Stepping Beyond BoundariesA ‘Quality-first’ Mindset

evolve to create more refined and polished solutions. Although they may not be currently suitable for the scale and style of projects we have in the UAE, it is encouraging to witness increased experimentation and exploration of these technologies within our industry.”

“I also think that sometimes, the industry has lost sight of good old-fashioned values like ‘design to budget’: if you have a cost-led design, you will have a very successful project. If you’ve done it right from the outset, you avoid the need for cut backs and Value Engineer, which potentially risks losing some of the most interesting and characterful parts of the build. These basic processes are very important, and at Omnium we take pride in ensuring they remain at the forefront of our consulting process.”

We hear a good deal about the growing role of technology, particularly when it comes to AI and the so-called Digital Dashboards. How important are these tools to Omnium in terms of day-today project management - and also for your client liaison?

“As a company, we are constantly looking at ways to evolve and we adopt a dual approach, by focusing on our established proven strengths, while embracing new innovations and cutting-edge technologies.”

“We have a designated ‘Innovation Champion’, a role that has been entrusted to a rising star in our ranks, Alex McEvoy, and an internal process that requires collective collaboration across the entire organization to foster the advancement of our endeavours and maintain our position at the forefront of technology.”

“While we utilize a Digital Dashboard within our client interface, the key lies in distilling the intricacies of our projects into a simplified and easily comprehensible format. Over time, the formatting may have evolved, but our commitment to delivering reports that offer a coherent narrative remains steadfast, with the initial pages designed to be easily digestible for our clients. Undeniably behind this methodology is all the firepower and hard-earned expertise of the Omnium team.”

“Another aspect of innovation is the use of BIM and the efficiencies it can provide to the Cost Consultant. However, it is worth noting that, in my perspective, the adoption and implementation of BIM has not progressed to the extent that was anticipated 15 years ago. There are still numerous situations where the technology-led approach doesn’t deliver all that it should, and then there is still a heavy reliance on two-dimensional drawings. The BIM technology clearly has the capabilities to do what is required, however, if the model is not prepared to the correct level of detail, then we see a loss in efficiency of extracting the information and have no alternative but to revert to the old-school methods. I still believe that the use of BIM technology is improving, especially on projects with sophisticated clients that demand the highest standard of delivery, thus allowing us to set the standards we require from the model.”

What about ‘the war for talent’?

“We have a very good staff retention rate, this achievement stems from our ongoing commitment to fight the war for talent internally - we’re acutely aware that it’s not enough to just do the basics. Gone are the days when individuals were content with just having a job; nowadays, people seek much more. We make a great deal of efforts towards our employee’s career growth and professional development. We have introduced an integrated system which provides our staff who have committed to the APC journey to gain their RICS Chartership, in terms of support, mentoring, training, guidance and expertise which is fully aligned with the RICS requirements. We recognize the evolving expectations of our workforce and continuously strive to meet and exceed them, creating an environment where our employees feel valued, engaged, and fulfilled.

“There’s also a more proactive aspect to all this. There is a strong focus on Wellbeing throughout our organization.

“At Omnium, we are proud to embrace the reality of a diverse workforce, we have over 25 nationalities spanning across four generations. To address the challenge of retention, we adopt a multifaceted approach and have in place a fully comprehensive staff development program called the Omnium Future Programme which was established to give our people a chance to move up the ladder, developing their skills and training them in a very comprehensive way. We engage with universities enabling our people to obtain professional qualifications as well as soft skills development of the highest calibre. Recognizing that technical expertise alone does not guarantee success, we expose our people to various parts of the delivery process, giving them solid on-the-job experience and a more holistic understanding of the job as a whole, equipping them with a well-rounded skill set.”

“At the heart of our operations, we’ve got our core values that serve as the guiding principles for our organization: Revolutionise; Improve Lives; Employment Without Barriers; Sustainability; Industry Leadership.”

“These values not only underpin our beliefs, but define our tangible achievements. For example, our commitment to ‘Employment Without Barriers’, is exemplified by the fact that 33% of our workforce are female, in an industry where female representation traditionally remains below 10%!”

Within the realm of ‘Sustainability’, our view is that we only have one planet, and it is imperative that we look after it. While the construction industry has contributed significantly to global warming, here at Omnium we want to do more, helping companies reduce their carbon footprint and, where feasible, offsetting it entirely. Our employees see first-hand that these values are ingrained in our core business culture, and that we don’t simply expect them to come into the office and do the basics of the job, 9 to 5, day in, day out.”

“In recent years, there has been a significant emphasis placed on fostering inclusivity within the workplace, the modern workforce will no longer tolerate barriers that hinder inclusivity, and rightly so! At Omnium, we actively engage in discussions surrounding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I). While we take pride in our progress to date in this area, we are constantly learning. Our aim is to attract individuals from all walks of life, including those who have faced disadvantages, and provide them with the necessary training and opportunities for upward mobility. We also strive to create an inclusive environment for people of determination. By embracing a wide range of perspectives and talents, we believe we can unlock the full potential of our workforce and provide a truly inclusive workplace.”

How does Omnium plan its growth and market expansion?

“Rather than pursuing rapid expansion and compromising our reputation, we adopt a structured growth approach. However, this approach does still present its challenges, especially in the Saudi market where the demand for services keeps increasing if they hold you in high regard. Nevertheless, our focus extends beyond financial gains, we are committed to executing projects with utmost diligence and to the best of our abilities. While we certainly appreciate and enjoy the magnitude of giga projects, we maintain a selective approach, ensuring that we undertake them responsibly instead of undertaking 50 of them!”

“A significant amount of our business is repeat work driven by our strong reputation in the region. If I’m being honest, in many instances, clients seem to discover us, rather than us actively seeking them out. I believe our exceptional track record serves as a testament to the quality and reliability of our services - our work on the Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, the Dubai Mall, and so on, was part of that ‘golden era’ of growth nearly two decades ago. We are fully aware of the importance of maintaining a strong reputation and delivering high quality of performance. We understand that our success cannot be solely attributed to the sheer scale of the projects within our portfolio and that personal recommendations are crucial for us; very often there will be people that we worked with us on a project, who move onto another project, and they take us with them. Even in the context of the gigaprojects, our business continues to expand based on our commitment to providing a proven, comprehensive service, where good relationships are everything.”

“An integral element of our growth strategy involves recruitment. Our projected growth indicates a significant increase in size over the next two years. However, we recognize the importance of recruiting individuals who not only possess the necessary expertise but who also align with our core values – they must fit within our DNA. Our aim is to increase incrementally each year, all while preserving the integrity and quality of our service delivery. Construction is an inherently challenging industry, particularly when dealing with giga projects and encountering common delays. It is imperative that we have a team of exceptional individuals who can uphold our reputation and deliver the value required to successfully execute these projects.”

“Although we have a strong market reputation, I refrain from overstating our scale and influence. Our client base predominantly consists of private sector developers, and whilst we do undertake projects within the public sector, this is an area we are looking to expand further into. In addition, we aspire to expand and tap into new markets such as data centres, railways, casinos etc. Since being selected as the Commercial Management firm for many of the region's 'first-of-a-kind' developments, including the Burj Khalifa, One Za'abeel, and the UAE, Mobility and Sustainability pavilions at Expo, Omnium has consistently led the way as pioneers in the QS industry within this region for unique and groundbreaking projects. There is no limit to our ambitions, we continue to seek out new ways in which we can extend our reach and the establishment and growth of our Project Management and Dispute Resolution division is testament to that. Our sights are currently set on an extraordinary and rather audacious goal to become one of the first Commercial and Project Managers to contribute to projects on Mars!”

How do you see the market future here in the GCC?

“As for the future, the UAE is transitioning into a more mature market, focusing on completing and enhancing existing assets, looking at how they will turn these into profitable models. Also, there’s an emphasis now on reviving previously delayed projects that have been stationary for a while; we are seeing on a regular basis, numerous postponed projects around the UAE kicking off again.”

“When it comes to Saudi Arabia, while there is undoubtedly a ‘next generation’ of projects, the giga projects are taking centre stage The next generation is so far away, simply because the scale and aspirations of what is currently on the books has a level of ambition we’ve never seen before. However, I am pleased to say that here at Omnium, we’ve established ourselves as the ‘go to’ for iconic, landmark developments. We set the benchmark for handling complex QS work here in the region, and we take immense pride in being an integral part of numerous ‘touchstone’ projects that serve as a gateway to a very different kind of built future.” n arriving at JLL’s new workspace, it appears to be a very open-plan working environment. What’s the rationale behind this approach? Does it represent a deep-seated philosophy about work and employee activities?

“It is indeed open plan”, says Yullianna, “but I don’t like to call it that because it’s not as open as you might feel when you first see it. There are so many space typologies here - the design enables people to find an environment suitable for them as individuals. It empowers them to be their best workplace selves.

PEOPLE FOCUSED

“Everything here is created according to what our people and teams need. We applied ‘activity-based working principles’ and went to great lengths to map that environment into a physical model. We began the process by analysing a large amount of data on how our people prefer to work. This allowed us to design a space that caters for multiple needs and activities in the working day in the life of a JLL employee.

“The variety of space typologies within the workplace provides a huge array of meeting rooms and quiet spaces where people can ‘retreat’ and re-group as and when needed. We understand how people utilise the space during the day; we also appreciate the hybrid working model that each person prefers, and this new environment encourages that flexibility.”

Making a powerful statement about the future of work and an ongoing commitment to sustainability, Fortune 500 market leader JLL has recently relocated its regional office to ICD Brookfield Place –the GCC’s only LEED Platinum-certified office tower. How does this move translate to the actual working environment, the impact on employee experience, wellness and productivity? Middle East Consultant spoke to JLL’s business leaders about their new workplace - Elaine O’Connor, Head of Project Management UAE & Head of Fit Out MEA, and Yullianna Porter, Head of Workplace Design MEA

Elaine continues, “Our new office has many appealing features. It is a beautiful space that our employees can be proud of. The environment contributes to their well-being; there are ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable desks throughout. It also promotes ease of connectivity; the moment you reach your desk, you can plug your laptop without needing a charger, and there are numerous creative spaces to promote productivity and facilitate open team dialogue.”

“Although a major investment, we are seeing, day by day, the positive impact it is having on our people - how teams collaborate and the way we liaise and interact with our clients and teammates.”

Yullianna adds, “Our employees love to come to the office as there are a range of amenities at their doorstep. This environment allows them to access every lifestyle need, from excellent F&B to gyms, retail and transport systems.”

The Sustainability Dimension

“Sustainability”, says Elaine, “is big on everybody’s agenda. As a real estate market leader, we are paving the way. Having our office in a sustainable building was a key consideration as to why we selected ICD Brookfield. JLL has an ambitious sustainability program committing to achieve net zero carbon emissions across all JLL-occupied buildings by 2030. We also advocate a net zero approach for all our clients and suppliers.

“Our office is targeting LEED and WELL Platinum certification. As JLL, we are committed to measuring, assessing and publicly disclosing the energy and carbon emissions performance of our portfolio via our annual JLL Global Sustainability Report.

Our Dubai office is no different. Everything in this office is complies with the sustainability certifications. For example, we have installed occupancy monitoring sensors, IAQ air quality sensors and sustainability sourced materials to achieve these certifications.”

Inclusiveness

Yullianna Porter describes how the new workspace also caters for inclusivity, “The office is a step-free environment which allows wheelchair access throughout. The design does its best to cater for all users, and we have delivered our workplace per our DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Standards for the Built Environment. The use of colour and texture were also used intentionally to ensure visible contrast for those who may be visually impaired.”

What about Gen Z and what they’re looking for in an employer? Elaine O’Connor believes that: “It’s widely recognized that Gen Z are motivated by companies who take sustainability seriously and are socially responsible - in fact, they demand it! A workspace of this kind not only enables us to attract the most diverse talent across each age group and demographic, but it also allows people to grow and flourish.”

“If you look around, you’ll also notice that elements of the office pay homage to the local landscape and culture. We have a beautiful majlis where we host informal client meetings. All our artwork has been sourced through local artists.”

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

“I love to bring clients here to showcase the future of work,” says Yullianna.

“Although each client has different needs, expectations, budgets and timelines, we invite them here to get a first-hand experience of what today’s workplace looks and feels like. So not only are we advising our clients on their workplace strategy and design, but we demonstrate it.”

Elaine concludes, “The Middle East is a very important market for us, and it is inspiring for our team to have been part of its growth and development. Our new office demonstrates our continued commitment to the region and in shaping the future of work for a better world.”