In FMJ's regular monthly column, our team of FM experts answer your
THE IWFM’S VIEW
LINDA HAUSMANIS,
CEO OF IWFM
questions about the world of facilities management
It’s been two years since the launch
of the Institute of Workplace and
Facilities Management (IWFM). The
move marked a bold new direction
for the Institute. We sought to reframe
the rationale for FM to foster a better
understanding of the value that
facilities and workplace professionals
can contribute to the success of
organisations, and to empower and enable them to reach their
full potential.
At the time of the name change, we set out our ambition
to become a chartered professional body; and as we
illustrated to members at our AGM last month,
the work we have been doing since that time is
focussed on meeting the conditions necessary
to achieve that goal.
Back in 2018, no one predicted the global
crisis that has unfolded this year – up-ending
society and the economy and transforming
the way we work, perhaps forever. Yet in
the face of the biggest challenge we have
seen in decades, the workplace and facilities
profession has proven itself to be innovative,
resilient and above all, essential.
Far from making the role of these professionals
irrelevant, the shi of hundreds of thousands of
employees to a remote-working model has proven just how
vital the profession is to the success of organisations. From
20 NOVEMBER 2020
the start of the crisis, this
‘super connecter’ profession
has held the key to bringing
together the space, culture and
technology aspects of work into
a coherent whole, a workplace
strategy, that has enabled
organisations and individuals to
remain productive, whatever their
setting. From managing the transition
to remote working, to reviewing business
continuity plans, overseeing deep cleaning and
maintaining essential infrastructure, workplace and
facilities managers hold many of the levers fundamental to
maintaining an e ective and productive workplace experience,
and supporting organisational performance. Their e ect was
perfectly encapsulated at the recent 2020 IWFM Impact Awards.
Throughout the crisis, IWFM has redoubled its commitment to
supporting our members; helping them to enact their plans to
keep us safe, maintain productivity and help the UK economy
bounce back. We launched a dedicated website hub for sharing
resources and best practice guidance to help members navigate
the pandemic – from cleaning regulations and procedures to risk
and business continuity management and guidance on returning
to the workplace. Our popular weekly webinars continue to
engage and inform thousands of professionals on a diversity
of matters from catering to the future of work, and everything
between; and to make sure our members’ professional
development can continue unhindered we’ve made all our
flagship activities available online.
It’s a tough climate for everybody right now and professional
bodies are no exception. Despite the twin headwinds of Brexit
uncertainty and a global pandemic, we remain committed to
becoming a chartered professional body as part of our vision 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.
IWFM remains committed to supporting
new and existing members through the
challenging months and years to come,
as they navigate and forge innovative
approaches to the new world of work.
THE PUBLISHER’S VIEW
DAVID EMANUEL,
MANAGING DIRECTOR I-FM
I don't think the plans to get chartered status
were ever really fully calculated or developed.
I tried to get some tangible data on timings, cost and
probability of success two years ago from the then Chair as I
FM CLINIC
This November marks
two years since the
British Institute of
Facilities Management
(BIFM) became the
Institute of Workplace
and Facilities Management
(IWFM) with the aim of
working towards chartered
body status. Have those plans been
derailed by the impact of the pandemic?
What is the IWFM doing to help existing
members through these challenging times? How can
the Institute remain relevant to up and coming FMs
and attract and retain membership levels?
Linda Hausmanis
ADVICE & OPINION
It’s a tough climate for
everybody right now and
professional bodies are no exception.
Despite the twin headwinds of Brexit
uncertainty and a global pandemic, we
remain committed to becoming a
chartered professional body.”
Linda Hausmanis