FACILITIES MANAGEMENT JOURNAL JOBS
FM CAREERS - CAREER LADDER
FMJ chats to a facilities professional about
how they got into the sector and takes a
look at their career path. This month we talk
to Claire Cox, Regional Facilities Manager,
South West & Wales at CBRE.
Name: Claire Cox
Current role:
Regional Facilities Manager,
South West & Wales and
winner of the Pattenmaker’s
Young FM Manager of the Year
2020
Employer: CBRE
How did you progress through
the profession to your current role?
I started my career in FM 12 years
ago as an Assistant Administrator.
Through my drive and determination
to enhance my skills and progress
my career, I gradually advanced into
my current role as Regional Facilities
Manager, South West & Wales. In my
current role I am responsible and
accountable for TFM service delivery
to 1,800 buildings across the South
West and Wales via a team of four Area
Managers and 85 engineers, with a
regional business value of £10 million
per annum and additional projects
revenue of £1.2 million.
What have you found the most
challenging experiences working in
FM?
The most challenging aspect of
my role is balancing all the key
requirements and allocating
su icient time to e ectively manage
and make improvements such
as; customer communications,
people management, finance and
compliance.
Are you a member of any FM
association or body and if so what
benefits do you think they provide?
I am a member of IWFM and
have been for several years. As a
dedicated platform for workplace and
facilities management professional
development, IWFM hosts a number
of conferences throughout the year
with guest speakers showcasing the
latest technology. These events and
the IWFM is a brilliant platform for
networking and sharing best practice.
What qualities do you think are
most needed for a successful career
in FM?
To be a successful FM professional, I
believe the main qualities are to be;
dynamic, resilient, innovative and have
a collaborative approach.
What has changed about your
job role since the COVID-19 crisis?
E.g. home working, furloughed,
redeployed?
My job has changed a lot since the
start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am
now working from home 100 per cent
of the time. Our reliance on technology
is sometimes criticised, however, the
pandemic has demonstrated – things
can still happen, but in a di erent way.
I have really enjoyed the benefits that
comes with working from home. This
has resulted in greater productivity
time allowing me to focus on my
strategic plan for my region.
What is your organisation
doing to ensure the wellbeing of
sta – whether working at home or
returning to the workplace?
We have appointed COVID Wardens
across our main sites to monitor and
manage behaviours. So far, we have
undertaken 125 site reoccupation
surveys and mapped out one-way
systems and safe zones. Alongside this,
360 additional Housekeepers have
been recruited who have delivered
a huge 16,000 additional hours per
week of touchpoint cleaning, we have
installed a total of 4,515 hand sanitiser
stations and implemented 28,000 new
pieces of social distancing signage to
help make our buildings a safer place
to be.
Do you believe the pandemic
has highlighted the important role
of the FM sector and what areas do
you see as most key?
Historically the FM industry has been
somewhat invisible and underrecognised
in terms of the part they
play in keeping businesses running
e ectively. With the changing
requirements of the workspace,
businesses and customers, have
recognised the pivotal part we play in
making sure our buildings are fit for
use and a safe place to work for their
colleagues.
What advice would you give
to someone coming into the
profession now?
The FM industry is fast paced and
requires determination, resilience and
innovative ways of working. FM is an
ever-changing environment now more
than ever and our role is to predict the
changing needs of our customers and
the environment.
Which of your achievements
are you most proud of during your
career?
My proudest moment is winning
Pattenmakers Young FM Manager of
the Year 2020. Winning the award has
given me the platform to encourage
other young people to start and
progress their career in FM.
What do you predict could be
the main changes to the FM sector
over the next few months and
years?
With the economic hit to businesses
across the UK, I foresee that
demonstrating value for money will
be one of the key priorities to all FM
providers. In addition to this, our
customers are working in a di erent
way and we need to align ourselves
to be able to deliver diverse service
solutions.
PATTENMAKERS
The Livery company the Worshipful
Company of Pattenmakers holds an
annual Young Manager Award aimed
which is open to managers aged 21-32
working in the FM sector, and there is
no cost to enter. The Pattenmakers is
one of the historic Livery Companies
of the City of London. In recent years
the Company has become the Livery
home of the FM industry.
The winner receives expert support
to create a varied and bespoke
personal development programme,
including o -site courses and a
programme of customised work
placements designed to broaden
their perspective. The training
programme will be developed in full
consultation with the winner’s line
manager or employer. There is also a
small financial bursary kindly donated
by learning provider International
Workplace. Employers may nominate
more than one young manager from
their organisation and the judges are
looking for a young manager who:
• Is enthusiastic about a career in FM
or the built environment;
• Can demonstrate their commitment
to their own personal development;
• Has potential for future promotion
to a senior role;
• Has a high standard of professional
ethics;
• Has or has had managerial
responsibility (people, facilities or
other resources);
• Can demonstrate initiative;
• Displays leadership behaviours
inside and outside of the workplace;
• Is aged 21-32;
• And has the support of their director
(or equivalent).
Would you, or someone you know, like to be featured in our career ladder column? If you’re an operational
FM with more than 10 years’ experience in the sector, then email sara.bean@kpmmedia.co.uk
54 NOVEMBER 2020
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