Defining facilities management service delivery in UK shopping centres

Abstract

High streets are traditionally the main focus of most retailing in the United Kingdom, but shopping centres represent a very important format for shoppers, retailers and investors. Today, shopping centres have become firmly established as an important component of UK retail environment. However, the success of shopping centres depends on how well they are managed and on how well management strategies cope with maintaining a balance between the income generated and the cost incurred in managing these properties. Therefore, when operational costs become an issue, the management tends to change the way in which a centre's infrastructures are managed and services delivered. This is the reason why better solutions are sought from the facilities management (FM) provider market. As FM is a relatively young industry, there is lack of research and studies on FM services in shopping centres. As a result, awareness of the FM market in the retail sector is poor. This research investigates FM service delivery in UK shopping centre.