NEWS & ANALYSIS FMJ.CO.UK
ASSOCIATION NEWS
COST SAVINGS ARE THE PRIMARY DRIVER AS
DEMAND FOR FM SERVICES CONTINUES TO RISE
Paul Bagust - RICS Head of Property
Standards
WHAT YOU MISSED AT IWFM CONFERENCE 2022
8 JULY 2022
The Q2 2022
RICS Facilities
Management Survey
results once again
point to solid growth
across the industry,
with demand
continuing to rise
within most sectors
over the quarter. Just
over half (51 per cent) of survey participants
sense that potential cost savings are the main
factor pulling interest from clients, while 17 per
cent feel ESG related factors are the key force
behind demand. Cost savings were also seen
as the main motivation behind outsourcing at
present by 36 per cent of contributors, with 32
per cent viewing decisions to outsource as being
driven by a need to utilise broader expertise.
Demand for FM services increased firmly in both
the healthcare and business sectors, with the
latter seeing a noticeable acceleration during the
latest survey period. Elsewhere, the vast majority
of sectors covered also saw an upli in demand
during Q2. Alongside this, a net balance of +14 per
cent of respondents reported that average contract
durations awarded to FM service providers had
lengthened over the past 12 months.
Over the coming 12 months, a net balance of
+77 per cent of respondents foresee workloads
across the FM industry rising (compared to +85
per cent previously). However, the outlook for
profit margins appears to have deteriorated amid
the intense inflationary pressures seen across the
broader economy.
Potentially feeding into the slight easing in
employment growth expectations, access to
appropriate skilled workers appears to have
become more of an issue for FM recruiters
over recent quarters. Seventy-nine per cent of
respondents cite di iculties finding sta for
building and operation management roles, while
70 per cent of survey participants now highlight
challenges finding workers for support services
(up from 60 per cent taking this view previously).
Moreover, a majority of respondents also point to
troubles in sourcing sta for positions in property
management and energy management.
Significantly, 80 per cent of respondents report
that sustainability is either the most important
issue or an important issue for their clients.
This has increased steadily over the past two
years, rising from around 66 per cent back in Q1
2020. Unsurprisingly given the current macro
climate, 65 per cent of contributors expect energy
management to be the fastest growing area of
sustainability over the year ahead (slightly up on 63
per cent taking this view last time).
Meanwhile, sustainability management
continues to sit at the top of the expected growth
rankings for the year ahead, marking the third
consecutive quarter in which this has been the
case. Respondents also foresee solid expansion
across workplace and relocation management, as
well as strategic planning/project management in
the coming 12 months.
As our society struggles with a range of
challenges from the cost of living, supply
chain issues and climate change it is clear
that professionals working in FM will play an
increasingly important role in addressing and
managing these.
The need for FM
professionals has
never been greater.
It was so wonderful
to feel the buzz
of the profession
getting back together
again last month as
the IWFM Conference
returned to inform and
inspire. Thank you to
everyone who joined
us.
Equalling the buzz at a packed Euston Square was
the amazing feedback we were humbled to receive
from delegates in our post-event survey, which
showed 97 per cent were likely to take learnings
from the day back to the workplace.
If you didn’t make it, you missed out on a changecharged
day with a brilliant line up of thought
leaders o ering fresh takes on the future of work,
technology and innovation, and wellbeing.
Opening the day was innovator, engineer,
inspirational leader and Conference host Yewande
Akinola MBE, with reflections on her being an
agent of change in her own professional sphere
and (with a nod to IWFM’s research) setting up the
big contextual themes, not least technology and
sustainability.
Commentator and blogger Christine Armstrong’s
lively discussion of the latest research on the future
of work was followed by Professor Kevin Fong OBE,
consultant in anaesthesia at University College
Hospital, whose understanding of the profession’s
critical role during COVID (oxygen supply anyone?)
was as compelling as his account of the pandemic’s
clinical realty.
Futurist Matt O’Neill pondered FM’s role in
creating e ective, sustainable workplace change
with a powerful (if alarming) view of the world of
augmented reality. We rounded o with an intimate
Q&A keynote session that ranged from wellbeing
to B Corps with the renowned writer and mental
health campaigner Ruby Wax OBE.
Focused breakout sessions provided takeaways
on smart buildings, workplace performance,
building safety, scope 3 emissions, collaboration,
and workplace design.
We covered a lot of ground, and these topics
amalgamated into one key takeaway: how the
broader themes relate to present and looming
challenges where workplace and facilities
management can make meaningful change.
There are real opportunities for FM to cement
its strategic role, and play a critical role in the
economy and society. This is especially true in the
sustainability agenda where it should be driving
outcomes that will protect our planet.
On the latter more widely, opportunities exist to
address inequalities using social value as a tool
to boost local communities and improve lives.
Organisations can support those experiencing the
worst e ects of this virulent cost-of-living crisis by
ensuring they pay the real Living Wage.
The workplace opportunity still remains,
of course, as uncertainty continues within
organisations over the best way forward. You
can show them the way and lead on productivity
and wellbeing, while at the same time delivering
e iciencies.
And as so many of the sessions demonstrated, the
profession’s powerful influence is magnified when
combined with upskilling and drawing on others’
talents through
collaboration.
Individually, you’re
influential; together,
we’re incredible.
IWFM CEO, Linda Hausmanis