New Waking Watch Replacement Fund 2023

The UK government has introduced a new fund worth £18.6 million to cover the expenses of installing alarm systems in residential buildings as a replacement for Waking Watch measures. The fund applies to all residential buildings in England that currently have a Waking Watch in place, regardless of who bears the costs of the waking […]

NOTB 5-aside Football tournament

News on the Block organised a memorable event for us all! Although we were unable to secure victory in the semi-finals, our team displayed unwavering determination and played like true champions. The day was filled with excitement and fierce competition as various teams showcased their skills on the field. Future Group fought valiantly, displaying unwavering […]

Future Group Finalists For Arma Ace Awards 2023

The Arma Ace Awards, renowned for honouring excellence and innovation in the property management industry, bring together leading organisations and professionals who have demonstrated exemplary performance in various aspects of the field.  Our nomination for the Environmental & Sustainability Impact Award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility and its remarkable efforts […]

Darren Rogers Celebrates 4 Years at Future Group

Today marks a special occasion for our Future Group employee Darren Rogers, who is celebrating his 4-year anniversary with us. Darren joined Future Group in 2019 and has since become an integral member of the team, making valuable contributions to the company’s success. Darren’s hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed. He has consistently […]

Future Security have been off to a Strong Start in 2023

Future Security have been off to a Strong Start in 2023 Our security division has been making significant progress in the first quarter of 2023, setting the tone for the rest of the year.  They have accomplished several notable tasks, including replacing numerous intercom systems of various sizes ready for Q2.  In addition, Future Security […]

The Big Club Future Bake Off

  Club Future, recently hosted a successful Bake Off event that was attended by some of our wonderful clients. The event was a huge success, and Club Future would like to extend their thanks to everyone who put their baking hats on and made the event so much fun. The Bake off featured some of […]

Regeneration’s Q1

The future looks bright for our regeneration division as we announce new deals and tenders for the upcoming year. We have recently signed a deal with a bank, and a case study is expected to follow so keep your eyes peeled. In addition, they have sent out multiple tenders, indicating a potentially busy year ahead. […]

Future Fire’s Q1

Fire safety has been a top priority for many leaseholders in the UK, and it seems that 2023 is off to a busy start for Future Fire.  In light of new Fire Safety Regulations, we have been hard at work ensuring that their clients are fully compliant. One notable accomplishment was the completion of their […]

Future Fuel’s Q1

In Q1 of 2023, our EV division has made great strides in advancing our electric vehicle infrastructure projects.  We are excited to share that we have been awarded four projects, which have over 100 active bays. This is a significant accomplishment for us and shows our dedication to achieving net zero status.  We are also […]

Future Group Bake-Off Is Fast Approaching

Future Group is thrilled to announce our upcoming client bake-off, an event that is sure to delight taste buds and showcase our team’s creativity and skills. The anticipation is already building as we’ve received an overwhelming response to our invitation to attend. As an added bonus, we will be holding a ballot to announce which […]

Saving Energy This Spring

Dare we say that spring is in the air? The daffodils have made a tentative entrance so it’s safe to say we’re getting there. As we turn the clocks forward and make the most of longer, brighter days, the savvy among us will also know that this time of year also brings the opportunity to save […]

The Doyenne Event Celebrating International Women’s Day

Future Group, had a blast attending the Doyenne yesterday celebrating International Women’s Day and sponsoring the Property Manager of the Year Award – Congratulations Elizabeth Higgs The event was a huge success, with industry professionals from all over gathering to celebrate excellence in property management and of course International Women’s Day. As a proud sponsor […]

New Future Bottles Land at HQ

Future Group has just received a shipment of new water bottles at their HQ. These water bottles are intended for use as giveaways to clients and customers, in an effort to give back and say thank you. The new water bottles are of high quality, with a durable design and a capacity of 20 ounces. […]

BigChange success stories

Future Group Drives Productivity Gains with BigChange Job Management Award winning electrical services company Future Group, has boosted productivity and is seeing an 80 percent increase in efficiency following the roll out of a job management system from BigChange. The Essex-based company, which provides Lighting and Electrical, EV charging, Fire and Life Safety, Refurbishment, and […]

PMA Award Winners

We are thrilled to announce that we are the winners of the Net Zero Impact Award at the 2022 Property Management Awards. Having been nominated a few years in a row, coming away with an award has been an accomplishment to everyone not only at Future Fuel but Future Group as a whole. “This incredible accolade simply […]

Wayfinding Signage (The Fire Safety Regulations)

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report noted that in the building, stairwell landings were not clearly marked with the relevant floor number and so fire-fighters were unable to easily identify floors when carrying out their duties. The Inquiry recommended that in all high-rise buildings “floor numbers be clearly marked on each landing within the […]

Lifts & Firefighting Equipment (The Fire Safety Regulations 2022)

When the firefighters attended the fire at Grenfell Tower, they were unable to operate the mechanism that should have allowed them to take control of the lifts. The Inquiry recommended that the owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to carry out regular inspections of any lifts that are designed […]

Floor Plans & Building Plans (The Fire Safety Regulations 2022)

The Inquiry following Grenfell recommended that the owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to provide the fire and rescue service with up-to-date plans of every floor of the building, identifying the location of key fire safety systems. There are two types of plans; Floor Plans, and Building Plans / […]

Design & Materials of External Walls (The Fire Regulations 2022)

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry noted in the Phase 1 that “A sound understanding of the materials used in the construction of any high-rise building is essential if the fire and rescue service is to be properly prepared to carry out its function in relation to that building. The details about the design and materials of […]

Secure Information Boxes (The Fire Safety Regulations 2022)

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report highlighted that the lack of on-site information available to London Fire Brigade on the night could have further hampered their response had the layout of the building been more complex. The Inquiry recommended that the owner and manager of all high-rise residential buildings be required by law to […]

Fire Door Checks (The Fire Safety Regulations 2022)

Following on from last week’s update, the minimum requirement is for the responsible person to undertake an inspection of the doors to identify any obvious damage or issues. It should not be necessary to engage a specialist for these checks as the responsible person should be able to carry out these checks themselves. However Future […]

Information to Residents: Fire Doors (The Fire Safety Regulations 2022)

New regulations will make it a requirement for all responsible persons of all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 meters in height to: undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors (including self-closing devices) in the common parts undertake – on a best endeavour basis – annual checks of all flat entrance doors (including […]

Information to Residents: Fire Safety Instructions (The Fire Safety Regulations 2022) 

From the 23rd January 2023, the new regulations will make it a requirement for all responsible persons of all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with two or more sets of domestic premises (and which have common parts), to provide residents with fire safety instructions. Responsible persons will need to provide residents with instructions on: how […]

Fire Risk Assessment Prioritisation Tool (The Fire Safety Regulations 2022)

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022  The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (the Regulations) have been introduced as an important step towards implementing the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report. The Regulations are being introduced under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order and will come into force on 23 January 2023.  Most of the requirements set […]

Has the Energy Crisis Left you Feeling Anxious?

Energy-Saving Techniques from Future Group. Energy Crisis: A phrase we have been hearing repeatedly for the past few months. If you’re feeling anxious, Future Group hopes to help with some practical energy-saving techniques for individuals and Block Managers. With energy bills skyrocketing, many of us are feeling apprehensive about Autumn-Winter 2022. As we’re entering the […]

REMINDER: Fluorescent Lamps to be Removed from Shelves in 2023

It’s always a good time to upgrade your block’s out of date lighting, but NOW is definitely the time to upgrade any fluorescent light fixtures. Following Stage 2 of the Single Lighting Regulation and the updated Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive, from February 2023 fluorescent lamps and fittings will no longer be available to […]

EV FUNDING NEWS: THE DIGITAL SERVICE

Due to the current national mourning, the government have updated the release dates for the digital service. Future Fuel are ready for any questions you may surrounding this… All new digital services will now be launched on the 27th of September 2022, including the EV infrastructure grants for both residential properties and staff and fleets […]

Future Fuel Project Update: Wycombe Square

Over 90% complete, 10 days ahead of schedule. Future Fuel is very pleased to share that their installations are progressing ahead of schedule at their latest multiple-point EVC solution project located in Kensington, London. Future Fuel had already successfully secured a total of £29,500 on behalf of our client for this project and it is […]

Update: New EV Charging Regulations

The uptake of EV Charging in residential blocks is increasing exponentially, affecting block’s electricity distribution and Future Fuel is ready for what comes next. The first six months for Future Fuel have been bright: funding went live in April allowing 2 OZEV-funded projects to be won within seven days, winning Partner of the Year at […]

Partner of the Year: A Huge Win for Future Group

We are beyond excited to announce that we’ve been awarded ‘Partner of the Year’ by the ARMA Ace Awards at a fun-filled ceremony on the 17th of June 2022. Having won Industry Supplier of the Year in 2017, the Customer Service Award in 2018 and an Unsung Hero Award in 2019, this is now our […]

Time to re-think block lighting?

Huge hikes in energy prices mean it’s now critical to review lighting efficiency in the blocks you manage, says Jordan Begg When did you last check the efficiency of your block lighting? Energy prices are only going one way so it’s crucial to ensure that residents aren’t paying more than they need to for lighting. […]

How to get the best value from your maintenance contracts…

Does your block have a planned preventative maintenance plan? If not, why not? asks Jamie Willsdon. It could help you budget better and keep angry residents at bay! Post-pandemic it is clear that for many of us money could be tight. Leaseholders are no exception and they will be looking to their property managers to […]

Electric vehicle charging: how do we split the bill?

The EV revolution is unstoppable Some older charge points are already becoming obsolete. Jamie Willsdon from Future Fuel has the solution. In the new build sector developers of residential blocks, particularly in the build-to-rent market, have been installing electric vehicle (EV) charge points as standard for several years. Early solutions specified and installed by developers […]

Future’s NEW online calculator takes the Pain out of PPMs

The last few months have been really hard for businesses around the country and at Future Group we are no exception. It’s been tough – and with further restrictions ahead this winter is going to be hard for all of us. We couldn’t have got through the last few months without the clients who have […]

New Fire Safety Law

London Fire Brigade calls on housing providers to get ready for new fire safety law. All major housing providers in the capital urged to get plans in place. This legislation, the Fire Safety Bill, clarifies that external walls fall under the fire safety regulations that the Brigade enforces in London under the Regulatory Reform (Fire […]

Property Management 50

The results are in for this year’s Property Management 50! The PM50 awards were created in 2019 to provide a platform for recognition and celebration in what can be a largely thankless industry. The hope is that the awards will help to acknowledge the incredible dedication that has been shown in the face of the […]

£6k initiative to get drivers to switch to electric cars

UK drivers could get up to £6k via a taxpayer-funded scheme to switch to electric vehicles. A new initiative is being considered by the British Government which could offer drivers up to £6k to swap their traditional petrol engine car to new cleaner electric vehicles. This is a new idea to help relaunch the economy […]

LANDLORDS BEWARE

After years of campaigning to improve electrical safety standards in the private rented sector (PRS) draft regulations have now been laid before Parliament to ensure all PRS properties meet minimum Electrical Safety Standards. Subject to the due parliamentary process, these regulations are to come into force for new tenancies from 1st July 2020, and for […]

Lights Out: A tale of light versus dark

Imagine living with any form of artificial lighting. Think of how black the night sky would have been and how difficult to do anything after sunset. Roads would have been treacherous, not just from potholes, ditches and mud but also sewage, dead animals and those lying in wait for unsuspecting travellers. In the twenty-first century, […]

LED Warranties: Why pay more?

Property managers should check the small print when commissioning LEDs, says Future Lighting Managing Director Jamie Willsdon. Some warranties are not all they seem… Where LED lighting is concerned, all warranties are not created equal. There are as many different guarantees on the market as there are manufacturers out there. With bold claims being made […]

All that glitters…

What’s the problem with block lighting? Jamie Willsdon takes a closer look. Picture the scene – a new development is ready for sale and one of the first prospective buyers turns up in the evening to view. It’s an impressive sight; everything is brand new and the areas around the common walkways and drive glitter […]

FutureProofing

FutureProofing Costs, Energy & Lighting Block managers have their work cut out. Residential lighting is vital to the safety and wellbeing of everyone using any building. The problems associated with meeting these expectations are: cost-savings, efficiency and repairs. These can be an ongoing headache when aiming to provide lighting on demand day in, day out… […]