The client is a leading Australian property group who manage a $2.9 billion retail portfolio. By providing end-to-end property services, they create enjoyable environments for the 100 million shoppers that walk through their doors every year. Investing in high quality Australian neighbourhood and sub regional shopping centres, the Australian portfolio is geographically diverse.

The company benefits from exposure to key markets along the eastern seaboard and across a number of high growth regions in Western Australia and Queensland. First 5 Minutes provides Emergency Response Training and associated services to the national Retail portfolio, consisting of 65 centres in ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA.

The Challenge

The management team was concerned with their national compliance across the country due to having limited insight of the portfolio’s status.

Many of the retail centres were unmanned by client’s staff directly and managed by a regional Hub Management team. The incumbent provider was based in NSW so there were significant travel costs incurred and a portfolio wide cycle of training took some months to complete.

The client needed a better solution to capture the current compliance status of each site within the portfolio. They required help developing Emergency Management Manuals, Evacuation Diagrams and the scheduling of their national compliance training needed to be expediated. Maintaining cost efficiencies was also an essential factor.

The Solution

First 5 Minutes developed a model in consultation with the client to meet all their objectives, quickly and effectively.

We delivered a detailed Gap Analysis, providing the client with recommendations and insights on how to maximise fire safety for all occupants. After completing a series of site visits to the various retail outlets, the required information was collected to develop and install compliant Evacuation Diagrams and Emergency Management Manuals. With offices in every mainland state in Australia, First 5 Minutes’ national footprint was of benefit, as services were delivered without the burden of large travel costs and long delays.

This allowed us to quickly close any gaps that the client had with regards to compliance with AS 3745:2010 without a significant up front financial expense. Through this program, First 5 Minutes lifted compliance across this portfolio to 100% nationally.

The client now has a very clear and detailed overview of their portfolio via the First 5 Minutes Webconnect online management and reporting portal. With 24/7 access, they can access accurate compliance information for reporting purposes in addition to all site-specific compliance documents such as Emergency Management Manuals and Evacuation Diagrams.