Career of ChoiceWorkplace and facilities management

GUIDANCE FOR STUDENTS

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Career of Choice

2-3 What is facilities management?

4-5 What’s the difference between FM and workplace?

6-7 Same profession, many names

8-9 Making the world a better place

12-13 What does being an FM involve doing?

14-15 New digital opportunities for workplace

16-17 I’m interested. What should I do?

18-19 What’s your superpower?

20-21 What do you stand for?

23-25 Planning ahead towards workplace and FM

Contents

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What is facilities management?

Look at the skyline of your local town or city. Think about all the different buildingsyou might spot, from skyscrapers to stadiums, hospitals to schools, and shoppingcentres to museums, as well as the houses and areas like parks in-between.

Have you ever thought about all those buildings, and everything that needs to happen in them, so for example your favourite shopping centre can open for you? Or for your local cinema to be able to show films, day in, day out? Or so teams can play at your favourite sports club? Or what needs to happen in airports so that planes and passengers can come and go efficiently?

In all of these places people are busy working. Many have different customers too – visitors, spectators, patients, travellers, students and so on. But how do these diverse workplaces function? What’s happening behind the scenes so that people can do their jobs happily and effectively? Buildings and spaces of all shapes and sizes have a whole range of clever things going on in the background to ensure things work properly. But who keeps everything running smoothly?

We’ve known for years that places have a huge impact on how people feel and perform, but we’re only just starting to acknowledge just how significant this is. Even though much of our lives are now spent online with each other virtually, everything still happens somewhere. You might be on your phone chatting to someone far away, but you’re standing, sitting or lying somewhere, in real life!

And it’s that very real, physical somewhere that needs better attention – because how a place makes us feel has an important impact on how well we can do what we do. Think about your own school for a moment, and other places you go. Which help you feel more positive and confident, and which places less so? Why do you think that is?

To perform well we need to feel energised, inspired, supported and valued. The buildings where we learn, work and play can contribute to this in a significant way. We have to create workplaces that help both groups of people and individuals to be at their best. And even though it’s easy to take it for granted, none of this happens by magic. There are all kinds of different skills, activities and knowledge required.

Lots of different roles contribute to creating and maintaining our built environment. Looking after everything to do with the physical part of our buildings on an ongoing basis – that’s facilities management, or FM for short. So, do you fancy an active career where you get to work with all sorts of different people, make a real difference to the world around you, and there’s rarely a dull moment? Then read on…

Career of Choice

We have to create workplaces that help both groups of people and individuals to be

at their best.

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What’s the difference between FM and workplace? FM is all about

creating the best workplace environment for companies of all shapes and sizes

to perform to their very best.

Think about it a bit like this...

Imagine an empty stadium, booked for a huge music concert. If the gig is the ‘work’ the band do then the transformed stadium and the stage is the workplace, and FM is the team who help make it all happen – before, during and after the concert.

Without careful attention to a host of tiny details in advance, and without dealing with any issues as the concert takes place, nothing can happen successfully. Well it could happen, but the band would have to do it themselves (when they should be rehearsing) or play an acoustic set that no-one could hear or see properly. In other words, the set-up (of the workplace) is critical to the gig (the work) itself.

If the workplace and FM is right, then the concert rocks, literally! Everything works perfectly. The musicians play their hearts out. The audience is delighted. The mood is high and the venue shines – the experience is magical. Just think how proud the team who made that happen for everyone involved must feel!

So, FM is all about creating the best workplace environment for companies of all shapes and sizes to perform to their very best. Businesses are increasingly interested in improving their workplaces and need talented people to help them achieve this – what ideas and skills could you bring to help the profession?

ROBYN DAVIES – THOUGHTS ON WORKPLACE AND FM

Robyn is a Junior Facilities Manager Assistant at Anabas, a UK FM service provider. She’s currently studying for an Honours Degree in Facilities Management.

What’s the best part of your job?My favourite thing is that every day is different. One day I’ll be preparing for a health and safety review and the next day I will be assisting an engineer to find a supplier for some bizarre building material! I also love working within the team to solve problems and start new exciting projects.

Where do you make the biggest difference?Building good relationships with my team, our clients, and our suppliers. Solid relationships build trust, which makes our overall performance increase.

What are you most proud of?Looking for opportunities to improve systems and procedures. Sometimes small changes make a big difference. It’s exciting!

What’s FM’s impact on global issues like the environment and sustainability?We can implement various systems which will help improve the environment. I’ve helped implement a waste management strategy which encourages recycling and safe disposal of other waste like batteries, printer toners, computers and food waste.

What’s the next ‘big thing’ for the profession?Technology has a big role to play in the future of FM, introducing efficiencies into daily operations through programable automation and repetition. Buildings will become ‘smarter’, with things like computerised maintenance management systems.

I also think the next ‘big thing’ is for FM to become a career choice at universities in the UK and across the world, so that students can study the profession once they have completed their A-levels.

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the profession?Success is earned by working hard, asking questions, getting involved, networking and developing yourself through challenges. If you’re wanting to start your FM career, enrol on a relevant course and attend any events near you. IWFM is a great community full of inspirational individuals willing to help you progress your FM career.

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Career of Choice

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Same profession, many names

FM goes by many names. This is because of how it has evolvedin different industries over the past 40 years or so. For example, universities and hospitals often have estates and FM departments, whereas businesses often have office or facilities managers.

Sometimes FM gets combined with other responsibilities like financial and people management, especially in smaller organisations. Practice managers at doctors’ surgeries are a great example of this. So are school

headteachers for that matter!

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Career of Choice

It’s also important to realise that different types of businesses need completely different workplace and FM solutions – just like different types of people often have completely different needs.

Another recent trend is that more and more companies are changing their team names from FM (what they do) to workplace (what they are responsible for). Whatever the title, you can think of them as the team:

In schools and universities who ensure all the different spaces are ready for students and teachers

to learn, study and play in

In theme parks who ensure all the rides, refreshment areas and everything in-between are safe and inviting for all

the excited visitors

In shopping centres who ensure all the different shops, inside and

outside areas are spotless and welcoming for all the customers

In businesses who ensure the different workspaces make it easy for people to perform at

their very best

In hospitals who ensure the different spaces are spotless and

functional so the medical staff can help their patients get better

In sports stadiums and entertainment arenas who ensure the competition or performance and spectator areas are in great

condition for the event

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Making the world a better place

Workplace and FM also has a huge role to play in addressing our biggestenvironmental, societal and economic issues of the 21st century. We know we have major global challenges like pollution and waste, climate change, inequality and poverty to address. And if you think about it, our biggest single impact on the natural environment is buildings.

From their construction process and all the materials needed, to their lifetime of use with all the energy, products and services consumed, our buildings have a huge impact. It’s critical that we face up to these challenges by ensuring our existing and future buildings:

All of these big issues and many more fall right at the feet of FM. The way we decide how to address them has a major bearing on our world, and we all have a part to play. The profession has to grapple with this, now more than ever – and it needs new passion, persistence and ingenuity to make a meaningful difference.

Have as little impact on the earth’s resources as possible

Contribute to solving global pollution and waste problems,

like single-use plastics

Make the very best use of natural light and ventilation, alongside other

energy-efficient services

In our increasingly globally and digitally connected world it’s also more important than ever to think about our social and societal challenges, including how to:

Ensure people feel safe, comfortable and confident

to be themselves

Address new ethical challenges like privacy and data use in an

increasingly digital society

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Career of Choice

All of these big issues and many more fall

right at the feet of an FM. The way we decide how to address them

has a major bearing on our world, and we

all have a part to play.

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CONRAD DINSMORE – THOUGHTS ON WORKPLACE AND FM

Conrad won the IWFM Newcomer of the Year award in 2017. His route into FM followed an Honours Degree in Construction Engineering and Management. Conrad currently works for ISS, an international FM service provider, as a Buildings Innovations Manager.

What’s the best part of your job?I love that my role allows me to bring new innovations to my customers through collaborative projects, to influence and improve the work environment.

Where do you make the biggest difference?My ability to use data to identify projects that will not only make a difference today but in the future, and then work at speed to deliver them.

What are you most proud of?I want to ensure I’m combining my purpose with my passions for any job I do. My role allows me to stick to my personal values, and these values helped me win Newcomer of the Year in 2017. This has been my proudest moment so far!

What’s FM’s impact on global issues like the environment and sustainability?We have the tools and knowledge to ensure our customers’ buildings are as energy efficient and eco-friendly as possible, and that all the products we products use are sustainably sourced and not harmful to the environment.

What’s the next ‘big thing’ for the profession?Data scientists will be a big game changer in our industry. They will allow us to make proactive decisions and move away from reactive based works.

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the profession?It’s important to understand your skills and how you like to use them. There are multiple areas and opportunities you can jump and move between. Qualifications are important to show an employer the level you are capable of working at. For me, university and then a graduate programme was the perfect route into the industry.

Career of Choice

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What does being an FM involve doing?

It’s hard to imagine any company being able to function properly without someone,or some team, looking after its workplace. It’s a unique role in this respect – it affects all aspects of business performance. And there’s no doubt about it, when you are responsible for the workplace of loads of different people, two days are rarely the same in FM!

You have to be able to juggle a wide range of different responsibilities. After people costs (salaries and benefits etc.) building costs are the second largest expenditure for most businesses. There’s a lot to consider, and it needs a huge range of roles, knowledge and skills to be able to:

Understand people and solve their problems

Create great customer experiences

Spot opportunities and plan for the future

Plan for and respond to emergency situations

Understand legislation and ensure compliance

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Career of Choice

How these different capabilities are needed depends on the type of company or workplace you’re involved with.

Although a football stadium or an entertainment arenamight seem very different to a hospital or a universitythe core elements are actually very similar.

To be truly successful a FM team needs a really wide range of talents. The amount of diversity needed in FM is one of its most amazing opportunities. And it’s this that makes the profession really attractive for so many people.

Create great customer experiences

Code and analyse data

Manage the performance of your own area

Celebrate and advertise your successesGrow and learn

from your failures

Design solutions for peoples’ needs

Research and develop new innovations

Organise resources and deliver projects

Lead and inspire others to do great work

To be truly successful an FM

team needs a really wide range

of talents.

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The fact that great buildings can help people to do great things together has

been known for a long time, along with a rich understanding about

what goes into making workplaces great.

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Career of Choice

New digital workplace opportunities for FM

Right now workplace is getting more attention than ever. This is partly due to themeteoric rise of digital technology companies. Household names like Amazon, Google and Apple invest literally £billions in their company buildings all over the world. This is because despite being digital businesses, they all understand that their buildings are critical to attract the very best people, make them feel valued, and enable them to get great work done.

But it’s not just about the beautiful architecture and design from the outside. The fact that great buildings can help people to do great things together has been known for a long time, along with a rich understanding about what goes into making workplaces great. These tech giants, amongst others, have helped take these ideas mainstream. When companies like this make news headlines, it creates a ripple effect that encourages other businesses to take notice.

There’s a challenge though. As the world becomes increasingly digital and complex, so do our buildings and the technology we can use to get the best from them. So this in turn creates an opportunity for far greater digital skills and capabilities within the profession. FM might have been born when the web, smartphones and the Internet of Things only existed in sci-fi stories, but its future is increasingly about how to use digital technology to people’s advantage.

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LAURA BIRNBAUM – THOUGHTS ON WORKPLACE AND FM

Laura won the IWFM Manager of the Year award in 2018, in her role as a Deputy Director for the Ministry of Justice. Laura’s route into the profession was through Surveying, following a Geography degree, then a qualification in Real Estate Management.

What’s the best part of your job?Working with a diverse and committed community of property professionals. We are united in trying to make a real impact on our surroundings and the environment of others.

Where do you make the biggest difference?I’m a leader of a large expert team. I aim to make a difference by bringing together different expertise to result in a whole team that is greater than the sum of its parts. We solve complex issues faced in our estate to improve the user experience in our buildings.

What are you most proud of?The opportunity to work with an inspiring team. Together we navigatechallenges which constantly teach me new things about both propertyand the impact it can make on its users.

What’s FM’s impact on global issues like the environment and sustainability?We impact both in local, specific ways and on a much grander scale, as your career develops. When I look at the statistics of water and utility use across our buildings or the waste they generate, I really see the opportunity to both make a difference and create a culture where users of the buildings are more mindful of sustainability.

What’s the next ‘big thing’ for the profession?There’s a growing realisation that people make places, but those places can also impact on the behaviour and productivity of their users. The increased availability of data and digital automation is freeing up time to explore how workplaces can help business cultures even more.

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the profession?Find the part of the property industry that most enthuses you and build from there. I was inspired by the interaction between space, place and people by my Mum’s work as an artist. I was fortunate to be able to study this further in my Geography degree at university.

Work placements are a very useful way to explore the diversity ofthe FM profession.

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Career of Choice

I’m interested. What should I do?

Some professions are relatively straightforward to plan towards. For example, if you want to be an architect, engineer, software developer or chef, you can map out the subjects and activities that will help you work towards the right courses or qualifications to get your career off to a flying start.

FM is a bit different, because workplaces vary so much. We’ll get to the different courses and learning opportunities soon. But because – as we explained above – the knowledge and skills needed are so varied, our advice is actually not to focus on the job right now, but to focus on you.

Because the opportunities are so diverse, that advice you’ve probably often heard – work out what you enjoy doing, are interested in, and can get really good at – holds true. In other words, you need to figure out what your ‘superpower’ is and what you stand for, then start exploring how your talents can help make a difference to workplaces in the future.

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What’s your superpower?

We’ve all got strengths and weaknesses. You’re probably aware of some of yours already, and you’ll discover more as you develop and progress through life. That’s part of what being human is all about.

It’s also true that when we have the opportunity to excel at something, to help make a success of something that’s really important to us, this is when we are motivated to perform to our very best.

So get ready (putting your pants on over your trousers is optional) – it’s time to consider some big questions!

What do you know about yourself already? What are you good at, and what do you think you could become great at? This doesn’t just mean school subjects or the different sports you’ve tried. What else have you noticed about yourself based on the way you prefer to do things, and also how you relate to other people?

Do you like to work quietly, maybe fascinated by ideas. Are you good at carefully studying data to solve problems and explore the evidence for something?

Do you like activity and inspiration, working and having fun with people, preferring to try lots of interesting new things quickly rather than focus on the details?

Are you confident and independent, keen to take the initiative and comfortable to organise groups of people to get important things done?

Are you caring, friendly and understanding, often trying to connect people or help them resolve problems and get along, always ready to help when asked?

This is important because if you’re honest about how you are (rather than how you might want to be) when you respond to these questions, they’ll give you some vital clues about your superpower. The next step is starting to explore what workplace or FM opportunities your superpower might hold. For example:

If you’re amazing at analysing and using data, you might find yourself at the cutting edge of the profession’s emerging digital technology capabilities, in and around the data science field.

If you’re fantastic at spotting new ideas and harnessing opportunities, you might be attracted to the brand and marketing needs of the profession, inspiring others to understand the potential of workplace to make a difference.

If you’re phenomenal at inspiring people to get things done, you might gravitate towards leadership or change roles, helping motivate, develop and transform both the people around you and their workplaces.

If you’re a superb at understanding the needs of other people, you might be attracted to the world of workplace experience, considering your workplace customer needs and ensuring their wellbeing and happiness.

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Career of Choice

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What do you stand for?

This is important because of where it might lead you – the type of company you might want to be part of, because of what they do. Have a think about these questions next:

If you had to do a project about something in the world that needs fixing or making better, what topic would you choose, and why?

If you were going to raise money for a charity, which charity would you choose, and why?

What could you spend hours and hours learning about and never get bored?

What would you choose to do for five years straight without getting paid, if the money you needed to get by was taken care of?

Don’t be surprised if it these answers don’t come easily. They’re big questions, and you might need to ponder them for a while. Sometimes experimenting with different things – for example volunteering for things that interest you – can be a really useful way to test your hunches. There are clues everywhere though, if you learn to tune into them.

Once you’ve thought this through you can start looking for the sort of companies, or types of company, who care about the same things as you. Some will be more obvious than others. For example, some people join the NHS because they believe in a fair healthcare service that treats the rich and the poor equally. Others become teachers because they believe everyone has the right to a high standard of education.

Don’t forget, hospitals, schools and colleges struggle to be successful without great workplaces!

Ok, so you’ve started to spot yourpotential superpower. The other thing to work out is what you’re really passionate about, and why.

Alternatively, some people join (and create) businesses because they want to help make a change they passionately believe in.

Growing concerns about climate change have triggered an electric power revolution in the car industry. So you’re passionate about environmental sustainability and renewable power, this is a really interesting field right now.

Have a look back at the ‘making the world a better place’ section above. What opportunities can you spot with the sorts of companies that appeal to you, because of what they are trying to achieve or change?

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Once you’ve thought this through you can start looking for the

sort of companies, or types of company, who

care about the same things as you.

Career of Choice

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PAUL URMSTON – THOUGHTS ON WORKPLACE AND FM

Paul is an Area Workplace Manger at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS). He is an Economics graduate who found his way into workplace at RBS through their graduate scheme.

What’s the best part of your job?The variation in the role. It always amazes me what goes on behind the scenes of running a property, and the more strategic elements you get pulled into are fascinating too.

Where do you make the biggest difference?Providing and supporting a workplace that the occupants can use seamlessly for whatever their goals are. Being able to work without hindrance is down to all our hard work behind the scenes.

What’s FM’s impact on global issues like the environment and sustainability?We are working as hard as we can to ensure our buildings are as environmentally friendly as possible. We have set a target to remove single use plastic and send zero waste to landfill by 2025. Our initiatives are helping change the mind-set of all the occupants of our buildings.

What’s the next ‘big thing’ for the profession?There are two. The first is the technology disruption that is going to impact our profession. Technology is developing at an exponential rate. This will change the fundamental nature of the work we do. The second is the changing workforce that makes up our industry. Proportionally we are heavy on older workers, meaning soon there will be lots of opportunities for younger generations to join and bring in a different perspective.

What advice would you give someone wanting to get into the profession?Next time you are in school, college or university, take a minute to think about what is going on behind the scenes to provide you with the setting you are in. Find the FM team and ask to spend some time looking at what goes on behind the scenes.

My route into FM was accidental but came through expanding my network. If you’re interested in FM as a career, you should do the same.

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Career of Choice

Planning ahead towards workplace and FM

Bringing these new thoughts and ideas together, you can start to consider how to planahead. We’re not asking you sign on the dotted line to become part of the workplace and FM profession right now! But what we are suggesting is that there are fantastic opportunities out there to create amazing workplaces and be part of FM for companies and initiatives you can be really proud to be part of.

There are a range of things you can do as you move through your education to help set you up for success. Here are some key things to consider:

Subjects to chooseGo back to your superpower. What are you good at, what do you get excited about, and why?

Which subjects, at both GCSE and A-Level, seem like they are going to help power you up even more? Better still if they have good people, place, design, technical, science and technology links.

Remember though that the subject titles might not be the only thing you need to consider. Have a good look at the course (curriculum) contents too, and also the way you’ll be learning, from reading and writing, to more active forms of learning like discussion, group work and experimentation.

Work experienceWhere can you aim to be placed to experience a company, a workplace, or an FM role or area that you could get excited about? As well as approaching local employers (who may have their own FM teams ‘in house’) you could consider the following types of business:

• FM service providers – who deliver FM services for other businesses, and who often operate all over the UK and beyond

• Workplace consultancies – who help companies work out how to improve their workplaces, so they and their people perform better

• Workplace data analytics companies – who work with other businesses to capture different types of workplace data to identify opportunities for improvement

• Workplace designers (and internal architects) – who help companies design and transform their workplaces from the inside out

• Professional bodies who represent workplace and FM – who represent the profession by working with members and companies to improve workplace and FM

If you want to explore a work experience opportunity in workplace and FM and your teachers or career advisors aren’t able to advise, contact IWFM for some extra help (the contact details are at the end of this information guide).

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ApprenticeshipsIf a job feels like a better option than more education when you finish school or college, an apprenticeship could be the answer. Apprenticeships are genuine jobs combined with further learning opportunities, which means you’ll be earning a salary from the start – at least the national minimum apprenticeship wage, and many employers pay significantly more.

You can find further information on the www.apprenticeships.gov.uk and https://www.gov.uk/education/apprenticeships-traineeships-and-internships websites. There are videos of current apprentices and search and application tools alongside other resources.

Higher (or degree)apprenticeshipsHigher apprenticeships are a relatively new option, launched in 2015 by the government to encourage UK businesses to develop their people. Essentially, they’re a way to gain an undergraduate (degree) level qualification, learn professional skills, and progress your career while you’re working. This means you’ll need to get a job that supports a higher apprenticeship in or around FM, and you’ll study part time while working full time. You’ll be paid a salary, the business will pay your university fees (so you can leave university debt free) and you should be guaranteed an ongoing job once you finish the course.

For more information and resources on all apprenticeships visit:www.apprenticeships.gov.uk, orwww.gov.uk/education/apprenticeships- traineeships-and-internships.

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Career of Choice

Professional qualificationsProfessional qualifications – for instance IWFM’s range of specific FM and workplace qualifications – provide independent evidence that you have mastered the subject at the level you have studied it – so they can help make your CV stand out. They are also linked to their ‘professional standards’ framework, showing all the competencies you’ll need to think about as you progress your career.

People often choose their professional qualification to help their next career step. There are wide range of professional qualifications in FM and workplace on offer, from level 2 (GSCE level) and level 3 (A-Level) all the way up to level 7 (equivalent to Masters degree level).

If you’d like to learn more about professional qualifications in FM and workplace and where to study towards one, visit: www.iwfm.org.uk/professional-development

University degreesThere are a range of degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate level in FM, workplace and related areas like business management, construction, architecture and surveying. Some treat FM as more of a technical discipline (look for the ‘Sc’ in the degree qualification – it stands for ‘science’) and some treat FM as more of a business discipline (look for the ‘A’, or ‘BA’ in the qualification – they stand for ‘arts’ and ‘business administration’ respectively). If you really enjoy learning about workplace and FM, you can even become an academic doctor – an ‘official’ expert in the field!

Degrees in FM and workplace aren’t offered by all universities, so you’ll have to look carefully, but those who do are usually experts in the field and well connected with future employers. If you’re looking at university courses, visit the university before you commit and make a point of going to meet the people who will actually be teaching you. Feeling comfortable about where you’ll be learning and who you’ll be with is really important – because as you should know by now – our workplaces really matter!

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The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) is the body for workplace and facilities professionals.

We exist to promote excellence among a worldwide community of over 17,000 and to demonstrate the value and contribution of workplace and facilities management more widely.

We empower professionals to upskill and reach their potential for a rewarding, impactful career. We do this by advancing professional standards, offering guidance and training, developing new insights and sharing best practice.

As the pioneering workplace and facilities management body, our vision is to drive change for the future. To be the trusted voice of a distinct profession recognised, beyond the built environment, for its ability to enable people to transform organisations and their performance.

The IWFM was established in 2018. It builds on the proud heritage of 25 years as the British Institute of Facilities Management.

Want to know more?For further guidance and resources for students and parents visit our information hub: www.iwfm.org.uk/career-of-choice

Acknowledgments A huge thank you to all the young people, parents, teachers, IWFM ambassadors and volunteers who helped to make this document as useful as possible for all the young people, parents and teachers we hope will be inspired by it.

IWFMCharringtons House1st Floor SouthThe CausewayBishop’s StortfordHertfordshire CM23 2ER

T +44 (0)1279 712 620E myfuture@iwfm.org.ukwww.iwfm.org.uk