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Uncertainty has crept back into UK FM, leaving many optimistic – but equally - cautious.
Report aims to help organisations learn more about the trends and innovations impacting the future of security technology.
New report looks at how tech is driving efficiency and effectiveness amid understaffing and budget constraints.
There’s no shortage of opportunities in the UK FM marketplace; but plenty of challenges, too. Share your views in i-FM’s landmark survey.
Decision-makers focused on new technology, recruitment issues and legislation change.
Changes in work and workplaces demand new approaches to how FM is defined and delivered.
We know the answer to that, mostly. But what about people on the edges of the industry, or outside it altogether?
Engineering services businesses face continuing challenge of finding qualified candidates to fill vacancies.
Leading contract caterers achieved sales growth of 10% in the second quarter of 2024.
Only 20% of direct public sector procurement spend was with SMEs in 2023.
2024 FM Brands Survey report shows a growing interest in the UK market landscape.
A quarter century has passed since a small but dedicated team launched the UK’s first online news and information service for facilities management.
If you haven’t completed the survey, we still want to hear from you – but today is your last chance.
Unique in the industry, this survey explores the brands landscape across the facilities management sector.
Latest quarterly survey finds sector held back by slow growth, partly blamed on a shortage of adequately skilled workers.
New research from IWFM points to encouraging developments in the workplace and facilities management sectors.
Three years of steady growth push Covid-19 hit into the past.
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors are increasingly optimistic about their future growth prospects, according to a new report.
Collection of 18 articles summarises all the content from February's FM industry conference.
That sums up the cost forecasts for the next several years, according to BCIS figures.
As the sector continues to grow, it also faces a number of challenges.
Relive all the action, or find out what you missed, at this year’s annual FM conference.
Despite high activity and growing order books, engineering services firms are feeling the effects of economic slowdown and a shortage of skilled workers.
Contract caterers achieved year-on-year growth of 12% in the final quarter of 2023.
Activity levels continued to be high in 2023, with another overall increase in deals.
Ten days to go and just a few in-person delegate places are available. Book now.
New survey suggests that more than half of facilities managers have had their budgets cut by up to 25% in the past year.
Only a third of companies are forecasting price increases, a significant turnaround from the 90% who predicted increases in 2023.
Research shows suppliers are suffering customer churn and loss of revenue as a result of inadequate business review processes.
‘Slightly more positive outlook’ reflects caution and change in the commercial property sector.
Overall demand, including IT and BPO, continued to slip in Europe but less than seen in Q3.
OCS UK & Ireland has unveiled ambitious plans to double its revenue over the next five years.
The full programme for February’s FM industry conference is complete and online now.
The proportion of CEOs who believe global economic growth will improve over the next 12 months has more than doubled year-on-year.
Real estate advisor Savills is forecasting a stronger commercial property market, with four themes set to have significant impact.
The trend is up and down over time, but our latest report finds a considerable decline in activity for the final quarter of 2023.
Our annual round-up of the key events in UK facilities management over the past 12 months is online now.
Trends & Opportunities, the unique annual review from i-FM, looks closely at the UK industry and how it is shaping up for the future.
Contract caterers’ sales in the third quarter of 2023 were 15% ahead of the same period in 2022.
Overall demand slipped, but demand for business services was up.
Costs are going up for maintenance and cleaning, but ultimately down for energy.
The UK government awarded more than 250 contracts relating to facilities management in Q3 2023, worth a total of £1.1b.
A new state-of-the-industry report identifies a trilemma: balancing speed, substance and sustainability.
A new white paper from the International Facility Management Association leads on the theme ‘evolution is never finished’.
The number of contracts procured in Q2 2023 fell against Q1, but total value was up more than £250%.
Research indicates that FM contracts with a total value of more than £4.8bn will be coming back to the market in 2023.
A new report from public sector procurement specialist Tussell reviews market trends to identify 150 ‘FM Titans’.
Higher costs, squeezed cash flows and a stuttering economy mean more FMs are expecting deteriorating market conditions.
Back after a pandemic-induced break, the FM Brands Survey provides a fresh check on perceptions of the UK market landscape.
The number of contracts awarded for FM services in the public sector rose in Q1 2023, reversing 2022’s second half decline.
BCIS, the cost information service, has published its latest five-year forecast for trends in FM.
Results from the Q1 2023 RICS Facilities Management Survey point to an upbeat outlook for the year ahead.
February’s FM conference tackled the big and very timely topic of technology in the workplace.
The Building Energy Management System sector is now worth around £835.8m to the UK economy.
The theme for this year’s conference was technology and FM, and all speaker slides and videos are available on the website now.
2022 produced a record number of mergers and acquisitions in facilities management for the second year running.
The landmark annual conference is taking place today. You can sign in for the virtual event at no cost.
After a gap of two-plus years, the survey returns to explore the brands landscape across the facilities management sector.
New research from CBRE has identified the key factors shaping FM procurement decisions.
The facilities management market will face difficulty over the next two years as labour availability and high inflation drive an increase in costs.
The Flexible Space Association’s executive director, Jane Sartin, looks at what the industry is likely to see over the next 12 months.
IT and business services markets were down in Q4 2022, the first time in 13 quarters the region failed to produce year-on-year growth.
Contract awards for FM services in the public sector fell for a second quarter to the end of 2022.
Concerns around the economy, and a number of other issues, have knocked back the growing confidence levels evident in the post-Covid period.
Our annual round-up of the key events in UK facilities management over the past 12 months is online now.
The building engineering services sector is optimistic about business performance in the short term but concerned about the economy and recruitment.
That argument has been made for some years, but new research now shows a 6% rental premium for buildings with sustainability certifications.
A desire for high quality office space is driving increasing demand for Grade A accommodation in the capital.
Sales in the contract catering sector are still lagging pre-pandemic levels despite sharp growth over the last 12 months.
The private security industry must recruit, train and license more than 62,000 new security officers over the next 12 months to keep up with growing demand.
Trends & Opportunities, the unique annual review from i-FM, looks closely at the UK industry and how it is shaping up for the future.
FM is famously resilient, of course. But in the face of rising economic challenges, including the prospect of a lengthy recession, how does business look over the coming months?
Research from business advisers Grant Thornton shows that inflationary pressures, rising interest rates, high energy costs and ongoing supply chain issues are causing problems.
Contract awards for FM services in the public sector were at a two-year low in Q3 2022.
The 2022 FM Business Confidence Index survey, backed by Barclays and i-FM, is set to test frontline market views within this key UK industry.
New research shows year-on-year sales down on 2019 levels in the second quarter of 2022 as cost pressures mounted.
The UK market is one of the largest and most mature for the office space and commercial buildings sector worldwide. The sector has also traditionally been one of the largest buyers of FM services.
UK mid-market private equity deal activity topped pre-pandemic levels during the first half of 2022.
In Q1 2022, there were 42 deals done in facilities management, contributing to making H1 ‘22 the strongest first-half performance at a total of 69 deals.
Labour sourcing is the top obstacle for FM professionals when providing cleaning services of the right quality.
FM-related deals in the public sector were worth a total of £872m in the second quarter of this year, up significantly on Q1 levels.
Research across six leading international FM providers assessed their performance across six key themes.
Sales in the contract catering sector are improving but remain well below pre-Covid-19 levels, new research reveals.
New market research has found that while the cost of Covid will exceed £11bn in lost revenue by 2026, prospects are positive for this year with a £3bn sales uplift expected.
Our latest 30-second survey asks for your views and insights into the cleaning industry as we settle into the post-pandemic period.
FM-related deals in the public sector were worth a total of £360m in the first quarter of this year, slipping back to 2020 levels.
The cleaning, hygiene and waste industry taken together remains one of the 10 biggest industries in the UK.
The latest UK FM survey found three-quarters of respondents saying better benchmarking of performance is needed across the industry.
CBRE cites market research figures indicating that 35% of facilities management activity is handled in-house.
The final three months of 2021 saw 125 deals done in UK FM, a 10-year record.
The first major FM conference of the year, Workplace Futures, takes place in London on 22 February.
In 2021, government procurement for FM services was worth over £5bn, nearly double the value of FM procurement in the year before.
Our annual round-up of the key events in UK facilities management over the past 12 months is online now.
2020 saw the UK facilities management market hit hard by Covid-19, along with most other business sectors. But how hard?
Ipsos MORI’s latest Captains of Industry survey has found most expecting the pandemic to have a lasting impact on how and where people work.
Refreshment Systems Ltd, the coffee and vending machine specialist, has launched an interview podcast, featuring key people from in and around FM.
Third-quarter sales at leading contract caterers grew by half from 2020 levels as the sector continues its recovery from the pandemic.
Baachu, the facilities management marketing and business development consultancy, is planning a free webinar focused on the upcoming £35bn RM 6232 contract opportunity.
Our latest annual market review provides a unique look at the UK FM marketplace and how the industry is shaping up for the future.
FM-related deals in the public sector were worth a total of £1bn in the third quarter of this year.
The International Facility Management Association has announced the creation of a new Research Advisory Committee.
i-FM’s landmark annual market report will include something new and different this year: the results of a wide-ranging industry survey.
Liz Benison took on the top job at ISS UK & Ireland with just about everything in flux: the pandemic-hit marketplace, local and group business strategy, the future shape of work and the workplace, and FM itself of course.
The latest sector-wide Building Engineering Business Survey shows that turnover is predicted to grow through the rest of 2021 but materials and labour shortages are likely to worsen.
Workloads, profit margins and employment opportunities are set to continue to grow for the year ahead due to increasing demand for FM services.
CBRE’s latest EMEA Occupier Survey provides good insights into thinking across this dynamic sector.
Sales in the contract catering sector grew by more than two-thirds in the second quarter of 2021 as the sector continues its recovery from Covid-19 lockdowns.
There seems little doubt that 2021 is shaping up to be a record year for activity in the UK’s facilities management sector. A new report provides some hard evidence.
The public sector continues to be fertile ground for new contracts, with FM-related deals totalling almost £230m awarded in the second quarter of this year.
At Tuesday’s Workplace Futures conference we ran a series of polls to test views on some of the questions currently being considered and debated across the industry. The results are interesting, and occasionally intriguing.
Yesterday’s conference could not have been more timely and on-target, addressing the needs of not just the FM sector but all those in support service roles.
The overall market for space and workplace management software will grow from $0.9bn in 2021 to surpass $1.7bn in 2026.
The latest quarterly results show a greater demand for services across most sectors, with employment opportunities increasing too.
New research from the British Cleaning Council puts the collective scale of the industry within the UK’s top ten.
New research shows that overall confidence levels across the sector are pushing back towards the highs recorded early last year prior to the damage wrought by Covid-19.
More than half of workplace and facilities management professionals believe the market will improve in the next 12 months, despite concerns over the impacts of Brexit and Covid.
The pandemic-inspired future-of-work debate seems to be entering a new phase focusing on how many people will return/stay away if they can.
A pair of on-target webinars take place this afternoon, one focused on using data and the other on making the most of current market opportunities.
Full video coverage, as well as speaker slides, from February’s conference are now on the event website.
Full video coverage, as well as speaker slides, from February’s conference are now on the event website.
Workplace Futures moved online this year, producing lessons for us about how to do this well but also real insights into what FMs are thinking and doing in these extraordinary times.
A poll of the more than 350 delegates at this year’s Workplace Futures conference provides good insights into what FMs expect to see over the coming months.
The annual FM Business Confidence Index survey, backed by Barclays and i-FM, will test frontline market views within this key UK industry.
The value of the UK FM market in 2020 is projected to be down by around 6%, largely due to the virus and the associated lockdown.
VINCI Facilities has come out on top in the Sustainable Facilities Management Index 2020 E-Awards.
Shrugging off the effects of the pandemic, the Europe, Middle East and Africa sourcing market delivered its best quarterly performance ever.
Our annual round-up of the key events in UK facilities management over the past 12 months is online now.
Researched by the multi-national built environment group Drees & Sommer, the report looks at major service providers operating across borders.
RICS has launched its latest quarterly survey designed to gather information on current and emerging trends across FM.
What's it like taking on a new job, a big job, in the middle of a pandemic crisis? New UK CEO Purvin Patel is almost six months into that challenge.
i-FM has published its latest Trends & Opportunities Report, providing a unique look at major events in the marketplace over the past year, their impact on the industry and how they, and events in the wider environment, are shaping FM for the future.
Brand is important in facilities management: 90% of FMs rank it as a key factor when buyers are procuring services.
We’ve made a whole series of changes that both refresh the look and feel of the site and enhance the operational efficiency. We hope you’ll like it!
For a whole series of reasons there is change underway in the property world, but underlying this is a more fundamental question: what is property actually for?
The latest RICS UK Facilities Management Survey shows the healthcare sector still seeing the strongest growth in demand for FM services.
A new report on the UK facilities management market concludes that outsourcing will outperform the UK economy in 2020.
The i-FM Facilities Management Brands Survey is back following a two-year pause. And with the challenges the market is facing now the timing couldn't be better.
RICS has launched its third quarterly survey designed to gather information on current and emerging trends across FM.
We are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year, and to mark that we have produced a couple of articles that will delight anyone who is interested in how FM became the marketplace that we know today.
The British Cleaning Council has stepped in to resolve any confusion or misunderstanding around industry terms, particularly important these days.
Working in partnership with the Living Wage Foundation, the IWFM has published new guidance on the real Living Wage.
Despite an uneven performance stretching into next year, the global security market looks set for good growth according to new research.
The 2020 RICS Strategic FM Conference rose to the pandemic challenge earlier this week, becoming the first such event to be held online. No doubt it will not be the last.
More than a quarter of FMs in the EMEA region admit that their organisation has not reviewed metrics and KPIs for commercial cleaning in the last five years.
The annual strategic FM event, taking place this year online, hit its 500-delegate capacity a few days ago. That has now been upped to 1000 to meet continued demand.
With new business opportunities in short supply, turnover generally on a downward slide and the prospect of redundancies looming, UK FM companies have a lot to worry about. But some see positives on the horizon.
A new building engineering services sector survey shows that almost three-quarters of businesses expect their turnover to fall in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the first quarter.
RICS is currently gathering insights into how the facilities management sector is reacting to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Today sees the launch of a dedicated page on i-FM pulling together all of our pandemic reporting, together with links to resources, for easy access.
April saw a 66% in new public sector contract opportunities compared to February according to Tussell, the market intelligence firm.
We have two research projects underway: one in preparation for World FM Day and a second looking into the realities of today's FM business operations.
Workplace takeaways, shift-based lunches and more pre-ordering are all likely to be part of a new service pattern when the covid-19 lockdown period has passed.
We began the year in an optimistic mood, writes BDO's Satvir Bungar in the firm's latest update on merger & acquisition trends in UK FM.
A sector that is too often overlooked or relegated to 'commodity service' is playing a critical role in the battle against the covid-19 outbreak. What does FM itself need and how can it access that?
We have been talking to a range of service providers about their experiences of what covid-19 means for their businesses right now.
New research by the British Cleaning Council has revealed that there are approximately 1.63m workers in the industry, making up around 5% of the UK workforce.
The Institute for Government argues that Whitehall has yet to address the problems that led to the collapse of the construction and services group two years ago.
Almost half of British boards expect Brexit to damage their businesses, according to a Financial Times-backed survey of the FTSE 350 companies.
A new report sets out the scale of the task required to rebuild and equip the NHS to make it fit for the 21st century.
Crane surveys show business buoyant in construction markets in four cities around the UK, no doubt tipping a growth in FM opportunities too.
The value of outsourcing contracts of all types rose 10% in the EMEA region in 2019 as businesses sought to counter economic uncertainty by reducing costs and investing in new solutions.
January is the traditional time to make predictions and resolutions for the year ahead and so it was that CoreNet UK brought together a panel to debate the big issues facing the industry. Cathy Hayward reports.
The annual FM Business Confidence Index survey, backed by Barclays and IFMA UK, will test frontline market views within this key UK industry.
Our annual round-up of the key events in UK facilities management over the past 12 months is online now.
The latest edition of the firm's annual report highlights how changes in occupier needs are impacting FM strategies.
The bad news is that early-bird rates for February's conference are closing imminently. The good news is that all speakers are now confirmed for what will be a very strong programme.
i-FM has published its latest Trends & Opportunities Report, providing a unique look at major events in the marketplace over the past year, their impact on the industry and how they, and events in the wider environment, are shaping FM for the future.
The annual value of Europe's managed services contracts dropped by more than €900m in the third quarter amid worries over Brexit, recession, trade and tariffs.
Change over the period August ’23 to August ’24 highlights trends that could shape the future.
The merger and acquisition trend in the facilities management sector continues to demonstrate its resilience.
How do we avoid a lack of skills, learning & development and experience becoming a block on business development?
Fiona Perrin looks back — with a dose of nostalgia — on what makes i-FM the industry’s daily must-read.
When i-FM launched just before the turn of the millennium, modern facilities management was already around 25 years old, writes Martin Pickard.
Private equity investment shows no sign of abating. Fiona Perrin explores this trend, what funds are looking for and what it means to be owned by PE.
Service Works Global, one of the most recognisable software brands in the FM and workplace market, turned 30 this April.
Fiona Perrin talks with Inma Martinez, advisor to governments and businesses on the impact of artificial intelligence.
With ambitions to grow and an increasing appetite for new technologies, are FM providers redefining ‘the workplace experience’?
OCS, a business operating in FM long before anyone thought up that term, has been given a new lease of life. Here, we track the path that culminated in the group’s 2023 ‘rebirth’.
UK government awarded 183 contracts relating to facilities management in Q4 2023, worth a total of £184m.
A series of factors create reliable demand for FM services and it’s not too soon to think about opportunities coming up in a year’s time.
The UK government awarded 274 contracts relating to facilities management in Q3 2023, worth a total of £1.1b.
In the face of so much possibility and potential, how do FM service providers harness new technologies for the benefit of customers – and themselves?
Across the public sector 263 contracts relating to facilities management were awarded in Q2 2023, worth a total of £2.5b.
Against a background of lingering uncertainty but cautious optimism, BDO’s Satvir Bungar looks at the prospects for more private equity involvement in UK facilities management.
If FM wants to prove its role, it’s time to put employee experience first, workplace specialist Debra Ward tells Fiona Perrin.
The UK Government awarded 419 contracts relating to facilities management in Q1 2023, worth a total of £418mn.
Robe Legge is in his element: the deal is done. We’ve got the business back, he says with real satisfaction.
Uncertainty, change, agility, creativity: these are business-as-usual factors in FM. But could the industry be approaching a critical point where decisions made could reshape its future?
The electric vehicle market is booming. Is this a market opportunity for the FM sector as solution providers, customers, or both?
The UK government awarded 357 contracts relating to facilities management in Q4 2022, worth a total of £312mn.
It’s a bright one, says BaxterStorey, despite an array of challenges currently facing the commercial catering industry.
Many businesses outsource aspects of their operations, especially those that are outside their areas of expertise. The purpose, of course, is to help in achieving business goals and to facilitate day-to-day operations.
The UK government awarded 246 contracts relating to facilities management in Q3 2022, worth a total of £280 million.
The cleaning industry has without a doubt undergone massive transformation in the last two years.
The UK Government awarded 321 contracts relating to facilities management in Q2 2022, worth a total of £872m.
The UK government awarded 264 contracts relating to facilities management in Q1 2022, worth a total of £360 million.
We recently spoke with EMCOR UK executive director marketing and business development Jeremy Campbell about his involvement at this month’s Workplace Futures conference.
The UK government awarded 252 contracts relating to facilities management in the fourth quarter of 2021, worth a total of £445m.
As outsourcing picks up pace in the UK, FM providers can look forward to increased business opportunities in the mid-term.
As the country strives to look beyond the shadows cast by the Covid-19, Baskar Sundaram offers some insights on the coming year.
This is the third in a quarterly series of updates exclusively for i-FM from Tussell, the public sector procurement experts.
Until recently, in the FM community, only the PropTech startup ecosystem was getting clear attention. That is changing rapidly now.
Baskar Sundaram looks at the changing face of public sector FM procurement, as evident in the upcoming Crown Commercial Service framework.
This is the second in a quarterly series of updates exclusively for i-FM from Tussell, the public sector procurement experts.
This is the first in a quarterly series of updates exclusively for i-FM from Tussell, the public sector procurement experts.
Events of the last year have been instrumental in shaping consumer trends. The speed of change has been remarkable.
This was a year that started like any other, with reports of contract wins, business changes, people moves, as well as the familiar big themes in the marketplace: competition, sustainability, workplace trends.
We know a lot about the state of the FM market these days, but what have lockdown conditions meant for FM suppliers? We spoke with one to find out.
What began as a crisis of health is now having widespread global economic and social impact. The way we work and live has changed.
As the economic implications of the global pandemic are becoming clearer, most FM businesses are scrambling to assess the impact on their top and bottom lines. Others are scrambling simply to survive.
The facilities management industry is set to see increased challenges over the next five years on the back of large-scale property development in many economies across the EMEA region.
Economic growth, globalisation, technological development... here are a just some of the megatrends that are shaping the future of FM, analysed by the experts at ISS.
The UK FM market, a powerhouse in Europe, is set to reach £42.8bn by 2027.
Legislation, regulation and contract compliance; KPIs, SLAs and QSHE; governance groups, industry bodies and those blasted consultants…
Simon Iatrou looks back, and then forward, from his perspective on the other side of the Atlantic.
Simon Ball reflects on 20 years in facilities management: what’s changed, what hasn’t and what needs to.
‘Collaboration’ is a term often bandied about in corporate boardrooms, rarely offering any true substance or tangible measurements.
Eighteen months ago security officers were walking through deserted streets, past shuttered shops and empty pubs and restaurants to protect empty buildings, or those with only a skeleton staff.
It’s time for cleaning to stand firm. Dominic Ponniah argues that the industry needs to value itself and shout about its achievements.
I recall 2015 and 2016 very clearly. Those were years when we thought we knew what the future held for work, the workplace and facilities management in particular. We weren’t quite right.
Jason Pope turns the World FM Day focus onto security services to show how Covid-19 has been the catalyst the industry needed.
On World FM Day, Alistair Scott argues that in order to break this cycle we need to first consider the causes behind it.
To mark World FM Day, Debi Rowland offers some insights on skilling up for a career in FM.
In celebration of World FM Day, Ann Gent outlines the career prospects in what might fairly be called a neglected sector.
But are large, traditional deals like Mitie's acquisition of Interserve FM the answer, Guy Hewett asks.
On the 25 June Mitie announced its intention to acquire Interserve’s facilities management division following the signing of a conditional share purchase agreement.
Maria Warner highlights how the waste sector has benefitted from a new hybrid business model in Oxford. Are there lessons here for FM more generally?
As companies start to understand the huge impact of covid-19, having to work extensively just to survive the unprecedented landscape, leadership teams are also faced with preparation efforts for what happens on the other side of the pandemic.
Every FM service provider has short- and medium-term growth strategies in place. But how effectively are the assumptions underpinning these strategies tested?
Despite the concerns about the economy due to the type of Brexit we ultimately get and more recently Covid-19, one of the constants is that the facilities management sector remains positive.
The phrase 'business uncertainty' is becoming more prevalent as the implementation of Brexit moves into a more intense phase. Martin Reed, looks at the impact this is having both for his company and the sector as a whole.
A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to lead the UK financial and professional services outsourcing business for one of the world’s largest technology companies. We worked with some of the biggest banks, law firms and advisory groups.
The facilities management industry has been a place that's good for everyone. The slow and steady growth seemed guaranteed, and there was a well-known operating model for how to win. But the good times are over.