Wise investment

You’ll never regret investing in knowledge and skills says Sofie Hooper, Head of Policy, IWFM

It’s all quite overwhelming, isn’t it? The climate emergency, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, energy and living costs, Brexit, supply chain issues, the post-pandemic transition, widening inequality, and more.

The world has laid on a buffet of great challenges which are culminating in a period of the worst turbulence any of us has experienced in our lifetimes.

And yet, as a workplace and facilities management professional, the power to create positive change is within your grasp. After all, it’s when we focus on what we can control that change happens.

LIFT OTHERS AS YOU CLIMB

Research carried out by the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) found that qualifications increase the likelihood of advancement in organisations, and career advancement has clear associated benefits, such as increased pay and better prospects.

However, making the most of your talent via upskilling and career progression can also yield rewards that go much further than your job title and bank balance; you can also make a difference and play a more influential role in helping to create real change which, piece by piece, helps millions.

This is because workplace and facilities management professionals are on the front line of the greatest challenges facing organisations today. Many of those challenges are also linked to trends which are impacting businesses and communities all across the world; therefore, by upskilling, expanding your knowledge, and advancing your career to increase your influence, you will play a bigger role within a professional community that’s providing solutions to challenges and creating better outcomes.

And when your personal contributions are added to those of other FMs, the vast majority of whom you will never collaborate with or even meet, the cumulative impacts of your combined best practice and innovation will spread across regions and borders, consolidating as the change society needs for a better tomorrow.

INVEST IN YOURSELF

There are so many opportunities to add value, boost performance, and help the bottom line, while also contributing to wider society. To name a few: helping to protect the environment and driving efficiencies to save on energy costs; ensuring your contracts are watertight, fair, and delivering value to local communities; enabling workplace optimisation which drives performance and results; or safeguarding and enhancing built environments to protect and improve experiences for occupants, users, and owners.

Right now, employers are enduring labour and skills shortages which, when combined with rising costs, are making it difficult to fill crucial vacancies and capability gaps.

You can be a part of their solution. You can rise up, seize the opportunities, and make a difference. But it’s vital to act and take steps to fully utilise what is already at our disposal: your potential.

Invest in yourself, learn, advance, fill critical skills gaps up the value chain, and make the business case for new talent to fill any gaps you leave behind as you climb the career ladder. You will help yourself, your employer, your clients, occupants, users, and many, many more in society.

BECOME THE BEST YOU CAN BE WITH IWFM

Daniel Biggs, Business Development Executive, IWFM explains the standards process.

As the professional body for workplace and facilities management, IWFM’s Professional Standards define competences at all levels and inform our world-leading professional development pathway, including our qualifications, training, membership, and CPD.

We’re here to help professionals grow and enhance their skills and knowledge, supporting them in progressing their careers, inspiring those around them, and driving organisational success.

We have short courses for professionals at all levels, including introductory, management and role-specific courses, such as procurement and strategy, and they can be delivered via face-to-face learning or live virtual training using the latest technology. Members of IWFM also benefit from receiving a discount across all our short courses as part of our many membership benefits.

We can also create bespoke courses for you to offer in-house for your teams. All of our face-to-face and live virtual courses can be individually tailored to your organisation’s needs.

Alternatively, you could acquire more knowledge and skills by studying for an IWFM qualification. Available at levels 2 to 7, they serve both those new to the industry, such as school leavers or career changers, and experts with many years of experience. They are available to be studied through our network of Recognised Centres. Study options at centres include face-to-face, while online study is available with IWFM Direct.

If you would like to discuss your options, our passionate team will help you through every step of your career and enable you to become the best you can be.

To find out more about how you can take your career further with IWFM, please visit iwfm.org.uk/prodev or email academy@iwfm.org.uk.