Last week Mace Macro launched a new report analysing our work environments and uncovering a series of problems, along with associated opportunities for improvement. That set me thinking.

Carl Webb reviews the importance of considering whether a hired climate control arrangement makes more sense than a traditional purchase.

It's a common view in FM these days: we're on the brink of fundamental, widespread change in what we do and how we do it. The driver is clear: rapidly developing technology. But is this really the case?

'Brand' is one of those ideas that can seem a bit too trendy for their own good. Of course this particular concept means something in the fast-paced and increasingly global commercial world; but what's it got to do with real life?

Today is World Values Day, an opportunity to think about the principles that are important to us and to act on them.

It's become a feature of every market survey, every industry conference, every insight report into the discipline: technology is the future of FM. That is certainly true; and it always has been.

The Public Service Act (Social Value) 2012 puts social value at the heart of commissioning, ensuring that authorities consider the wider economic and environmental benefit that they can achieve when buying goods and services. The Act became law in 2013.

Predicting change is a mug's game, especially these days when some of the old 'rules' seem particularly unreliable. But it does feel like the times might be ripe for some kind of tipping point in UK facilities management.

Collaborations between facilities management membership bodies have happened before. So, what makes the partnership between RICS and IFMA any different?

One of the big challenges for every FM service provider these days is sorting out its strategy for the future: how does it see its markets developing? how does it want to be perceived? what sort of clients does it want? what's the right service offer?

Naming, and the related branding, forms part of the bedrock of marketing strategy. There’s a lot of science to both and a huge amount of material on good and bad experiences. But in the end, you make your decision, unveil your work and pray for the best.

That's the statement that stuck with me from Wednesday's Smartworking Summit, the latest in the series organised by consultancy Quora and this time focusing on AI in the workplace.