siemens to carry out a total occupancy cost audit of their extensive campus at Bracknell. The cost audit is designed to identify potential efficiency gains and to increase cost transparency. We use the latest data from our Total Office Cost Survey to benchmark the cost of 25 individual headings..

Slough Borough Council - Development Appraisals

Actium was asked to carry out an initial option appraisal study which validated a series of property options for the Council in relation to their office accommodation which involved a large scale mixed redevelopment of their current offices situated in the Bath Road. We also presented a New Ways of Working concept to the Council senior management team in order to fully explore the opportunities for reduction in the current office space used by staff. We subsequently prepared a report to the Cabinet which included an office needs assessment, space model, a vision of new ways of working, a financial assessment and non-financial assessment of options and recommendation of a preferred option. Having received the approval of the Cabinet to our first report we were subsequently asked to prepare a full Business Justification Report of the recommended option which incorporated a detailed design solution by appointed architects, full building costs prepared by quantity surveyors, a detailed project timetable prepared by project managers and a planning assessment prepared by independent planning consultants. More details and pictures on this development appraisal project.

Swansea University

Actium was instructed by Swansea University to prepare an estate strategy which would allow the University to accommodate its expanding research and teaching needs on a single site. In preparing our report, we spoke to many stakeholders both within and outside the University, and carried out a student survey. An architectural competition was held, and our final report was made to an audience including representatives from the Welsh Government Assembly, Swansea City Council, the Welsh Development Agency and CADW. More details on this campus/estates strategy project

Torbay Council - User requirements & workplace strategy

Actium provided a detailed user requirements analysis and strategic design brief for a new Office Complex and 3 local service centres. This was based on interviews with the senior management team and the heads of service departments. We produced a New Ways of Working Policy and accompanying Space Model and Accommodation Needs Assessment which was adopted by the Senior Management Team and the Members. We investigated the relationship between front office and back office in terms of service delivery processes and also a detailed office needs assessment for the Council. The latter was in sufficient detail to allow us to develop three different options including refurbishment and new-build of town centre and out-of-town locations to rationalize the Council's 16 office buildings which were no longer fit for purpose, into one. We also looked at the opportunity of producing enough capital receipts and annual savings (based on the Total Office Cost Survey) to self-fund the development.

Wandle Housing Association – Accommodation Strategy and Exit Stategy

Actium advised Wandle Housing Association in respect of a new accommodation strategy for their South London office portfolio. We carried out an accommodation needs audit including the potential of the organisation to change the way they work and migrate to new ways of working.  With the assistance of two commercial property agents we analysed the potential for exiting from their current sites. We also carried out a detailed financial option appraisal which we presented and debated with the senior management team.  

Westminster City Council - Portfolio & Development Review

Actium carried out a services and property review for People Services throughout the City, including: Children,Young People and Family Services, Adult Social Services, Community Protection, Customer Services and Housing. The review included an assessment of the suitability of assets for service provision, assessment of the fitness of buildings (condition), understanding the service objectives, considering the contribution of partner organisations, identifying ways to make assets work better by sharing/investment in existing or new/disposals and calculating what demands can be defined in a manner than can influence Westminster's emerging Local Development Framework. We reviewed a total of 85 very diverse properties including: Libraries, Walk in centres, Housing Offices, Old People's Homes, Day Centres and Nursery Schools and produced a strategy for rationalisation and investment. Our key recommendations also included the establishment of four multi service/purpose core walk in hubs, service requirements by location and the restructuring of Sec 106 agreements to facilitate funding.