Team Fasset: Olympic Preparation

Martyn Randell discusses Olympic implications for Fasset managed facilities...

Across the UK the Olympic Torch relay is being watched by thousands as it makes its way to its final destination in the Olympic Park London for the opening of the London 2012 games on July 27th.

205 Nations will be competing in 300 events; followed by 147 nations taking part in the Paralympic Games which run from 29/08 until 09/09.

Preparations for the 2012 London Olympics started months even years ago for competitors, construction, businesses, people, tourists, schools, transport, emergency services, venues etc. – the list is endless. As a provider of facilities and property management services for over 80 businesses (approximately 5,566 employees) at several premier business locations, we have had to assess the impact and implement plans accordingly.

The London 2012 Organising Committee has announced that up to 15,000 spectators will be able to enjoy one of the best vantage points on the Olympic Cycling Road Race route, in their ticket restricted access area on the Zig Zag Road incline and Donkey Green area of Box Hill in Surrey. The remainder of the route, which travels through six London boroughs, four Royal Parks and Surrey countryside, offers spectators approximately 120km of road to watch the race for free and numbers being bandied around are up to 1 million.

Hersham Place Technology Park in Hersham, Surrey will be severely affected as it is on the Olympic Cycle route for the Road Race. Consequently for three days the cycle route and all roads touching this route will be closed from the very early hours and will reopen only when the races have finished. What this has meant is forewarning the 32 businesses based there about the disruption and implementing a plan to try to minimise the impact it will have.

In theory, organisers hope that any staff with the ability to work from home on these days should do so; and those staff requiring access to their place of work, should where possible use public transport, walk, or cycle to site. There will be increased public transport and designated crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists to ensure safety at all times.

In reality, business can not just stop for this time, afterall these are not designated public holidays and so Fasset has decided to keep Hersham Place open however restrictions will apply. Employees will not be able to drive into the site, deliveries will not be able to access the site and project work being undertaken may have to break for a short while.

Communicating this to the onsite businesses has meant a public consultation meeting and access to information in advance of the event. Emergency procedures will of course be fulfilled and everything they can do to maintain IT, housekeeping and maintenance has been documented.

Fasset is a national and established facilities management company who has dealt with many challenges from severe weather to communication emergencies to managing roof access for the largest crane in the UK to life equipment into place. The specialist maintenance and project teams work at ground level and have the capability to implement a course of action to ensure delivery 24/7.

Fasset is confident that the Olympic disruption will have a minimal effect for onsite businesses who intend to use their offices during the events; and in fact feel quite excited that history is being made on their doorstep, never to be repeated in our life time.

Picture courtesy of London 2012; LOCOG