Technical Skills Gaps in FM
Comment from 300 North given to TwinFM for their recent article: Hiring in FM – Looking Beyond University Degrees. To see thoughts from Adam Fahn (Freelance FM and Safety Consultant), Robert Blackler (VP of Sales, Infraspeak), and Angela Hughes (HR Director, Cluttons) visit the TWin FM site.
"68 per cent of the employers surveyed by CIPD said that the skills they have the most difficulty finding in jobseekers are overwhelmingly technical skills. Paul Connolly, CEO of FM recruitment company 300 North, believes the lack of recognition in FM is also worsening the skills gap.
"Many roles in the FM sector have not been covered by university degrees until recently, including a BA degree in Facilities Management which is only offered at a few universities in the UK.
"This means that FM companies have been recruiting talent from outside the graduate pool for many years and particularly when it comes to entry-level roles. This also means that many FM companies already have robust training and development programmes in place to funnel new starters into the business and train them up in the roles they choose.
"There are few industries as impactful as Facilities Management. The problem in FM is more one of recognition. As older professionals age out of the sector, fewer young people are attracted to the sector, or likely don’t even know it exists. Professionals from across FM talk about 'falling into it', and this lack of recognition exacerbates the skills gaps in the sector."
