Litmus FM and AUDE brought together FM leaders from across Higher Education on Wednesday 26 November for a high-impact webinar on value testing and benchmarking in hard and soft FM.

Led by two of our senior Litmus FM experts - Kate Davis, Consultant Director, and Dee Cooper, Head of Consultancy - the session focused on how universities can move beyond cost-cutting to make smarter, evidence-led decisions about performance, quality and value.

With over 100 registrations and 60 attendees, the appetite for practical insight was clear. We’ve pulled together the highlights from the session below:

Why it matters

Kate and Dee unpacked the difference between value testing and benchmarking - and why both matter. Together,they help universities to: 

• See clearly what they are paying for
• Compare performance with confidence
• Strengthen governance and accountability
• Pinpoint where change will make the biggest impact
• Identify and minimise risk
• Create a data-driven narrative that senior leadership can trust and act upon

Technology also featured strongly, with discussion on how better data and digital tools are enabling more efficient, forward-looking FM strategies.

The reality for universities

Universities are having to navigate complex landscapes right now. Well documented external pressures around sustainability, net zero commitments, regulatory compliance and competitive positioning coupled with internal challenges around financial constraints, aging infrastructures and estates, along with evolving student’s needs.

The webinar tackled common sector challenges head-on:

• Rising Costs
• Inconsistent service delivery
• Unclear specifications and contracts
• Competing priorities
• Statutory compliance
• Internal restrictions and governance
• Poor contract management and the impact it has

Without robust evaluation, institutions risk inefficiencies, compliance gaps, and missed opportunities for innovation. Benchmarking and value testing provide the evidence needed to prioritise investments, mitigate risks, and align FM strategies with institutional goals.

A structured, proven approach
‍Delegates were introduced to Litmus FM’s practical methodology:

• Map services
• Gather meaningful data
• Compare against peers
• Identify gaps
• Deliver clear recommendations

Targeted reviews can also be done quickly and robust conclusions can be met in as little as 12 weeks with the right expertise.

Dee Cooper summarised the session: “There were three key takeaways from the session. Firstly, value isn’t just about cost - quality and compliance really matter too. Secondly, it’s important to keep in mind that benchmarking not only shows you where you are, but where you need to go next. Taking action on the benchmarking findings is where you will see the real results. And finally, independent insight is what turns information into better decisions and better outcomes. All three are key parts of the wider, overall picture”

Kate Davis added: “We saw some interesting questions on the day, ranging from contract management and insourcing decisions to the growing role of IoT and AI in forecasting and maintenance. The strength of debate has led to another invitation where we will present to AUDE’s Strategic Facilities Management Group in February on contract management. We’re looking forward to the next one already.”

If you work in Higher Education and would like to book a no-obligation discovery session with Kate or Dee, or explore how a tailored FM value review could benefit your university, get in touch with us here.

The Litmus FM team