An investigation into Why facilities management is not recognised at corporate level in the UK

Abstract

Facilities management is an essential element in any workplace and it is considered as an instrument which helps in running the work professionally. The FM profession has developed rapidly across the world as a business service and management discipline, since it ensures the success of any organisation (Alexander, 2003, p269). The FM sector has established itself as one of the strongest industries in the UK. However, the sector still suffers from many challenges, such as failure in attraction of younger generations which lead to the lack of recognition of FM at corporate level. To cope with the increasing skills and employment need and the changes in the sector roles in the future, new strategies need to be developed by professional bodies. Having such strategies will ensure a better understanding of the sector, improve experience, knowledge and skills of the employees and will ensure that the employees can meet the job needs. A questionnaire and interview were conducted to investigate the professional bodies' contribution toward the improvement of the FM sector. The survey demonstrated that the FM sector will continue to grow in importance. The professional bodies will continue to provide the necessary training and certificates to develop the sector. Moreover, they will offer awareness program to attract more people into the sector. Moreover, they are providing suitable motivation to attract young people and the professionals to the sector and to improve the existing professionals. Also the majority of employees in the industry are satisfied with the sector and they are planning to improve their qualification levels and they concluded that the awareness and qualifications are the best manner to develop the sector in the future. Both employees and professional bodies are expecting that the FM will be in strong position in the future. To improve the FM sector in the future it is necessary for the professional bodies' to ensure competent employees carry out FM roles, monitor the sector progress, ensure proper understanding of the sector and raise the awareness regarding the professional bodies' roles to increase the membership. Also employees and FM industries shall play a role in developing the sector. Consequently, the FM sector will develop and can become one of the most well-known sectors in the UK. Future researcher must target large samples size of employees. Also they must check whether the contributions of the professional bodies have made change in the sector and they must measure people awareness regards FM profession. Moreover, they must focus more on the sustainability agenda in their research.