Cofely Besix Facility Management (CBFM) has been awarded a contract to provide integrated facility management services to two additional new schools on behalf of Aldar Academies, one of them a girls' high school.

This comes following the initial contract awarded in January 2016  by Aldar Academies to Cofely Besix Facility Management, a joint venture between Cofely, a part of worldwide global energy player Engie and Besix Group, the largest Belgian construction company.

The company said since Al Mamoura School is an ‘all female’ high school, it has deployed its’ first female maintenance team consisting of an MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) supervisor, technicians, cleaners and janitors.

As per the deal,  Cofely Besix will provide full hard and soft facility management services including operations and maintenance of electrical systems, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems, fire and life systems, building management system (BMS), 24-hour MEP services, DLP, as well as managing the internal and external building fabric and structure.

The scope also includes management of the audio visual and public address (PA) systems, general cleaning of the buildings, swimming pool maintenance, pest control and landscaping.

"It is an interesting cultural evolution to now welcome female supervisors and technicians to the CBFM team, and we believe this will set a precedent within the FM industry," remarked Ian Harfield, the chief executive of Cofely Besix Facility Management.

“In a sector assumed to be exclusively male, it is particularly encouraging to see female candidates from Kenya and the Philippines coming forward to take the roles of MEP supervisor, electrical and mechanical technicians. It’s a great start to a longer term more diverse and dynamic workforce,” added Harfield.

With the addition of West Yas and Al Mamoura schools, the Aldar Academies portfolio currently consists of a total of seven schools located across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, accommodating children aged from three to 18 years.

The Aldar Academies contract is valid for a period of three years, and Cofely Besix FM has assigned a further 42 personnel to the existing team of 85 staff specifically assigned to the project.-TradeArabia News Service