If you’ve been working in the facilities management industry for many years, you’ll no doubt be aware of the many changes in the industry over the past decades. Like many industries, facilities management has had to keep up to date with modern times and ensure it remains competitive in our ever-changing world. Let’s take a look at facilities management evolution and the things you need to be aware of when working with a facilities management team moving forward. Visit our page for more information about facilities management and the benefits this type of service can offer to businesses.
Facilities Management History
Facilities management first appeared in the 1970s, and the main consideration of FM solutions was to improve the efficiency of a workplace. They aimed to offer facilities maintenance and supervise locations that were in need of more care and attention. However, as time passed by, facilities management continued to develop to keep up with changing expectations. Over the following two decades, facilities management meant more than just looking after the physical building that a company was based in.
With more companies than ever before relying on technology and different tools to get our work done, FM solutions have also begun to focus on the everyday elements that allow a business to function. As well as general property management, they have now become involved in contracts, leases, and other assets. Heading into the year 2000, FM services have now been more involved with the business operations side of the business. Some facilities managers were asked to help with HR and payroll, and the jobs and expectations for individuals working in this industry were constantly changing. Of course, these roles vary from company to company, which is something to keep in mind when looking for a facilities management job.
Facilities management is a job that many people find by chance and may be offered as a promotion from working as a groundskeeper or within maintenance. This is an excellent management opportunity for individuals who are looking to challenge themselves, but there is little formal training for this role. You’ll find that most managers learn about facilities management history and the position they are in through on-the-job training. It can be an incredibly challenging role depending on the type of company you are working in, and you’ll need to have excellent communication and a great skill set in order to succeed within FM services.
The Current State of Facilities Management
In the past couple of years, we’ve seen major changes within the industry, and around the world, FM services are now being protected with more policies and associations. While this doesn’t change the nature of the job itself, it will help to protect employees who may have had issues in the past with the company they were working for and the lack of training they received. It’s hoped that in the future, there will be more formal training opportunities for individuals looking to pursue facilities management as a career.
With more training, we can expect this position to gain more respect and be rewarded accordingly. Management roles often cover multiple different tasks under one title, and this is often the case for facilities managers. However, as employers are becoming more aware of the type of work that’s involved with this position, they are looking to separate the work between various managers in their business to avoid overloading facilities managers. If you are looking to enter this field in the future, we encourage you to read job descriptions very carefully when applying for job roles, as this can help to avoid issues further down the line and too much being expected of you in your position.
During the recent pandemic, many facilities managers found themselves out of a job for a long time, especially if they worked in an organization where people were sent home to work. If this is the case for you, we encourage you to keep on top of your training and expand your knowledge, as sadly, many companies are opting to scale back on the size of the properties they keep for employees. While people are now returning to offices to work once again, some companies are likely to offer their team members the chance to work from home permanently, which may jeopardize some FM services positions.
The evolution of facilities management is certainly fascinating to learn about, and it has helped to influence this industry today. As with any type of job role, with advancements in technology, we can only expect it to continue to change in the coming years. While there will always be good and bad changes, we hope the essence of this demanding but rewarding position will remain the same. For more information about FM services and how they can help your business, don’t hesitate to contact our team today, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Reference video: InfrastructureTV
