With data at its core, Smart Managed Solutions delivers proactive care and peace of mind
Data-driven mechanical and electrical maintenance specialist, Smart Managed Solutions, is transforming multi-story property maintenance. Backed by the latest Smart Guard technology, the company combines customer service with a streamlined approach. As Chief Executive Officer, Lee Metcalfe, begins: “The business has been operational for seven years now, and in that time, we’ve grown from a small business into what will be a £100 million enterprise. Our services include Integrated Building Services and Data Driven Maintenance Solutions for the built environment. We also deliver M&E projects, alongside our maintenance work.
“Initially, we operated in London. Over the past two years, we’ve expanded our presence into some major Northern cities. We help maintain a range of properties,
from small residential buildings, all the way up to large tower blocks in the city — our largest property being over 1,000,000 square feet. Our client base is equally varied, as we work with clients in the commercial property sector, as well as more targeted environments across a range of industries.”
Keeping properties safe and secure, Smart Managed Solutions offers expertise in a range of areas. “Our role is to keep buildings legally compliant on behalf of our clients,” Lee continues. “That’s the primary focus of our maintenance work. Alongside the day-to-day maintenance of business critical and non-business critical assets.
“We also monitor and maintain all aspects of life safety systems, working closely with our clients to ensure compliance”
“The work we do gives us exposure to a range of different sectors. We primarily operate in commercial and corporate properties, but we also have clients in the life science and higher education sectors. With these more specialist properties, there are a number of additional considerations. At the moment the majority of our work is in the private sector, but we are expanding into the public sector this financial year.”
Superior service delivery
As a data-led business, Smart Managed Solutions uses data to increase efficiency and deliver an integrated building performance service. The industry has generally worked to quite rigid constraints when it came to maintenance delivery,” Lee shares. “With more data, we felt we could work more effectively. Initially, our focus was on building optimisation and delivering efficiencies.
“We invested in a senior manager, who became the leader of our intelligence system department. This essentially meant overseeing a new platform, which performed data analytics within the BMS. The BMS system controls all the main building assets and in any given building, gaining greater insight into this has helped make more informed and efficient decisions.
“These systems put all the key information together in one place, and our intelligence team uses this information to assess how well the building is performing. This way, we can intervene quicker if there is a deviation, and we can also deliver preventative maintenance on any terminal unit that is running less efficiently than it should be.
“It’s been very helpful in terms of the bigger picture, allowing us to deliver a higher standard of service, but it’s also made a huge difference to people’s experience within buildings. We have greater control over the temperature of the environment, meaning we can tailor it to the needs of clients and occupiers alike.
“With the new system, we can even help clients save money and increase the energy-efficiency of their property. For example, if the building has a capacity for 5000, but only 200 people are there, we can reduce energy consumption and minimise waste by tailoring the building’s systems to its occupancy rate.”
Growth strategy
Having made its name across London, the company now looks to further establish its presence on a national scale, as Managing Director, Mike Morrison, affirms: “We’ve had our Manchester office open for two years now. Our focus is to open up our client base and establish ourselves as a major industry player outside of London. We’ve seen significant success in that time, winning major contracts in cities such as Liverpool, Leeds, Shefield, and, of course, Manchester.
“We began expanding because we found that clients were looking for us to extend our reach. We had people asking us to deliver services across the North, and so it made sense to grow the business in that direction. As with anything the business does, our primary goal is supporting our customer base to the very best of our ability.”
The company’s rapid expansion is supported by a trusted network of partners and suppliers. “As a business, we’re first and foremost about service delivery. It’s essential, especially when we’re considering partnerships with other companies,” Mike emphasises. “We seek out partners with an engaged senior management team, who can help support our strategic growth, as well as delivering on second-to-none services for our client base.
With smart technology and an ever-growing national presence, Smart Managed Solutions is no doubt set for success. “In the coming years,” Lee concludes, “we expect to continue growing the business and building on our existing strategy for expansion. Our goal is to reach £200 million by 2030 and become one of the largest M&E maintenance providers in the UK.
“That will require us to diversify into new sectors and build new customer bases from the ground up. With different types of property come different standards and requirements for compliance, so part of our journey will be continuing to learn and grow our expertise. That way, we can provide services to a wider range of clients without ever compromising on quality.
“We’ve already begun diversifying the business and gaining experience in new areas. The company currently maintains a number of small landlord-owned buildings, which has given us our start in the residential sector. We look forward to building new relationships and expanding our network of landlords, as this will provide an exciting new avenue for growth within the business.”