FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Facility, engineering, transport and infrastructure solutions provider, ABM, has formed a new partnership with creators of the UK’s first LGBTQIA+ affirming retirement community, Tonic Housing.
The collaboration is part of ABM’s continued commitment to building community-rooted initiatives across its ESG programme and is driven by the leadership of ABM’s UK and Ireland internal employee network, the Rainbow Group
Tonic Housing is a registered social landlord dedicated to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive environments for older LGBTQIA+ people. Filling a long-standing gap in the UK’s housing and care landscape, Tonic Housing’s model is helping set a new benchmark for inclusive living in later life.
ABM will support Tonic Housing across several key areas:
- Volunteer Days: ABM team members will contribute time and expertise – including lunch and learn sessions – to support activities ranging from gardening and maintenance projects to resident outings.
- Event Support: ABM will sponsor and participate in milestone community moments including Tonic’s birthday, Elders Day, and Age Without Limits Day.
- Modest Funding: Financial contributions will help enable activities such as afternoon teas, wellbeing sessions, and gardening projects.
- Training & Engagement: ABM teams will receive guidance from Tonic Housing’s partners, Stonewall Housing and LGBT Foundation, to deepen understanding of the needs and experiences of older LGBTQIA+ people.
- Hosting Opportunities: ABM will open selected office spaces for events to drive visibility, inclusion, and cross-community engagement.
Simon Barnes, Vice President of Sales UK and Irelandand Executive Sponsor of the ABM Rainbow Group, said: “Our partnership with Tonic Housing reflects ABM’s belief that inclusion must be intentional and grounded in the communities we serve. Tonic Housing’s work is transformative, and we’re proud to stand alongside them to support safer environments for older LGBTQIA+ people.”
Bob Green, OBE, Head of Operations at Tonic Housing, commented: “We could not achieve what we do without the support from our residents, volunteers and supportive businesses. Tonic Housing is delighted to announce this partnership with ABM. This strategic collaboration will enable Tonic Housing to significantly expand the delivery of events and engagement opportunities for its residents.”
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.
