FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
CHANGE MANAGEMENT EXPERT’S VIEW
RACHEL HOUGHTON
MANAGING DIRECTOR, BUSINESS MOVES GROUP
The Autumn budget announcement will have a significant impact on the FM industry, specifically the adjustments to National Insurance contributions. The increase from 13.8 per cent to 15 per cent in April could lead to cost pressures that mean some organisations, especially small to medium-sized enterprises, hesitate to acquire new talent or expand their workforce. That, in turn, could affect their demand and require reallocation of existing resources that impact the quality of their services.
This reallocation will need to leverage new technology to further improve employee engagement in office spaces. That could also feed into sustainability goals – an ever-growing priority that requires new technology investments and targets against regulatory targets. FM will need to remain adaptable in its resource reallocation to help clients innovate amid budget constraints.
Adaptability is especially important due to recent mandates enforcing a return to the office. That could reshape work dynamics and create another wave of talent availability fluctuations, as some employees seek out flexible work options elsewhere. The shift could open opportunities for new hires in the FM space, but fluctuating occupancy of office workers could pose challenges for FMs to meet changing demands.
Creating valuable experiences in office spaces should be the focus of new investments, especially in areas such as noise suppression, lighting, heating and air quality. These can be controlled through technology such as sensors, smart building systems, IoT and AI-driven predictive maintenance. Investments in space management tools and real-time data analytics will also help FM teams meet evolving needs. These spaces also need to be adaptable to individual preferences, allowing for personal autonomy via new technology.
Speaking of personal autonomy, new employment legislation, including the new duty under the 2010 Equality Act to enhance protections for employees against sexual harassment, will change how employers support their employees. Employers need to update their policies to meet new regulations and create safe, inclusive environments. This is especially important in the FM industry, where lone workers often operate and may be vulnerable, for example, when travelling home at night. Further overhauls in employment legislation will also require close attention over the next year.
