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Twenty-four interns have been welcomed across the UK business as part of the 10,000 Black Interns Programme.
New research from the CIPD finds that an estimated 4m people have changed careers due to a lack of flexibility at work.
Satvir Bungar, M&A managing director at accountancy and business advisory firm BDO, has been named as one of the top 100 leaders for his work in supporting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Corps Security handed over more than £11,000 to leading veteran’s mental health charity Combat Stress at their fundraising dinner in London.
That’s the theme for Sodexo’s online afternoon event planned for later this week.
Over a third of businesses are yet to take meaningful action on reducing emissions, according to analysis of ONS figures.
The figure is highest amongst UK Gen Zs (77%) but Millennials, too, (71%) would consider looking for a new job if asked to go into the workplace full-time.
ISO 22301 certification bolsters the group’s risk management and business continuity credentials.
Just 14% prefer to have the work model mandated by their employer.
The resource management specialist is in the top group of the best ‘very big’ companies to work for in 2023.
Marking the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, VIVO Defence Services has become a company supporter of Lighthouse.
A significant investment in growth, people and the future of facilities management, says the FM company.
The service provider’s Headstart initiative is the UK’s first contractor-led adaptation of the Department for Work and Pensions Kickstart programme.
The cleaning services company is transferring the majority of its shares to its 2,300 employees.
Progress on sustainability risks being held back as businesses grapple with increasing costs and lack of clarity around the way forward.
Alongside the climate crisis, we face an ecological crisis in which biodiversity in the UK is under severe and urgent threat.
Younger generations of workers across the UK are calling for enhanced wellbeing, sustainable and digital workplace practices.
Back after a pandemic-induced break, the FM Brands Survey provides a fresh check on perceptions of the UK market landscape.
New research finds that on average hybrid working employees deliver nearly two extra weeks of work a year for their employer.
The service provider has appointed Salary Finance to offer its UK employees a new financial wellbeing benefit.
The energy efficiency rating scheme for existing office buildings has been extended to meet the needs of owners and occupiers.
Registration is now open for Mental Health - Security’s Invisible Enemy, which marks May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
A survey from Mace finds that that hybrid working, with a collaborative central space, is the preferred post-pandemic style.
The service provider has been named winner of the Facilities Management Industry Sector Award and Water Industry Sector Award.
The food and facilities services company is extending its current work with the social enterprise.
Magenta Associates, the communications specialist for the built environment, has released a white paper that explores the implications of AI on content creation and communications.
EMCOR UK has switched to using Polyflex Eco gloves, made from recycled plastic, at British Sugar sites where it provides FM services.
As post-Covid occupier expectations rise, so too have fit-out costs across key cities.
BCIS, the cost information service, has published its latest five-year forecast for trends in FM.
The group’s venues specialist has achieved the Green Meetings Gold Award at Ewood Park, the home of Blackburn Rovers FC.
The food and facilities services group and its client AstraZeneca are taking supplier management ‘to the next level’.
FSB finds 28% of firms that signed up to fixed energy contracts last year could have to downsize, rethink their business model or close.
The National Engineering Policy Centre has produced a useful interactive infographic highlighting the risks posed by poor ventilation.
The built environment communications specialist has signed The Anti-Greenwash Charter, promoting responsible marketing within the industry.
Green leases can benefit both landlords and tenants while also serving to decarbonise real estate.
The services group has increased the amount eligible employees can apply for in its Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme.
The firm’s Global Workplace Solutions business has announced the winners of its annual UK Supplier Innovation Challenge.
ISS has announced that Group CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen has submitted his resignation to the board of directors.
The new app enables organisations to provide a mobile-first, personalised connection between people and their workplace, services and facilities.
A new report on the future of the office finds that while offices are here to stay, the sector is in “a full state of flux”.
New research has revealed the extent to which maintenance issues can impact the smooth running of a facility.
The Technology, Media and Telecoms sector dominated activity in the European flex market in 2022.
Employers and employees have a differing opinion about the health and wellbeing impact of hybrid working, according to new research.
The learning specialist, along with its client DPD, has been shortlisted for the prestigious SHE Awards.
New research reveals how recruitment challenges are encouraging employers to consider ex-offenders.
New research has found low awareness of new environmental standards despite increased demand for environmentally friendly office space.
Marking the arrival of Food Waste Action Week, Sodexo UK & Ireland has provided an update on its food waste reduction programme.
Companies are increasingly using carbon targets as part of executive pay outcomes.
Yorkshire based Sewell Estates has become part employee-owned.
The FM company has teamed up with fleet management specialist Trakm8 to enhance the operating efficiency of its 280-vehicle fleet.
The contract caterer’s new campaign aims to elevate social value awareness within the firm and unite efforts into a company-wide focus.
The ambitious soft services provider has joined the industry-led young persons recruitment initiative, The 5% Club.
New research highlights the importance of flexibility in both employee and employer decision-making, with positive outcomes for both.
Workforce issues feature in three of the top four business concerns, but people data and discussion aren’t regularly on senior management or boardroom agendas.
Compass Group UK & Ireland’s total social and local economic value has been calculated at £591m.
Analysis of commercial property service charge data shows that greener buildings have substantially lower energy costs.
Atlas FM is to fund the training costs of 10 Level 3 Early Years apprenticeships at Bright Horizons Nurseries.
With over 30 apprentices across its business, the technical FM provider currently offers one of the largest schemes in the industry.
After a gap of two-plus years, the survey returns to explore the brands landscape across the facilities management sector.
New research from CBRE has identified the key factors shaping FM procurement decisions.
Sodexo has now gifted £2m of its apprenticeship levy to support a number of small companies and not-for-profits across the UK.
EcoVadis, the global sustainability accreditor, has awarded a gold medal to the corporate FM specialist.
While many companies have done good things with their levy funds, the programme has been plagued by calls for change.
The partnership brings together two growing firms, both with a focus on the facilities management industry.
Throughout 2022, employees, clients and suppliers took part in fund-raising events for charity partner, Mind.
Explore at Sodexo on the Youth Employment UK website highlights the opportunities and career pathways available at the company.
VIVO Defence Services is partnering with Launchpad, the charity helping veterans who need extra support making the move from the armed services to civilian life.
New research shows that millennials and younger workers are driving a growing trend of ‘climate quitting’, seeking out more environmentally friendly jobs.
New research explores how changing organisational priorities are shaping the future of the built environment and FM roles.
In its latest published report the services group highlights progress across the key pillars of its ESG framework.
In the UK, the largest contributor to methane emissions from the waste sector is landfill, accounting for 81% of sector emissions.
The UK & Ireland business is reporting a 33% reduction in its Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions since its baseline year of 2017.
Soft-services provider Churchill Group has appointed Julie Hollins as the new social value lead across its specialist businesses.
Seven pledges, in fact, as the workspace services provider signs up to a series of social value-based initiatives.
JLL is forecasting more bridges built between occupiers and landlords, while the gap between good space and not so good will grow wider.
The Flexible Space Association’s executive director, Jane Sartin, looks at what the industry is likely to see over the next 12 months.
Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common occupational illnesses, with back pain topping the list.
The group is aiming to become an industry leader with a strategy it describes as ambitious, transparent and realistic.
As part of its commitment to providing diverse, inclusive workspaces the group has signed up to the Age-Friendly Employer Pledge.
A new insights paper shares views for the year ahead, covering a range of areas including energy, e-mobility, waste and landscapes.
The 2023 UK Top Employers list includes the FM group for the fifth year running.
The company is aiming to lead the facilities management industry with a full-scope net zero emissions target for 2035.
Jones, head of DE&I for Sodexo UK & Ireland, has been selected as a finalist in the 2023 Burberry Diversity Awards.
With the Energy Bill Relief Scheme due to end in March, the government has announced the Energy Bills Discount Scheme beginning in April.
The initiative will deliver a recruitment support scheme designed to help the long-term unemployed into sustainable employment.
Concerns around the economy, and a number of other issues, have knocked back the growing confidence levels evident in the post-Covid period.
Elior UK has committed to fully fund five trainees at social enterprise Change Please.
New reporting standards, expected to be published in 2023, will require mandatory Scope 3 disclosures.
With changes to fire safety starting to come into force from 23 January, the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management is urging the profession to get up to date.
Research from Mitie finds over half of office workers saying they are excited to be back in the office over the festive period this year.
Compass Group UK & Ireland has committed over £1.6m of its Apprenticeship Levy funds to support over 100 SMEs, charities and social enterprises.
The Planon Innovation Campus has been awarded certification at the Platinum level by the International WELL Building Institute.
It will surprise no one, but accurate data shows the scale of what happens when commuters face cold weather and rail disruption.
Employees today want more ‘hotel-style’ amenities such as areas for socialising, state-of-the-art infrastructure, outdoor spaces, onsite cafes, air conditioning and flexible work facilities.
A global study of 220 offices in 33 countries has revealed that hybrid working is becoming established as the norm.
The real estate industry has an opportunity to embrace inclusive design and make workplaces more appropriate, according to a new report.
The specialist provider of tailored guest services has launched a new online directory of more than 300 value-add experiences from local businesses.
Head of diversity, inclusion and belonging for ISS UK and Ireland, Parsons has been recognised in a key industry listing.
One highly effective way appears to be CUBE, the sector-led competition that helps commercial building users reduce their consumption.
The FM group has made the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers list for the fifth year running.
Unify is part of the soft service provider’s investment in training to help address long-term skill and labour shortages across the industry.
The facilities management group has joined the Generation Valuable training and mentorship programme.
Leading facilities management companies are ahead of the curve for progress on Scope 3 emissions.
New research reveals more than half of UK hybrid workers are concerned poor air quality and ventilation will impact their health.
The partnership will enable EMCOR to measure, manage and report on its social value impact.
The move is seen as a critical step in deepening the company’s commitment to creating inclusive venues and workplaces.
A new white paper from the FM group tackles eight key questions shaping the industry’s future.
The FM group has come top in two categories at this year’s CIR Risk Management Awards.
The company’s strategy aims to provide a clear, measurable and data-driven framework.
The soft services provider has introduced Bravo Benefits, a new financial wellness programme to better support its colleagues amidst the cost-of-living crisis.
Plantilicious, an entirely plant-based menu, was launched in 2021 and proved to be the start of a revolution for the FM services provider.
Compass Group UK & Ireland’s sports and leisure business topped off last week’s Living Wage Week by committing to the campaign for all its UK employees.
A new competition is aimed at finding sustainability innovations that can help Lloyds tackle its hybrid working and travel emissions and enhance biodiversity.
The facilities management group and LeasePlan have signed an international Vested agreement for next-generation fleet management.
The fast growing soft services provider has joined over 800 employers in committing to creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
A CBRE survey of clients finds that closer attention is being paid to patterns in office occupancy, use and function.
But analysis of recently published reports shows there’s a need for more focus on connectivity across purpose, people and planet.
The UK Green Building Council is calling on government to strengthen policies that will support a resilient built environment.
Trends & Opportunities, the unique annual review from i-FM, looks closely at the UK industry and how it is shaping up for the future.
The facilities and asset management services provider is launching its own version of the Kickstart programme.
A Dragon's Den-style competition involving 85 students from 26 universities was recently held by the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation.
The soft services group has joined the Tent Partnership for Refugees network, its second move in supporting refugees.
The FM services provider says it is evolving from a period of turnaround to a new phase of strong growth at sustainable and attractive margins.
FM is famously resilient, of course. But in the face of rising economic challenges, including the prospect of a lengthy recession, how does business look over the coming months?
IT directors in the UK and Europe see investment in facilities continuing to grow, despite worries that the coming year will be a difficult one.
New research from JLL highlights ways that life science occupiers, investors, developers and landowners can mitigate the climate impact of their assets.
This, the company says, is the first 360-degree online self-assessment tool to help owners assess their building’s performance.
Two associations have responded to the government’s Net Zero Review by underscoring the need for leadership and support.
New guidance from the World Green Building Council collates “effective and practical steps” to build resilience to the changing climate.
Frank Greenwood-Feane has been selected as the winner of this year’s ONE Project, Atalian Servest’s in-house innovation challenge.
Evidence is growing that hybrid working works best when it is clearly defined and implemented in line with the needs of an organisation and its employees.
Most companies remain uncertain about what their post-pandemic workplaces will look like.
The British Council for Offices is calling for a new method of calculating the amount of space needed per person in the post-pandemic world of work.
ESG commitments are an increasing priority for most businesses, but research suggests that many are still at the first stage of the journey.
Research from business advisers Grant Thornton shows that inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, high energy costs and ongoing supply chain issues are causing problems.
The UK’s largest hospitality provider has welcomed its largest ever group of degree apprentices.
Churchill Services has been awarded a gold medal by EcoVadis, the global sustainability accreditor.
A new partnership will encourage Compass Scotland sites to work with FareShare to donate surplus food for distribution to those in need.
New research reveals the impact the energy crisis is having on the UK workforce, as 70% of hybrid workers admit they’re concerned about the cost of working from home as bills skyrocket.
Flex office stock in Europe will reach around 20% of total office stock over the next 10 years.
The UK Green Building Council has assembled team of cross-industry experts who will support delivery of new guidance.
Organisations need to implement tailored tools and processes that work for their employees, clients and business models.
The FM provider’s latest ESG report highlights progress made against 13 ambitious targets.
Former British Army senior officer James Illingworth OBE has been appointed as advisor to Sodexo’s Government board.
The provider of data analytics and intelligence for the FM industry has announced a major contract win with one of the UK's largest retailers.
The ‘Mentor Up’ programme aims to help create a shared understanding of the barriers, challenges and opportunities for colleagues from ethnic minority groups.
As businesses across the country face rising costs, new research warns that using pay to attract talent simply isn’t enough to tackle ongoing skills shortages.
The technology-driven maintenance services company has received B Corp status in recognition of its high environmental, social and governance standards.
A group of 30 large companies have spent over a quarter of a billion pounds with social enterprises by bringing them into their supply chains.
Over the past two decades the annual i-FM Technology in FM Award has highlighted some remarkable developments, as new ideas and capabilities have moved into the industry.
European businesses are looking towards Romania, Turkey and Morocco as alternatives to production in Ukraine and Asia following months of supply-chain disruption.
The environment, health and safety software market will continue to grow this year, in parallel with and potentially overlapping ESG activities.
In an industry first, the group has successfully issued two bonds, raising £750m to support delivery of its global net zero target.
Data collection has become one of the most active areas of development as technology pushes ever further into the workplace.
The facilities services firm is lending its security expertise and experience to raise awareness about suicide prevention.
Churchill Services has signed the Care Leavers Covenant and the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant.
The group’s Global Workplace Solutions business has entered into an exclusive agreement with SERI to drive social enterprise participation in the corporate sector across Ireland.
Louisa Clarke, managing director for the North and Scotland in Churchill’s cleaning business, has been successful in being appointed to this key position.
The lone worker solution specialist has teamed up with two of its longstanding customers to create new social value funds.
Amey has committed to a step-change in the way it works in order to achieve new levels of sustainability and social value across its operations.
Energy Fitness Professionals, the providers of corporate fitness and wellbeing services, has expanded its long-term partnership with video game giant Electronic Arts.
The facilities management provider has introduced a year-long apprenticeship programme at its client site in Leicestershire.
Hybrid working is set to become the dominant model, but decision-makers still believe the corporate office is critical to doing business.
The workplace experience specialist has been recognised as a purpose-led organisation that places people at the heart of its business.
Liquid petroleum gas supplier Flogas Britain has appointed the engineering firm on a new enterprise asset management contract.
A global study of nearly 80 offices in 13 countries representing nearly 80,000 employees has revealed a seismic shift in working patterns.
CIPD research shows zero-hours contract workers report better work-life balance and wellbeing than other workers.
The facilities management group has announced plans to open a new, dedicated software development centre in Porto.
An international survey of CFOs suggests real estate, facilities management and finance functions are most likely to face cuts in the next 12 months.
The majority of users have a positive experience with customer service robots, according to new research.
The firm’s Variation App is one of just three initiatives in contention for the IWFM Award for Excellence in Customer Experience.
In Q1 2022, there were 42 deals done in facilities management, contributing to making H1 ‘22 the strongest first-half performance at a total of 69 deals.
The FM provider has begun a phased roll-out of the financial wellbeing app to its workforce.
EMCOR UK has been recognised as a Pioneer in Collaboration by the Institute for Collaborative Working.
The Leeds-headquartered field service management software company has signed almost 200 new customers in the first half of 2022.
The company’s CEO has been speaking about the role that infrastructure businesses can play in achieving the government’s levelling up agenda.
The ISS Hub has received top marks for accessibility and usability, making it the first to ever reach Platinum status.
Three ex-senior executives at the collapsed construction to services group have been issued with fines by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The Financial Reporting Council has announced sanctions against the auditing firm, a former partner and four former employees.
The Institute's annual general meeting will take place in Bishop’s Stortford on Thursday, relocated in anticipation of rail disruption.
A cost transformation programme, launched in 2017, has delivered a quarter of a billion pounds worth of cost savings to the NHS across 2,000 initiatives.
Companies in the FM supply chain are grappling with the challenges raised by environmental, social and governance issues.
Sodexo has marked the culmination of its UK and Ireland innovation programme in a special event held at its London headquarters.
Britain’s businesses are in the grip of an energy crisis. With energy costs continuing to rise, 92% of decision-makers are concerned.
Having met the necessary standards Atlas Security is now a Recognised Service Provider, joining the wider Atlas FM business.
Unprecedented pressure on supply chains has led to food buyers in the UK’s biggest organisations reporting a 60% increase in food waste over the last six months.
Subsidised food and beverages could be key to bringing employees back to the workplace, especially during the cost-of-living crisis.
Churchill Services has been recognised with the Gold Award from the Employer Recognition Scheme for 2022.
EQUANS UK & Ireland has strengthened its existing commitment to decarbonisation by publishing a revised net zero roadmap.
The services group has been named as one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers in the UK by the Department for Education.
The food and support services provider has announced a new strategy to address the inequalities that create barriers to progress.
Not just a place to work, for many the office plays a key role in intergenerational learning, social mobility and meeting L&D responsibilities.
FM Innovators, the global group that fosters tech start-ups in FM, has scheduled its first Digital Workplace Summit for Thursday 7 July.
The organisers of the Sustainable Facilities Management Index are planning future research work and want your input.
The software application designed to help organisations and their supply chains measure and monitor their sustainability performance has launched the 2022 employee diversity benchmarking survey.
Since 2008, funding from Sodexo’s Stop Hunger Foundation has provided urgent welfare support to those most in need from the Armed Forces community, particularly veterans and their families.
The independent caterer is the first contract catering business in the UK to become B Corp certified, reinforcing a purpose-led approach to doing business.
New analysis shows that just 11% of the world’s listed companies are in alignment with the 1.5°C climate emergency target.
The field service management software company has unveiled Insight, a system that enables organisations to gather and review data from services as they are taking place.
New data from the CIPD shows that more than three-quarters of organisations have embraced hybrid working through a mix of formal and informal arrangements.
National property services provider Wates Smartspace has created £1.687m of social value for the local Cheshire community during the second year of a major fire station refurbishment programme.
The EFL Championship football club is partnering with compliance and asset management software provider Sypro.
HqO, an industry-leading workplace experience platform, has announced the acquisition of Leesman, the world’s leader in measuring employee workplace experience.
A new CBRE report aims to provide advice, as many companies are already involved in budget planning for next year.
The service group’s near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
National TOMs, the widely recognised social value measurement tool, has been refreshed and updated to reflect changing needs.
Research from the property services group finds that this model has become the most popular option for office workers.
New research from business advisers Grant Thornton finds that since the lifting of Covid restrictions in February, the number of firms reporting hybrid working solutions has fallen.
ABM Ventures will aim to accelerate growth through investments in both client and team member experiences and industry-leading use of technology and data.
New data from the Institute of Directors shows that half of businesses are now more likely to invest in carbon reduction measures.
The British Council for Offices is calling for more inclusive design, regulatory change and also proposing design recommendations.
PwC’s new Workforce Hopes and Fears survey is a reminder of just how much things have changed over the past couple of years.
Employee engagement is the top priority for global businesses and nearly two-thirds are investing in their offices with this in mind.
The majority of UK organisations seem to be settling into a middle ground between Covid-driven work-from-home practices and post-pandemic everyone-back-to-the-office policies.
The property services group has announced a new $100m investment in Industrious, a rapidly growing provider of premium flexible workplace solutions.
In CBRE’s latest EMEA Occupier Sentiment Survey 72% of companies said they are moving towards a hybrid workplace model.
Move over integrated workplace management systems. Make way for connected portfolio intelligence platforms.
Last Thursday office occupancy in the UK reached an average of 42%, the highest national daily average since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
The report lays out the company’s vision to create a better world at work for people, communities and the planet.
The Norse Group has joined forces to provide essential resources to help the Ukraine humanitarian aid effort.
EMCOR UK has announced that from 1 April all its employees are earning the Real Living Wage or above.
The number of employers who report that an increase in homeworking has increased their organisation’s productivity or efficiency has jumped significantly over the last year.
CEO Dominic Ponniah has joined the Living Wage Foundation’s Recognised Service Provider Leadership Group.
Compass Group UK & Ireland has appointed Laura Neville as head of social value, with an agenda focused on employees, clients and communities.
The ESG concept, originally a set of criteria for investors, has moved quickly into sustainability conversations, but perhaps too quickly.
The contract caterer’s new policy includes a range of elements designed to aid employee wellbeing.
Businesses that own or operate electricity generation systems have just four weeks left to apply for funding to help them update their equipment.
The facilities services company has won a string of RoSPA awards and in catering there’s ‘rising star’ recognition.
Employee mental health and wellbeing must remain a business priority and should not be de-prioritised as ‘nice to haves’.
Refugees arriving in the UK can find themselves facing continued hardship, often including long-term unemployment.
In IFMA’s largest ever training relationship, JLL will make courses available to 1200 US employees.
February’s FM conference tackled the big topic of sustainability challenges and opportunities in a very well-received return as an in-person event.
New research suggests a lack of planning and investment in hybrid working is threatening to derail a widespread successful return to the office.
The Stirling-based hard services provider has pledged to pay the voluntary rate to help staff with the cost of living.
The UK Green Building Council has published guidance to support the delivery of social value across built environment projects.
A new report has identified four types of corporate approach to sustainability to help businesses establish just how green they are.
We are not the same people who went home to work in early 2020: the past two years have left a lasting imprint.
Its Carbon Reduction Plan details how the group aims to minimise direct and indirect emissions across each of its services and its extensive property portfolio.
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.
The workplace services provider has announced a new strategic alliance with Dublin-headquartered Sensori Facilities Management.
An update of the Sustainable Procurement in FM report has identified the key criteria that will help embed sustainability in the sector.
That’s certainly the way IWG, parent to Regus and other flex space brands, sees it as it backs a merger with specialist The Instant Group.
Cleaners, porters, security guards and domestic staff working at the Barts Health group of hospitals will come into direct employment from 1 May 2023.
Today marks the start of a week that aims to support lasting change in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal of halving global food waste by 2030.
New investment in the London headquarters prioritises the employee experience and creates a showcase for the company’s eco-system of workplace services.
Into the changing world of work comes Sphere, a new technology solution to help businesses design the most effective workspaces for their people.
The group is rolling out a new national standard to support the use of sustainable cleaning and hygiene supplies across its FM portfolio .
In 10 years of annual assessment of FM providers’ sustainability strategies, SMFI has found that water is consistently one of the lowest scoring criteria.
CBRE cites market research figures indicating that 35% of facilities management activity is handled in-house.
An extensive survey finds 60% of professionals reporting a rise in new challenges post-pandemic when working with colleagues from different generations.
Intrusive worker surveillance technology needs stronger regulation to ensure protection, warns the TUC.
The award marks the service provider’s commitment and efforts in being an LGBT+ inclusive employer.
The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners is the first such body to be accredited as a Living Wage Employer.
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.
The ongoing review aims to place members at the heart of the Institute and give them a stronger say in strategy and future direction.
The impact of Covid-19 has led many companies to reduce their portfolios. Many expect growth over the next few years, but the overall trend is down.
Internal research shows the business adviser’s UK staff reporting increased productivity and wellbeing.
Sustainability is here to stay, and regulatory changes and challenges around disclosure are driving growth in demand for consultancy.
UK employers anticipate increasing pay and focusing on flexibility and wellbeing as they look to combat increasing recruitment and retention difficulties.
Employers will be making a potentially fatal mistake if they use the end of Covid-19 restrictions to force staff back into the office every day, says a leading management consultancy.
A new white paper delivers insights and inspiration for DE&I, HR and business leaders.
The International Building Operation Standard promises a new approach to measure and manage how buildings perform for people.
Sodexo has joined forces with OCS to spearhead the creation of a new council for a dedicated cross-industry group.
An Institute of Directors survey of almost 700 business leaders has shown that around 8 out of 10 organisations plan to adopt remote working in the long-term.
The facilities services group has also undertaken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the food it serves globally by 25% by 2030.
Buying goods and services is routine for many facilities managers. But policies, procedures and the approach to governance and cost control vary greatly across the industry.
Ahead of mandatory requirements to disclose climate-related risks coming into force in April, the UK Green Building Council has published new guidance.
The support services company has published a report examining its current impact on levelling up and how it can go further in the future.
Mitie will support more than 70 apprenticeships, many of which are new roles and predominantly technical ones.
Pareto FM has released its mental health first aider guidance to coincide with today’s ‘Time To Talk Day’.
A strategic health and wellbeing partnership will see the Spectrum.Life Employee Assistance Programme provided to all employees.
Outsourced staff at St Bartholomew’s, the Royal London and Whipps Cross hospitals launched action on Monday in a dispute over pay.
The cleaning and support services company has been awarded a Gold EcoVadis medal for sustainability achievement.
The business advisor has embraced the future and outlined how its 22,000 UK employees will see work and the workplace change.
A new digital solution aims to enhance the maintenance of military homes across the UK and reduce carbon emissions.
Employee experience, sustainability and smart buildings are the focus for its Accelerator initiative.
Recent market research found 62% of UK commercial landlords having trouble attracting prospective tenants to fill traditional office spaces.
The company says its new policy is one of the best in the industry.
With the Plan B return to homeworking followed more recently by a change in government advice, there continues to be some confusion around hybrid working and how to make it best work.
Covid restrictions are being relaxed and central government is calling for people to return to the workplace, but the views of workers are mixed on this.
To meet climate change commitments, building stock investment must be three times higher than the current rate.
A new policy paper from the Institute of Directors sets out a range of ESG priorities for UK companies and organisations.
But a global survey shows that the level of commitment overall could be much higher.
A new report finds that organisations risk losing out on key talent unless they improve the quality of their real estate and embed flexible working post-Covid.
AXIS is designed to enhance the workplace experience by seamlessly connecting organisations with their employees.
The Ipswich-headquartered FM business is committed to making environmental, economic and socially responsible purchasing decisions.
The FM group has passed its target to convert 30% of its fleet to zero emission electric vehicles three months ahead of schedule.
Churchill Group and Penguin FM are teaming up on a mentoring and coaching programme designed to develop their teams for success in 2022 and beyond.
The network brings together organisations leading the field in commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Research carried out just prior to the Plan B switch back to homeworking found many mid-market businesses struggling to implement hybrid working.
As employees return to work following the holidays, many will not be returning to the office as they had previously expected.
Research from Veolia suggests that less than a third of UK businesses have a strategy for reaching carbon neutrality, despite growing environmental concerns.
Standards body BSI is partnering with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, who are sponsoring up to 100,000 free downloads of a new energy management standard.
An Institute of Directors’ poll finds companies ready to work towards net zero but looking to government for financial support and guidance.
Aoife Wycherley and Deirdre Saunders have been recognised as role models in the third Women to Watch & Role Models for Inclusion in Hospitality, Travel & Leisure Index 2021.
Employers should be well placed for the Plan B change, says CIPD.
Created by the charity Mind, the Mental Health at Work Commitment defines six fundamental standards for a business.
Results of a global survey show that sustainability is now the top global business investment priority.
Over two-fifths of employers say they will be more likely to grant requests for flexible working after the end of pandemic restrictions than they were before Covid-19.
Employers should consider what extra precautions they should take in the run-up to Christmas, the council says.
Andrew Targell is an expert on the tech that transforms FM. Fiona Perrin met him for key insights on how to deliver projects that drive business purpose.
What better candidate for a workplace transformation case study than Which?
If FM wants to prove its role, it’s time to put employee experience first, workplace specialist Debra Ward tells Fiona Perrin.
Uncertainty, change, agility, creativity: these are business-as-usual factors in FM. But could the industry be approaching a critical point where decisions made could reshape its future?
This month sees the OCS Foundation sharing details of its People into Work programme with the FM industry. If you are a service provider, you’ll want to know about this.
Health and safety in the workplace is a critical concern for all businesses, regardless of their revenue, location or size.
Companies across all sectors talk about being ‘green' and ‘sustainable’, but this is truly a case of actions speaking louder than words.
What should facilities managers know about cargo bikes? Do you let them into your building, do you use them to help decarbonise the workplace?
The government’s latest Net Zero Review warned that delaying decarbonisation is a risk to UK jobs, infrastructure and investment.
Daniel Ratcliffe examines why governance is a crucial factor in a facilities manager’s ESG strategy, and why it should not be minimised or missed out.
We talked with flexspace expert Kurt Mroncz to find out how this concept went from maybe to mainstream in corporate real estate strategy.
Ask most facilities managers which season brings the most challenges and the top answer will likely be winter.
Empty net zero promises do not just threaten the reputation, legitimacy and long-term interests of businesses but the survival of our planet.
For any industry where mobile and field-based employees account for a large proportion of the total workforce, the current climate is challenging,
Scott Gray explains how physical security solutions connected to the cloud can help facilities managers meet security and business objectives.
Purpose-driven corporate leaders seeking buy-in for a sustainable business plan often run into objections that are based on outdated information and outright falsehoods.
Often lost in all the conversation around ‘new ways of working’ is what it all means for facilities management.
The cleaning industry has without a doubt undergone massive transformation in the last two years.
When temperatures peaked at 37C across much of the UK in July, it caused many disruptions across multiple sectors.
FM software solutions offer wide-ranging benefits for workplace and facilities management professionals. But, choosing the ideal solution for your business’s unique requirements is vital.
As the FM industry becomes increasingly more digital, recognising the value of your IT is important when considering the priority list for an office relocation.
What will it take to achieve a sustainable built environment? To support a hybrid workforce? To maintain resilience and agility?
Now more than ever, businesses are facing serious pressure from all angles to reduce their carbon footprint, whether it be from their own staff and customers, or via new legislation.
April’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report offered a slither of hope that we can stave off the worst ravages of climate breakdown.
The chasm of generational differences between workers is widening with the general acceptance of new remote and hybrid workstyles.
Three years on since The Workplace Event was last held face to face, it made its long-awaited return to the Birmingham NEC this month. Craig Peters reports.
As we begin to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a heightened focus on employee health and wellbeing.
We asked Atalian Servest’s head of HR Sophie Ransome and head of learning & development Kelly Dolphin about their involvement at this month’s Workplace Futures conference.
Facilities management is facing a significant skills shortage. That’s not news: industry bodies have warned of a ‘demographic timebomb’ for years. Apprentice Simon Delmo reflects on the challenge.
We recently spoke with EMCOR UK executive director marketing and business development Jeremy Campbell about his involvement at this month’s Workplace Futures conference.
How to protect your business from unexpected energy price changes is going to be a serious issue in 2022. Pradyumna Pandit offers insights and advice.
It is clear for all to see that the recruitment market has been turned upside down over the past two years and candidate experience has changed significantly.
Gary Watkins explains how businesses can leverage technology to make informed decisions about the workplace.
It’s easy to forget our sustainability practices when winding down for the end of the year, but the festive period doesn’t need to have a big impact on the planet.
As outsourcing picks up pace in the UK, FM providers can look forward to increased business opportunities in the mid-term.
As the country strives to look beyond the shadows cast by the Covid-19, Baskar Sundaram offers some insights on the coming year.
In July Wates Group launched its post-pandemic office concept at its head office in Leatherhead. John Cartwright shares insights and predictions for the future for commercial fit-out.
Most law firms have outperformed expectations on fee income, despite the pandemic. What is less certain is the way the sector is embracing hybrid working.
COP26 has been big news for weeks, but the TV screens didn’t do it justice. It was vast.
In recent months ‘shortage’ has become a key theme in all sorts of conversations, whether that’s doing the weekly shopping, planning a building project or looking to recruit staff.
More and more organisations are, rightly, investing more time and resources into the mental wellbeing of their employees.
Until recently, in the FM community, only the PropTech startup ecosystem was getting clear attention. That is changing rapidly now.
Pedal power is having a moment, partly inspired by the impacts of Covid-19. But, given the health and sustainability benefits, why shouldn’t that moment become permanent?
Ensuring that your company stands out among the many others in FM can put you ahead in recruiting from within the sector or beyond.
A recent report suggests that by using connected workforce platforms companies can improve workplace productivity by as much as 25%.
‘Net zero carbon’ is the latest catchphrase across the corporate sector. You’ve probably heard many interpretations of it, along with ‘climate positive’, ‘zero carbon’ and ‘science-based targets’.
The past year has been tough on conventional wisdom. Covid-19 has challenged everything we think we know about the world, including the nature of work and workplace.
Building owners who fail to comply with proposed new fire safety measures could be faced with unlimited fines.
Will Richards highlights three best workplace strategies to support talent attraction and retention in a post-Covid19 world.
Rodrigue Zbinden considers the recent increase in cloud adoption and how hosted security solutions can help to manage teams, facilities and operations.
One of the fastest growing sectors for global investment in the past few years has been technology designed to make buildings smarter and more sustainable.
In the wake of Covid-19, organisations around the world are rethinking space utilisation, employee engagement and wellbeing, sustainability and the overall real estate portfolio.
The only constant in life is change. Managing an office building in the 18th century would look a lot different to a 21st century workplace.
2021 will, we hope, see offices reopening and employees returning with new views on how they want to work. Technology has a crucial role to play.
Like many industries, the flexspace sector is facing one of its greatest challenges in the global pandemic.
Social distancing must have been one of the most used terms of 2020. Looking ahead to 2021 this same behaviour seems set to be a part of daily life for quite a while to come.
Over the past couple of years King’s College London has been bringing previously outsourced services in-house. We talked to project lead Paloma Lisboa about how and why.
As we move towards the end of an absolutely tumultuous year, it’s clear that Covid-19 has had a deep and lasting impact on remote working.
This year has, without a doubt, challenged workplace and facilities professionals with a whole host of safety and wellbeing concerns.
Adversity sparks creativity: 2020 has certainly demonstrated this. We are all learning resilience in a year that has thrown challenges at us that we never imagined.
Coming out of the second national lockdown in England and into a new tiered system has brought fresh challenges for the FM industry.
It is hard to predict the long-term impact that Covid-19 will have on working practices in Europe and the knock-on implications for commercial real estate and workspaces.
It's been a challenging year for facilities management on many fronts, and one more lies in the future of the office. We still need them, but what does FM need to do to ensure they are fit for a new future?
In the facilities management sector, you have the hefty responsibility of looking after your premises and building users, whether these be staff, visitors, customers, residents or patients.
Smart building technology essentially consists of a system of connected devices which can measure data from your building and transform it into usable insights and automation. The experts at Smarter Technologies outline some opportunities.
One of the most frequently used words in facilities management must be ‘team’. But team-working requires information and a consistent flow is not an easy thing to achieve.
Much has been said in recent years about technology in relation to how it is transforming FM, and recent developments have certainly accelerated both demand and adoption.
There is an urgent need for innovation in FM, and in particular the cleaning industry, to improve performance in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amongst the many impacts of Covid-19 is this: everyone is talking about risk assessment.
With the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic far from over, facility owners and managers need to stay up to date with the latest information, and stay flexible in their return-to-work planning.
In the final instalment of this series examining the return to work post-shutdown in the UK, Faegre Drinker solicitors look at the potential trends and longer term changes that the Covid-19 pandemic will likely have on workplaces.
In this second instalment in a series examining the challenges UK employers are likely to face in the coming months, solicitors at Faegre Drinker look at how employers can manage the economic impact the pandemic will likely have on many workplaces.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown have caused a massive shift in the way we work. The experts from international law firm Faegre Drinker examine the challenges UK employers are likely to face in the coming months.
Market research firm Gartner has predicted that in the internet of things marketplace building automation will be the segment with the largest growth rate in 2020, at 42%.
On Thursday 16 April, the UK government extended the lockdown by at least another three weeks. That’s not to say life will return to normal on early in May, of course. But, in the meantime, how should we think about this?
The LGBT+ in FM group supports colleagues from across the FM industry. Committee members got together to tell Fiona Perrin why reaching frontline colleagues with a message of inclusivity is so important.
As the economic implications of the global pandemic are becoming clearer, most FM businesses are scrambling to assess the impact on their top and bottom lines. Others are scrambling simply to survive.
Homeworking has rocketed up the agenda at many, if not most, organisations across the public and private sectors as covid-19 forces so much change. But the transition will not be easy for all.
No matter the sector, be it technology, finance, retail, manufacturing or any other, virtually all UK businesses rent their HQ and operational premises under commercial leases. Scott Keown offers some timely advice.
This year will witness the start of the glorious clean, lean years of recycling as any business that wants to embrace the green agenda in a meaningful way will have to re-examine how they manage their waste resources.
The rise of technology within FM continues to advance. The advent of predictive analytics, the internet of things and smart technology are all disrupting the traditional approach to facilities management.
An office relocation is an exciting time for an organisation. Whether it’s as a result of expansion and growth, acquisition, or the consolidation of existing buildings into one new space, it's a chance for a fresh start in new facilities.
Getting your workspace right can be a game-changer for any business. But how do you know what style will stand the test of time? What will the workplace of the future look like?
The traditional one-size-fits-all maintenance approach uses interval-based inspection, planned maintenance and reactive repair. Alistair Clements makes the case for a better solution.
Given what we already know, why isn't everyone making changes to create these, asks John O’Brien.
Rodrigue Zbinden considers the evolving role of access control systems and their benefits beyond the traditional use as a security technology.
FMs put wellness and the protection of the workforce right at the top of the agenda. So why, asks a new report, is no progress being made on the UK's highest reported workplace disease: hand arm vibration syndrome?
Economic growth, globalisation, technological development... here are a just some of the megatrends that are shaping the future of FM, analysed by the experts at ISS.
Increasing the cost-efficiency of a business, managing health and safety requirements, extending the lifespan of assets and monitoring and maintaining compliance all showcase the importance of facilities management today.
The latest in a series of i-FM features identifying some of the smaller, but growing players in UK FM.
The word wellness is everywhere. Type #Wellness into Instagram and you'll find 30 million posts ranging from bowls of green salads, to intense exercise routines, to bottles of activated charcoal. All with a collective 'shine' associated with good health.
The subject of emotional intelligence seems to be everywhere, in bookshops, magazines and Twitter feeds. But how relevant is all this to workplace design and management?
The why, when and what: insights and updates from the LGBT+ in FM committee.
Management guru Stephen Covey was always challenging people to think ahead and clearly define what they wish to achieve. He called it ‘starting with the end in mind’. Colin Dulson looks at what this idea means for FM.
Ian Osborne looks at the challenges awaiting facilities managers faced with the complexities of GDPR compliance.
Darren Hyde offers a top-ten to ensure the safety of your people and property in a world where challenges seem to grow steadily.
UK-based government solutions provider KBR is no stranger to the facilities management market. A major partner to 20% of the British armed forces, KBR also takes on contracts where they provide a client-side and strategic role.
How can facilities managers help workers create better lunchtime habits? Nick Hucker has some observations about current trends.
Is that a possibility, perhaps even a necessity? Paul Djuric looks at how ready the FM industry is for the arrival of big data.
Phil Smith offers some advice on moving into, and benefiting from, international partnerships in a fast-changing FM sector.
The impact of the Covid pandemic has been profound, and one area of that impact is the global gender gap.
On International Women’s Day, two views on women in the FM industry, from the team at ABM.
Corporate sustainability enables businesses to demonstrate that their operations facilitate economic and sustainable growth.
Legislation, regulation and contract compliance; KPIs, SLAs and QSHE; governance groups, industry bodies and those blasted consultants…
Now that the dust of innovation has settled on the hype around ChatGPT, it may be a good time to unpack the full implications of this technology.
Experience matters. To employees, businesses and customers. But positive experiences don’t emerge because of a new-fangled tool or a buzzword-filled communication strategy.
The focus of this year’s Workplace Futures conference is ‘technology in the workplace’. This raises some pressing questions, David Sharp writes.
But data is not the same as information. For decision-makers, data can be meaningless, even misleading.
The journey to net zero requires the right strategy to get there. Paul de Kock looks at what this means for businesses and their FM teams.
The world has been through a dramatic learning process, and everyone anticipated a new post-pandemic chapter. But that is still emerging, argues Raj Krishnamurthy.
Wireless IoT sensors are an affordable and easy-to-use solution for comprehensive data collection. Security, however, remains a worry.
The UK’s new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard comes into play in just over six months. Property owners and occupiers need to be aware.
Samsic UK recently launched its Samsic One app. Project lead John Conry Jnr explains the ethos behind it and what sets it apart.
Workplace culture has emerged as a key factor as companies navigate their strategies and try to ensure that their employees are happy and productive in the office.
A few months ago, the ex-chancellor promised to make Britain the ‘world’s first net zero-aligned financial centre’.
Many organisations assume that ESG is solely to do with reducing carbon emissions and, yes, this is a key element of good practice. But it is not the only one.
Environmental, social and governance issues are increasingly important across the commercial and public sectors. But there is still some misunderstanding in certain areas of compliance. Gordon Whyte makes the case for action.
Sodexo recently won the Social Impact & Diversity title at the 2022 Footprint awards for excellence in sustainability. Jayne Nightingale explains the actions and initiatives involved.
For decades the security sector has been trapped in what many may dub a race to the bottom.
The role of an employer in helping to keep their people healthy at work is a difficult one, and one that can’t be achieved with a didactic approach.
Gender balance is one of the five pillars that underpin the company’s new Diversity & Inclusion strategy.
For any company that has been around for a long time, change can be difficult to accept. After all, why change the core of a business which has stood the test of time?
Simon Ball reflects on 20 years in facilities management: what’s changed, what hasn’t and what needs to.
‘Collaboration’ is a term often bandied about in corporate boardrooms, rarely offering any true substance or tangible measurements.
Some companies are already showing that agility and the ability to quickly adapt to a new business environment is the key to success.
Employment solicitor Daniel Zona offers some advice on the rules covering hybrid and flexible working and how they might change.
For many, September marked a return to the office. And a shock to the system for many, too.
Last year the Covid-19 pandemic was, quite rightfully, at the forefront of all our minds. But we need to think again about our policies and practices.
In a customer-centric world, simply offering a service isn’t enough. The focus now rests on offering an experience that research shows drives over two-thirds of customer loyalty.
Facilities management has never had a higher profile, as FM has become a much-needed weapon in the fight against the coronavirus.
The Paris Agreement was heralded as a worldwide achievement. With the next conference due this autumn, countries have a chance to be leaders or followers. The same is true for companies: how will FM react?
I recall 2015 and 2016 very clearly. Those were years when we thought we knew what the future held for work, the workplace and facilities management in particular. We weren’t quite right.
Jeff Dewing argues the industry has a watershed moment to address its issues and shares his manifesto for change.
The past year has been very challenging for the security industry. The pandemic has caused massive disruption, but we can be proud of how our industry has supported clients.
For centuries, landlords have had the upper hand in the UK commercial property market.
‘Build back better’ has become one of the defining slogans of the past year. It needs actioning.
With International Women’s Day upon us, it is important to take a moment to reflect on the female leadership and resilience that has seen us through the pandemic.
Steve McGregor shares his company’s journey through the challenges and opportunities faced by the built environment sector over the past year.
Company culture is often discussed, but with so many organisations dispersed why does it matter now more than ever and how do we maintain it during these challenging times?
Of all the disciplines within the wider property arena, facilities management is that most accustomed to change. But are we ready for the coming year?
Another national lockdown presents a real challenge for many. But if it can provide the time needed to ready the workplace for a strong and safe return, it will be well worth the effort.
The facilities management Industry is going through an important transition period. And technology needs to be a part of that.
Today, Wednesday 21 October, is Thank Your Cleaner Day, marking a special day of recognition for cleaning teams up and down the country and across the globe. This has come at an appropriate time.
Thursday the 17th is Thank Your Security Officer Day, a Corps Security initiative timed explicitly to coincide with the international week of recognition, Security Officer Appreciation Week.
Mitie CEO Phil Bentley's four decades of work have left him with a few critical lessons learned.
Global giants Google and WWF turned heads this June after announcing the details of their environmental data platform, a joint initiative which aims to tackle harmful emissions and waste across fashion industry supply chains.
As we continue to emerge from lockdown and ease back into our ‘normal’ routines, we should take a moment to reflect on the past few months. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like everything since April has been a bit of a blur.
But are large, traditional deals like Mitie's acquisition of Interserve FM the answer, Guy Hewett asks.
On the 25 June Mitie announced its intention to acquire Interserve’s facilities management division following the signing of a conditional share purchase agreement.
The role of the facilities manager is evolving. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the workplace experience for companies in all industries, finance, retail and tech among them.
Maria Warner highlights how the waste sector has benefitted from a new hybrid business model in Oxford. Are there lessons here for FM more generally?
Coronavirus has made futurists of us all. This pandemic is responsible for the most severe change to life since the Second World War and now organisations are scrambling to understand what the ‘new normal’ will look like.
The government is wrong. Hot-desking is a good solution to get people back to work.
The subject of returning to work is on everyone's lips at the moment, following the relaxation in England of restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus.
Over the next few weeks and months, buildings across the country will start to be reoccupied. A gradual process, this will nevertheless presents enormous challenges to many businesses.
As companies start to understand the huge impact of covid-19, having to work extensively just to survive the unprecedented landscape, leadership teams are also faced with preparation efforts for what happens on the other side of the pandemic.
As the country continues to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, security officers have a vital role to play in keeping communities safe and helping to keep critical national infrastructure going.
Despite the concerns about the economy due to the type of Brexit we ultimately get and more recently Covid-19, one of the constants is that the facilities management sector remains positive.
That a leading FM industry event, Workplace Futures, has wellness as its theme is testament to the growing recognition of this as a vital part of any business. But why is it so important, and how can businesses ensure their strategies are effective?
The phrase 'business uncertainty' is becoming more prevalent as the implementation of Brexit moves into a more intense phase. Martin Reed, looks at the impact this is having both for his company and the sector as a whole.
In the year 2020, I am approximately 43 years into a career that has been more or less exclusively focused on corporate real estate. So writes Chris Hood, looking back in order to see forward more clearly.
The BBC's 2019 drama The Capture, about a young soldier accused of a crime he denies, feels particularly pertinent for these times of tumultuous politics and rapid technological advancement.
Recent research looking at women in facilities management relayed the disappointing finding that half of FM businesses in the UK have no female representation at board level.
If organisations were to remove their commitments to recycling from annual reports, would they risk an adverse judgement? And how does this reflect on the role of waste management?
The concept of social value, and the notion that businesses should be striving to improve economic prosperity, is not a new thing. As a marketing professional, I have been developing these themes for some time now.
A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to lead the UK financial and professional services outsourcing business for one of the world’s largest technology companies. We worked with some of the biggest banks, law firms and advisory groups.
When we work with clients on outsourcing projects, we’re often asked the same question: once my new provider is in place, how can I ensure they are delivering on everything agreed?
The only thing that is constant is change: perhaps a fair observation for the wider facilities management and contract service industry in 2019. So what are the main influencers and disruptors of the moment?
The facilities management industry has been a place that's good for everyone. The slow and steady growth seemed guaranteed, and there was a well-known operating model for how to win. But the good times are over.
Active Workplace Solutions worked with online facilities management resource and insights provider i-FM to survey FM practitioners on the key issues, needs and opportunities they face today. The research provided some interesting insights.
Received wisdom says that open plan offices are good for both employer and employee because they promote face-to-face collaborative working and, as a result, help harness creativity and improve teamwork.
SMEs continue to be undervalued and under-represented in FM. But they offer numerous benefits and it’s high time we offered them more support to enter and stay in the supply chain.
Lately, there has been loads of copy dedicated to a very specific cohort of the workforce, namely millennials: their personalities, their requirements, what they’ll bring to the workforce and what employers shouldn’t expect from them.
The FM sector has a lot to gain by employing ex-armed forces personnel. But, the process of moving into a civilian role can be difficult. The Armed Forces Covenant ensures that those who have served are given a chance and treated fairly.
For the FM industry to drive innovation and deliver the superior performance customers demand, we must lead a radical overhaul of FM service supply chains, says Andrew Wood.
Retail centres are feeling the squeeze as customers place an ever higher value on their shopping experience. Paul Thrupp argues that the time is ripe for FM to step in as a central component to reviving the retail sector.
Unconscious bias has been common parlance in the business world for some years, and it continues to be one of the most important issues for business to recognise and manage.
Sunil Shah looks at the current practice of responsible business in the built environment and explains the collaborative approach that RICS is taking to create the new model necessary to transfer knowledge of sustainability through the property lifecycle.
On exactly the same day that yet another key supplier of services to the government ran into financial problems, last week saw a speaker from the Cabinet Office tell the Workplace Futures conference that "we need significant cultural change on all sides".
And that is what's stopping our future talent from joining what one student called a 'hidden industry'. Sienna Emanuel asked a group of students what we need to do.
"May you live in interesting times" is a Chinese curse that we would do well to consider long and hard right now.
Wednesday December 19th will see a debate in the Commons, pushing for the implementation of a mental health first aider in every workplace to help bridge the gap between mental health and physical health care legislation in business.
Carl Webb reviews the importance of considering whether a hired climate control arrangement makes more sense than a traditional purchase.
Today is World Values Day, an opportunity to think about the principles that are important to us and to act on them.
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.
Collaborations between facilities management membership bodies have happened before. So, what makes the partnership between RICS and IFMA any different?
The future is equal parts exciting and terrifying. New technologies are opening up a world of possibilities; but they are also raising real-world concerns, like who will use, manage and ultimately own the abundance of new data that is produced.
When it comes to cyber security, we are fighting a perception, potentially fuelled by the suppliers of stock photos, that hackers are fantastically smart, well resourced, highly (and predictably) motivated and dressed in hoodies.
If technology is going to become an increasingly necessary and perhaps even an enhancing part of FM going forward, how do we ensure that this promise is delivered? Mark Hazelwood looks at some of the issues.
Who is really responsible for compliance in an organisation? This was just one of many questions recently posed at the latest BIFM Leaders' Forum panel debate hosted by Churchill Service Solutions in London.
I think it’s very easy to talk down the FM industry right now; but more than ever I am seeing a real movement behind positive change and some urgency in creating a conversation that elevates the perception of the value of what FM does.
Harrison Briggs discusses the ever-changing requirements around compliance in the built environment.
It has become an industry adage that FM needs to move up the value chain, developing stronger, smarter working relationships with its customers. This is vital to the health of not just the industry but of customers' businesses too, says Jeff Flanagan.
That memorable line from A Few Good Men, a drama about two US Marines accused of murder, resonates with me every time I hear politicians speaking about the 'truth'.
In these uncertain times, how can CEOs and managing directors hope to deliver shareholder value, drive long-term profitability and create stability for their businesses?
With the world changing fast this is an important time to position facilities management as the lead enabling function for positive progress in multiple aspects of our lives, from the workplace through to cities. Geoff Prudence argues for greater focus.
Even before there was a Carillion, stretching back into the days of its Tarmac predecessors, this business was a pioneer of the facilities management industry. Now that it has crashed so spectacularly what should we take away from this sorry situation?
Could we be on the road to a completely new approach to buying and selling FM, something which might end the price-based tendering that has dragged the industry so much downhill?
The facilities management industry is familiar with the use of outsourced workers, of course. Currently, collective bargaining can only take place with the direct employer of those workers. Could that change?
The relationship between facilities management and the emerging discipline of Workplace has always been slightly awkward.