Facilities Management - Expat Network

expat network

Mace wins FM contract in Qatar

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar has entered into a contract with international Facilities Management company, Macro, for five years, to provide Facilities Management services for independent schools. Macro will act as the managing agent for facilities services, supporting the Ministry in creating and maintaining an environment that is safe and secure...

Mace wins international FM bank contract

Macro has won a global Integrated Facilities Management (IFM), Workplace Services and Project Management contract with Standard Chartered Bank, managing a 4.2 million sq ft portfolio across four continents. The five year, multi-million pound contract, will now see Macro operating in South America and Pakistan while expanding in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Project...

Mace subsidiary wins Doha FM contract

Mace subsidiary Macro has won the facilities management contract for the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre in Qatar. The contract with Venue Pro Management is for managed services and computer aided facilities management. The three-year contract covers a total gross area of 47,700m2 and includes five exhibition halls of approximately 29,000m2 with 18m-tall ceilings. The...

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.