FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Natalie Cross has been appointed as talent lead at the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) to drive key hires as the business announces plans to expand in its 65th anniversary year.
Since BCIS became independent from RICS in 2022 it has more than doubled in size and intends to scale further, with accelerated product development and enhanced insights in the pipeline.
Cross joins the business with 15 years of experience and a background in leading recruitment teams at a major consultancy, together with managing recruitment across Europe. She will bring her expertise in delivering inclusive, insight-led talent strategies that attract exceptional people and align talent, culture and business performance.
Cross will partner with HR and the senior leadership team to build on the reputation of BCIS as an employer of choice and deliver an excellent candidate experience as the business grows.
Commenting on her new appointment, Cross said: “BCIS felt like the best of both worlds – a trusted, well-regarded name with the energy and opportunities of a start-up. I could see the chance to make a real mark and everyone I spoke to was genuinely passionate about giving the best possible experience to subscribers. That drive made it the perfect project to join.
“I am looking forward to working with such a lovely team. BCIS celebrates its 65th anniversary in 2026 and there’s a strong sense of both the team’s long history of providing data-led insights to the built environment, but also excitement at what else is possible in the future.”
BCIS plans to expand its data team including quantity surveyors, estimators and economists, the engineering team including data and software engineers and the commercial and sales teams, including account managers and executives.
These new hires will strengthen the service offering, data capabilities and build on its customer growth as BCIS expands its market reach whilst remaining the leading, trusted provider of cost and carbon data to the built environment and insurance sectors.
BCIS CEO, Richard Linstead said: “As we look ahead to a year of significant transformation, investing in talent is one of the most important things we can do.
“We’re expanding the team to bring in the skills and perspectives needed for our shift toward a more technology-driven business.
“That means creating an environment where more great people want to work, where they feel supported to do their best and where they can contribute to building something meaningful for the sector. I am delighted to welcome Natalie to the team to help us achieve this.
“Our aim is to continue modernising BCIS while holding on to the values that have made us a trusted industry partner for 65 years.”
According to the 2026 UK Facilities Management Market Research Report by askporter, facilities management professionals want clear, verifiable evidence of work being delivered, with teams that can communicate progress in real time. This requires technology that is affordable, intuitive, and quick to adopt.
Yet the report found that:
Over three quarters of FM professionals (76 per cent) experience operational inefficiencies caused by siloed software which results in a lack of real-time visibility.
Communications challenges lead to maintenance issues, with 73 per cent of teams being forced into reactive problem-solving on a weekly basis.
A worrying level of compliance gaps, with 44 per cent of admitting that half or less of their compliance tasks are tracked and automated within their systems.
Closing this gap requires the establishment of transparent and consistent communications using affordable software that gives FM teams the ability to track, evidence and improve their services.
This webinar provides a valuable overview of the main findings of the report by askporter followed by a panel discussion by FM thought leaders on practical, strategic solutions that can help close this communications gap.
To register for the webinar taking place 29 January 2026 at 11:00am click here.
