Phil Franks: Reflecting On A Successful 2019

As 2019 draws to a close, our Technical Director, Phil Franks, reflects on the year and provides an insight into what 2020 holds for Franks Portlock and the industry.

How would you summarise 2019? 

I would summarise 2019 as a truly exciting time of growth and development for Franks Portlock. We have been operating for more than a decade and overall 2019 will see record turnover for us, this is encouraging in such a competitive market.

Throughout the year we have further strengthened our team with new appointments spanning a range of levels and geographical locations. This includes the creation of two new roles for key appointments: Sean Green who has more than 29 years’ industry experience has joined us as Head Of Operations for Water Hygiene to establish and lead the delivery of our new water hygiene services; and Richard Haigh has recently been employed as Operations Manager in which he will oversee asbestos management and consultancy operations nationwide to ensure we are serving our new and existing clients to the highest standards.

In addition, we have worked on a breadth of new projects including the Brent Bravo and have been appointed to new frameworks such as Scotland Excel. I am confident all these factors have contributed to a successful year.

What’s been your biggest business highlight this year? 

A core milestone for us has been achieving our Legionella Control Association certification, a necessity in the water hygiene sector. This allows us to access this diverse, challenging and rewarding area of environmental consultancy, something I’ve been looking to move into for quite some time.

Is there a business lesson you’ve learnt in 2019? 

2019 has been a fantastic year of growth for Franks Portlock and one of the reasons for this has been our approach to business opportunities and prospects. This year, we have continually sought out new opportunities and we have not been afraid to step outside our bubble to challenge our own status quo. To sit still is to move backwards, as the cliché goes! This is an approach and lesson I will be driving forward into 2020 and the years to come.

What changes have you witnessed within the industry in 2019?

Throughout 2019, we have seen an increase in clients requesting complete ‘wrap-around’ asbestos consultancy services, to enable them to focus on their own workloads. In line with the growing demands, we now offer our clients bespoke asbestos management and consultancy packages inclusive of management, inspections, testing and reporting.

What industry changes or advancements do you anticipate for 2020?

For asbestos consultancy, we anticipate updates to the HSG248 and subsequently further tightening and improvement of general industry standards.

Within the water hygiene industry, a major overhaul of the industry guidance in 2013 means there aren’t too many changes on the horizon, however, there is a tendency to move towards remote sensing and monitoring as part of a management plan. However, such devices complement the current management systems rather than replace the need for suitably qualified staff.

Looking ahead, what will 2020 bring for Franks Portlock? 

I am confident that 2020 will be an exciting time for Franks Portlock as we continue to improve and enhance our asbestos consultancy offering and we make in-roads into the water hygiene sector. To support this growth and to further strengthen our national presence, we also hope to open more remote offices to better serve clients at a local level.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our team for their continued hard work and dedication and to our customers for their loyalty and the opportunities they provide us – we look forward to working with you in the new year.

For more information on our services and how we can help your business in 2020 and beyond, please contact us.