The Healthcare Facilities Consortium (HFC) is a specialist, not-for-profit company that provides software, information and management support services to professionals working in facilities, estates and related functions in the UK health sector and - increasingly - other business sectors too.
Established in 1996, HFC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NHS Confederation, the national, independent body that represents the wide range of organisations involved in healthcare for the NHS.
To enjoy HFC's full range of benefits, organisations become 'Members' of the organisation, who in turn play a significant role in shaping and developing the company's range of products, services and activities.
HFC has a small executive staff, with support operations being provided by staff at the Confederation's offices in central London.
The company has a Board of Directors which includes representatives elected by HFC member organisations.
HFC works as an information and services 'hub', providing a link between a range of carefully chosen facilities management (FM) product and service partners and suppliers, on the one hand, and member organisations and their users on the other.
The company also works in close association with a range of other representative and specialist groups involved in the health and FM arena, including HEFMA, AHCP, and IHEEM, and, of course, the NHS Confederation itself.
HFC's fundamental role is to help NHS and similar organisations save money, time and effort in running their FM operations by:
- centrally sourcing suitable software, information services and other management support services
- setting up favourable deals with suppliers
- championing relevant product innovation and development
- communicating and promoting information about FM software, products and services available on the market
- providing guidance and support with selecting and using FM software and products
HFC also aims to help FM professionals in their day-to-day job and maintain their technical and professional knowledge by providing an extensive reference and information database on topical FM issues and a range of training, briefing and networking events.
The HFC is to a large extent like a 'membership club' with services and activities provided for the overall benefit of its member-users.
At the same time, though, the company is managed and run with a balancing 'commercial' culture - operating in a competitive marketplace as it does - and is committed to delivering the highest standards of client service and product development expected of any commercial supplier.
