Facilities Management qualifications can be confusing to say the least. There is a lot of information out there and you certainly don’t want to waste your time studying something that won’t be beneficial. They range from courses for those who are totally new into the industry, (providing a good understanding of the roles, and what a Facilities Manager’s responsibilities are) right up to courses for the directors of a company and their strategic roles within the Facilities Management industry.
Routes into Facilities Management:
A foundation or university degree in facilities or building services management.
An advanced apprenticeship in FM usually takes between 18 to 24 months with on-the-job training and college tuition.
Working towards the role and gaining an on-the-job qualification like a Level 3 Diploma in facilities management.
Applying directly for jobs that fit your technical and management skills, or if you have a related qualification in engineering or surveying.
Generally, you will need excellent people skills and have a keen interest in logistics. People from a military background often find FM is a good fit for their skillset. You need to be self-motivated and capable of solving problems and overcoming obstacles to keep processes running smoothly. You’ll be orderly and methodical in the way you achieve your objectives and you’ll be able to demonstrate impeccable organisational skills. Most organisations are reliant on facilities managers, especially in a crisis. If you have leadership skills and great intuition, then a career in FM could be right for you.
Being successful in facilities management will not be completely reliant on your qualifications. A lot of people working in this sector have acquired their skills elsewhere. Lots of facilities managers have qualifications in related sectors which are readily transferrable. Facilities management is a relatively new industry and a lot of the more experienced people in higher positions will not have had the chance to train in the sector.
In terms of training, what was the British Institute of Facilities Management is now known as the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM). It is the pioneering body for workplace and facilities management professionals and one of the best places to start when looking at accredited qualifications.
IWFM Level 3
This level is aimed at the students who are new to the Facilities Management roles, they may also be for people managing a single service and those who are not operational facilities managers but want to have a deeper understanding of the Facilities Management role, for instance recruiters or support staff.
IWFM Level 4
This level is aimed at the student who is already in a Facilities Management role, perhaps at a first line manager position but wanting to progress towards middle management. Achieving a Diploma at this level will allow you to be a full member of IWFM, allowing you to use the letters MIWFM after your name.
IWFM Level 5
This level is for the middle line managers, who generally have around five or more years’ experience, and who also have some strategic influence on the direction of their department. This will also allow you to become a full member of IWFM, with the post nominals of MIWFM
IWFM Level 6
This is for the senior Facilities Managers, who have a high level of strategic FM responsibility, for their buildings which may include various sites. Achieving this level may entitle you to be a certified member of IWFM, using the post nominals of CIWFM.
Work experience
It is always beneficial to undertake work experience to complement qualifications. For a young applicant it’s an essential part of training – work experience can be obtained through a college or educational institution, or it can be applied for individually. Companies of all sizes value work experience applicants and, although you’re unlikely to be paid for your time, you will make a meaningful contribution to the company you work for.
Employers generally prefer candidates who can demonstrate technical competence. In-depth knowledge of machinery, building maintenance or IT services can add enormously to the CV of someone wishing to join a facilities management team. In addition, a full driving licence may be essential for some roles, and experience using heavy machinery or driving large vehicles may be helpful.
Health and Safety
One of the fundamental roles of the Facilities Manager is to keep staff and visitors safe when they’re on the premises. As such, and with a raft of legislation governing the safety of workers, much of the facilities management department’s responsibilities relate to various Health and Safety laws and regulations.
For both new starters and experienced workers, knowledge and understanding of health and safety principles and legislation is vital. What’s just as important from an employability perspective is the ability to demonstrate this understanding. Formal qualifications are available from the two main Health and Safety training bodies – the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) and the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH).
As you can see from this article, it's not just qualifications that are important – as above, work experience is always key and how someone can combine this with their accreditation knowledge and excellent working practices. A lot of these people can slip through the net and are not always visible online. Part of the reason is companies are keen to retain people like this as they become key in driving efficiency and cost across a business.
Moorcroft have worked with some of the biggest companies in the FM sector. We don’t just want to work with you, we want to understand your culture, your ambition and what kind of people fit your company. How do we do this? Well, we talk to real people and build real relationships. Technology is vital to all our work. However, it is no substitute for picking up the phone. This is what we do and our skill lies in identifying the right people – we pride ourselves on it! We have a proven track record and we strive to work with the best people for each project.
If you have a recruitment requirement, please contact Simon Moorcroft in the first instance.
Email: simon@moorcroftconsulting.com
Website: www.moorcroftconsulting.com
Twitter: @MoorcroftRec
