Judges Profile
Adrian
Crowther
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Adrian is a good all-rounder with a broad based experience in engineering and 30 years RetailFM service provision and design. Particular expertise in refrigeration development and applied building service requirements, plus a recognised capability with CAFM systems (Verisae/Concept).
He is a regular participant in RAC seminars and other industry related reviews.
Specialises in Refrigerant Management and systemic controls, but has ability in more widespread disciplines including building structures and fabric problem areas. Additional enhance skill in Material Handling to include VT equipment.
Has a lead role within the Co-Op FM Engineering Energy Asset and Assurance Team to assist in developing best practice and specification adherence in a new, highly motivated and dynamic structure. He is heavily involved in the decision process for alternative technologies and is pioneering the use of Natural solutions in conjunction with the supply chain.
Prior to joining the The CoOp, Adrian has worked extensively in engineering and project roles and even for a short time in a Special Needs School, programming computers for less-able children.
He was a Junior Observer and Vibrator Driver for a while (honest, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EVilzqcggk) for a company known as Rees Geophysical, who were licensed to complete Surveys in the Gas and Oil industries.
A spell with Brook Crompton Parkinson Electric Motors during sandwich placement periods was a useful and interesting time in a production engineering environment; he designed the only DWM200 slip ring machine for a Crane system during that time with them.
After obtaining an HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the then Middlesex Polytechnic, he joined SEM Ltd in 1985 as an Electrical Engineer specialising in Motor Systems on DC Machines and closed loop feedback controls (X-Ray positioning equipment, Machine Tool drives, etc).
Then followed a short period in 1987 with a Local Authority as the Centre Engineer in a leisure facility (before the days of everyone working out at 6am), where he had full responsibility for the building services, upgrade projects including new Lifts and completing the PPM schedules.
In 1988, Adrian joined ASDA Stores Ltd as a Design Engineer and progressed to Projects Engineer with budget accountability circa £25M for refrigeration and M&E installations.
He was elected a member of Institute of Refrigeration in 1993 and remained with ASDA until 1996, where he was head hunted for Safeway Stores Ltd in the Property Maintenance Division based in Warrington. With the advent of Morrisions “merging” he chose to move on after some 8 years.
At that point in 2004, Alfred McAlpine PLC was recruiting for what later became RFM’s, but the stipulation was for an engineering background to take on FM for Sainsburys Supermarkets Ltd.
During his 10 years working with Sainsbury’s a number of initiatives and alternative technologies were experienced culminating in the roll-out of R744 based refrigeration systems.
Adrian remained as an RFM on the Sainsburys FM Contract until he moved into the Technical Services team in 2010, initially as “God of Gas” when the requirements for FGas reporting became more stringent and the need for management of the HCFC Gas Bank.
Then once those processes had been established, he was asked to take on M&E to support the Contractors, Contract Managers and the Field Team with any technical queries they posed to help improve uptime and performance of the assets in stores.
As part of the support within the Sainsburys business, he also completed a great many FM Assessments on behalf of RetailFM to ensure that any FM related cost base was identified for Property Division investment on Refits and Extensions.
There was a shortfall in Materials Handling support (Vertical Transport, Shutters, Gates and Pallet Trucks) and he diversified the role to fulfil that requirement and sit on the Centre of Engineering Installation Contractors reviews, to ensure the standards and selection of equipment were Fit for Purpose. It was an opportunity to pass on the FM related issues experienced due to selection or overall installation standards.