Chiefton Management, a Western Australian company, was incorporated more than a decade ago to provide specialist services to building owners that would take care of all aspects of owning and running a building – a service termed ‘facilities management’.
Managing Director Ron Brookes said the company currently carries out facilities management and trade related services for the State Government, local government and national and international companies over a range of buildings with an asset value in excess of A$10 billion (US$6 billion).
“This portfolio comprises hundreds of commercial and public buildings and more than ten thousand single unit buildings,” Mr Brookes said.
“Facilities management makes good sense in today’s economic climate where building asset preservation is a complex issue encompassing occupier needs, maintenance, strategic planning, adherence to statutory requirements and the performance of the asset in financial terms.”
Mr Brookes said as one of the company’s major marketing activities, Chiefton was pursuing business opportunities in Africa.
“Following an assessment of the projects planned in the region, we decided to market our services to a wide range of groups.
“Our proven methods, procedures and systems deliver efficiency and economy; a formula to enhance service delivery in any region of the world.
“Currently, the South African government is implementing their outsourcing initiatives whereby a major part of government delivered services will be contracted to the private sector. We have formed alliances with well-established and sizeable entities, including Austrade, to jointly pursue these and other business opportunities.
“We are extremely pleased to be working with Austrade and envisage major contracts will be signed during 1999.
Mr Brookes said Chiefton had also visited Maputo in Mozambique and established important relationships with key industry players and government entities.
“We are finalising the setting up of offices in South Africa and Mozambique where our local presence will provide the excellent service to which current clients have been accustomed.
Other African countries also offer huge potential for Chiefton and we are planning further trips to tap into this market,” he said.
