NEWS & ANALYSIS FMJ.CO.UK
ASSOCIATION NEWS
8 SEPTEMBER 2021
THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING OPERATIONS
STANDARD (IBOS) CAN HELP DELIVER SAFE SPACES
As more people
return to the
workplace, the facilities
management profession has an opportunity to
further demonstrate the value of its expertise
in leading organisations towards safe and
purposeful decision-making on spaces that better
support their people. The latest RICS FM Market
Survey reflected this trend by recording the
highest demand for FM professionals since the
survey began.
Safety is still the priority, and measures put
in place through the pandemic are likely to
continue to bring reassurance to workers and
ensure organisations are geared up for changes
in government advice and restrictions. This
means reduced capacity will likely continue and
measures such as signage and oneway
flows will
probably be retained. These processes speak to
the important balance that will need to be struck
in making workers feel safe while also providing
a functioning, productive oƒ ice. A strong focus
on communicating with the people returning
to buildings will continue and in fact, this is two
way. It will be as much about understanding what
workers need from their spaces, as it will be about
communicating measures and requirements they
will need to follow.
COVID19
has also accelerated adaptation,
innovation and trends in oƒ ice usage and design.
More evidence and data need to be captured
before we have concrete solutions for what the
future oƒ ice should look like; for instance, would
opening an oƒ ice filled with collaboration space
alienate those who need to work alone in a quiet
environment but don’t have that space at home?
Not everyone wants to use a building the same
way, so how do we serve all the people who need
to use it?
Measurement is vital in terms of user experience,
business performance, financial cost and so much
more – it’s a constantly evolving process that
will determine how organisations can use space
eƒ ectively and eƒ iciently. RICS is developing a new
standard – the International Building Operations
Standard (IBOS)
that will clearly set out the
data that needs to be captured across a range of
indictors to ensure that building performance can
be measured not only for compliance and cost
purposes, but also to assess how it impacts user
experience.
As we accelerate into this new era, the role of
buildings in terms of the contribution to human
experience and the environment will come under
increased scrutiny. The need for buildings to
perform well must be considered across all asset
classes and not simply oƒ ices. Nowhere is this
better illustrated than in the recent debates on
air quality and heating in schools and how that
may impact the wellbeing and performance of
our children. It is critical that the FM industry is
able to deliver high performance in all buildings
but absolutely vital to this is the need to be able
to measure this consistently. This is the challenge
that IBOS is attempting to meet by setting out clear
data requirements across a range of indicators that
will enable improvement to be demonstrated.
Many people will be nervous about the commute
to the oƒ ice so no organisation wants the return to
the oƒ ice to also be anxietyinducing.
This is a real
opportunity to reimagine how we in the FM sector
use space and create great new environments that
people want to work in.
REFLECTIONS AND PROJECTIONS
A year removed from the first virtual IWFM
Conference, I am excited to be days
away from finally welcoming delegates,
in person, to our first hybrid Conference with
an exciting roster of speakers who will help
workplace and facilities professionals in
‘Emerging stronger’ post-pandemic.
When we set last year’s theme as ‘Navigating turbulent times’, we had no
idea just how disruptive 2020 would prove to be, nor that we wouldn’t have the
pleasure of meeting delegates in the flesh as the pandemic continued to create
great uncertainty and suƒ ering. Last month we published our 2020 Annual
Review and this gave me pause to reflect on all that we and our dedicated
volunteers achieved in the midst of such immense challenges.
Like millions of businesses, IWFM was impacted by the pandemic. We might
easily have lowered our pulse and hibernated, but our priority was to support our
members who were doing so much to help the national eƒ ort.
Instead of shutting down we doubled down and focused our energy on creating
member value and adapting our entire oƒ ering to the virtual world; from our
AGM, Impact Awards and Conference, all of which appeared on screen for the first
time, to a free weekly webinar programme featuring new research, insights, as
well as our policy work, good practice guidance and even personal development.
We further helped CPD and professional development to continue by switching
facetoface
Academy training courses to ‘virtual facetoface’
delivery with a new
platform and bespoke oƒ ers.
We provided targeted assistance to those furloughed or in financial diƒ iculty
and to our learners who gained extra time to complete qualifications. Guided by
an Extraordinary Finance Committee, we acted with prudence, cut costs where
possible and availed ourselves, modestly, of help.
These actions created solid foundations for us to grow in 2021 and capitalise on
the postpandemic
recovery. Now we are set to help our profession do the same
with an unmissable IWFM Conference 2021 programme taking place on Monday
13 September at etc. Venues, St Paul’s, London.
The event will pair a physical delegate experience with a digital one in a curated
blend of worldrenowned
thought leadership and cuttingedge
best practice.
Whether you’re ready for the city or your comfort zone’s the screen, we’re
poised to immerse you in a brilliantly curated programme of razorsharp
insight,
sideways humour and practical knowhow.
Headlining the programme are our three mega trend speakers: for climate
change we have Leo Johnson, Head of Disruption practice at PwC; economist
and Author Carl Benedikt Frey will discuss technology; and tacking the future of
work is awardwinning
Journalist Rt Hon Baroness Camilla Cavendish. There will
also be outstanding keynote speakers in Comedian and Screenwriter Deborah
FrancesWhite
and Historian and Broadcaster David Olusoga. This is not to
mention a smorgasbord of breakout sessions and networking opportunities.
Tickets are available now from our website. I look
forward to seeing you there
whether at the venue or
online
and seizing the postpandemic
opportunities
together.
Paul Bagust - Global Property
Standards Director, RICS
IWFM CEO, Linda Hausmanis