What does facilities management do?
They are very often the unsung heroes of the business: the facilities management (FM) team.
Vital to any organisation, FM does so much more than changing light bulbs, yet does anyone else in the organisation know what, exactly, that is?
FM looks after the office building, the furniture and often the equipment. They are employed to ensure excellent working conditions for all. They will no doubt work closely with health and safety representatives, contracted cleaners, caterers and possibly the security team.
Annual initiative, National FM Day, aims to highlight the industry and give colleagues the opportunity not only to learn more about what the FM team does, but to recognise their contribution to the success of the business.
In case you missed it, here’s a run down of some of the myriad responsibilities for which FM is accountable:
Firstly, there will be the customer liaison duties: answering calls, using facilities management software to send professionals out to jobs, being point of contact for the business on office moves, accommodating new staff and installing new technology. There will also be communication between FM and landlords, regarding rents, insurance and other legalities.
Next is the regulatory compliance element. FM managers must be well versed in all employee, environmental and technological legislations. The FM team will be expected to keep themselves up to date with these rules and will often be required to undertake training.
The FM team will be expected to provide cost-cutting proposals to senior management and FM managers will frequently be called upon for consultation by business heads. Therefore, budgetary and accounting skills are necessary.
Additionally, FM operates alongside many other contractors, therefore, possibly with the help of the Finance Department, supplier agreements and contracts will need to be drawn up, reviewed, re-negotiated and even terminated in some cases.
Organisation is a key skill, as the job is very busy and varied. Communication skills are essential. Managers will also need to manage, educate and mentor their teams, so people skills are also necessary.
Without FM, people could be working in dangerous offices, with poor light that causes eye strain or dodgy electrics and leaky pipes. Look around your office and appreciate the work that team does to make your own working life that little bit better.
They truly are unsung heroes.