Facilities Management

Facilities Management by definition is the co-ordination and integration of all processes within an organisation, which maintain the services which support and improve the efficiency of its primary activities. It encompasses all areas in relation to the physical well-being of a property; repairs, maintenance, security, janitorial, grounds-keeping and a multitude of other services.

Facilities Management has become much elevated in its status within the marketplace within recent years due to rapid developments within technology, environmental legislation and political rhetoric, government regulations, terror-related security issues and various other contributory factors. As its prominence has increased within industry, organisations now recognise its importance and perceive it to be an area of sustainable and consistent growth.

This sector recognition has thus fuelled a resurgence of enthusiasm from corporations to outsource their companies FM needs and obligations, or alternatively they are acquiring companies purely to utilise pre-established facilities management divisions. Media focus on PFI/PPP initiatives has added further enthusiasm towards the procurement of these facilities management divisions.

Financial institutions also have recognised this growth area and the substantial role that it now occupies within the economy. Market research suggests that in the U.K alone, this sector is worth between £40bn and £95bn per annum.

FM has claimed its place as a vital, strategic discipline as its responsibilities are non-negotiable and ensure that organisations assets are effectively managed and delivered. This responsibility is essential within our modern age of terror alerts and increased global security. It has been deemed vital to deliver increased protectionism in most industries in order to deliver business continuity and workforce protection. Companies that view FM simply as a non-essential overhead will invariably find themselves at a strategic disadvantage. Facilities Management has come of age and is now an essential component to businesses globally.