In FMJ's regular monthly column, our team of FM experts answer your
questions about the world of facilities management
THE IWFM CHAIR’S VIEW
MARK WHITTAKER, CHAIR OF
THE INSTITUTE OF WORKPLACE
AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
AND GENERAL MANAGER,
THOMSON FM
I sense five of the most pressing
challenges of 2022 will be:
Retain and Attract: I have
spoken to several human
resources and recruitment
professionals recently who have
all commented that they have
never known a labour market
which is changing so rapidly, and it is predicted this
will continue in 2022. Following a couple of years
of no pay increases or bonus payments, I think
2022 will see marked wage inflation and also
organisations reviewing the competitiveness
of not only their peoples’ salaries, but also
pension contributions, bonus schemes
and flexible, as well as hybrid working, in
order to both retain their workforce but
also meet the demand to increase their
numbers.
Future of the Workplace: The American
Careers Insider (@CareerInsider) recently
published an article predicting how the 72
million Generation Z (born between 1997-
2012) are “killing” the workplace in America and
quoted a 19 year old law student, who said: “It will be
interesting to see how we shape the workplace, not just how
the workplace will shape us.” They state that the workforce will
“no longer accept commuting to the oŽ ice Monday to Friday,
blindly accepting the corporate line and work as an obsession”.
20 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2022
Could this be mirrored in the
UK? Change is happening
and many predict we will
not return to how it was prior
to the pandemic, with more
people wanting the ability to
work from home, flexible hours
and a new and fresh workplace
environment that meets their needs.
As we move into new modes of working,
businesses must adapt physical spaces,
working culture and technologies.
Sustainability: I believe that probably the single
most important challenge for organisations and Government,
as well as a potentially major opportunity, will be in using postpandemic
and COP26 rethinking to achieve sustainability goals.
The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report’s
‘code red’ warning is unequivocal but the way we manage
and maintain our buildings could make a tangible and lasting
contribution to carbon reduction.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: In 2021 IWFM established a
new Focus Group, who renamed themselves Equity, Diversity
and Inclusion (EDI). As was set out in their Terms of Reference,
members have helped to examine our practices and policies
to ensure that we support all of our members and make the
biggest possible impact on EDI in the sector. Our EDI statement
has been published and a roadmap for change will shortly be
unveiled to support the Institute, our members and the wider
industry. I believe achieving greater EDI within FM is one of
the most urgent, but also exciting challenges for the
profession in 2022.
Finally, Building Safety and the role of
facilities management professionals will
continue to be a key area in 2022. A
Bill is currently before Parliament
and IWFM has been very active in
this area, through Sofie Hooper’s
work with the Life Safety Working
Group and the Building Safety
Alliance.
THE WORKPLACE FM
PROVIDER’S VIEW
ALISTAIR CRAIG,
MANAGING
DIRECTOR ANABAS
The challenges ahead will be of a similar
nature to the past 18 months, namely dealing
with the unknown and not being in control of a client’s
business strategy. FMs need to be buoyant and adaptable
to deal with the outcome of new policies. How to corral the
workplace into committing to new ways of working will be a
FM CLINIC
Following another year
of disruption due to
COVID, what do you
think will be the most
pressing challenges for
facilities management in
2022? Given the changes to
the way we work following
the pandemic, which is having
huge repercussions for the way
workplaces are run, how do you predict
the role of the FM could evolve over the
coming year?
Mark Whit taker
ADVICE & OPINION
Safety
The recent Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change report’s
‘code red’ warning is unequivocal but
the way we manage and maintain
our buildings could make a tangible
and lasting contribution to
carbon reduction.”
Mark Whittaker