The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented event in living memory. It has had, and continues to have, far-reaching impacts on individuals, our society, the economy and our industry. Many of those impacts have of course been negative; and the challenges implied by that, as well as by the long list of other changes we have been experiencing, will be with us for some time to come. On the more positive side, this does bring some opportunities, too, in terms of highlighting the possibilities of working in different ways, deploying new and appropriate technologies and finding ways to better use resources, for example. And, yes, there may also be some new business opportunities.

A key part of our role is to help provide the FM community with the news, information and insights needed to understand and manage the pandemic impacts, challenges and opportunities. You can access all of the relevant content on i-FM from this page. News, features and comments are shown in the boxes below and to the right. In addition, you can use our Search functions to explore the site for related issues. You can search the news by date or topic, for example ‘Covid-19’. Or you can search our full content on any keyword via our Search page.

This site hub aims to provide easy access to a range of resources for FMs. All suggestions for additional content are welcome – contact us anytime.

Latest 24 Articles

Clean Air Day focus on building ventilation

June 16th is National Clean Air Day and the key role played by mechanical ventilation systems in making buildings safer and healthier will be a central theme.

RoSPA award for Sodexo’s April Harvey

April Harvey has been recognised for her role as health, safety and risk lead in the mobilisation of the first Covid quarantine facility and Covid-19 test centres.

Wellbeing slipping down the agenda?

Employee mental health and wellbeing must remain a business priority and should not be de-prioritised as ‘nice to haves’.

Covid-19: safest day in the office is Wednesday

Workers looking for the lowest virus transmission risk day of the week to go into the workplace should go in on a Wednesday.

10 lessons from the pandemic

Two years ago we were moving into Covid-19 lockdown, setting off what has been called the largest change in how people work in living memory.

Covid: CIPD highlights employer duty of care

Following the government’s shift to a ‘living with Covid-19’ strategy, the Institute says employers need to continue to be mindful of their obligations.

BCC warns on staff burn-out

The British Cleaning Council reports worries that cleaning staff in healthcare, hospitality and other sectors are facing burn-out due to increased workloads.

IWFM warns on worker welfare

As employees return to work following the holidays, many will not be returning to the office as they had previously expected.

Three stations re-accredited for Churchill

St Pancras International, Stratford and Ebbsfleet stations have been certified by Bureau Veritas for Covid-19 risk management.

Covid-19: back to working from home

Employers should be well placed for the Plan B change, says CIPD.

British Safety Council advises extra care

Employers should consider what extra precautions they should take in the run-up to Christmas, the council says.

Office occupiers plan workplace change

Nearly three-quarters of office occupiers expect to transform their workplace design in the next two years.

FM market performance: better than expected

2020 saw the UK facilities management market hit hard by Covid-19, along with most other business sectors. But how hard?

Hybrid working: companies grapple with change

As companies bring employees back to the office, they are also coming to terms with how to manage varying occupation levels, plus new needs and expectations.

Senior execs focused on a hybrid future

Ipsos MORI’s latest Captains of Industry survey has found most expecting the pandemic to have a lasting impact on how and where people work.

Test sites: Sodexo becomes sole provider

Sodexo has become the sole provider of assisted Covid-19 testing at regional sites as part of the NHS Test and Trace programme.

Sign blindness: the next post-Covid challenge

With more people making their way back to the workplace, academics and H&S experts are warning about ‘sign blindness’, a side-effect of over-exposure to new rules, warnings and safety notices.

Sodexo awarded hygiene verification

Sodexo’s team at Richmond, the American International University in London has received the Rise Safe label from Bureau Veritas.

ABM tackles indoor air quality

Responding to the impact of Covid-19, the facilities solutions company has launched a programme of services designed to help businesses make improvements in IAQ.

Workplace: majority of staff expected back by year-end

But new research from the Chartered Management Institute also finds that many people will not return till next spring.

Reestablishing the customer journey

For many, September marked a return to the office. And a shock to the system for many, too.

New air cleaning guidance from CIBSE

Two new pieces of guidance on reducing Covid-19 transmission through ventilation and air cleaning technologies have been issued by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

BESA backs demand for ventilation in schools

The Building Engineering Services Association has put its weight behind a call from six trade unions to take urgent action over ventilation in schools.

Amey lauded for Future Office Initiative

Amey Consulting has been presented with an Initiative of the Year Award by RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.