Having robust and publicised policies on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) will attract new and younger talent to FM companies. Many young people want to work for a company with a great sense of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and good track record on employing people from all backgrounds. FM companies seem to be recognising this, as according to new research from Sodexo, “[o]rganisations that have inadequate policies on the environment and diversity and inclusion [are] at greatest risk”, of losing business. In fact, “92 percent of those polled said they now vet suppliers on their social values and impact, and 75 percent warn they would be put off by a prospective supplier that did not publish information about their social values”.
Poor equality and diversity in any organisation has been shown to negatively affect the bottom line. Not only can poor diversity affect customer perception and lead to boycotts and negative press or social media [presence] around your brand, it can also put off potential hires, who don’t want to be seen to be working for a homogenous company. People see diverse workplaces as being safer and more welcoming for them, and as a place where they can fit in more readily.
The benefits of AI and technological innovations in smart buildings, as well as the impact of COVID-19, is likely to push the FM sector to a global worth of £117 trillion by 2027 according to Fortune Business Insights. Smart buildings use technology to create a safer, healthier, more efficient, more cost-effective and more sustainable workplace that is more pleasant to work in. Workplace safety and environment are of paramount importance to facilities managers and can be greatly improved by the use of integrated software and hardware technologies, many of which can be used and monitored remotely.
The UK government has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050. Made in 2019, it was the first legally binding net zero carbon pledge for a major global economy. In order to achieve the status carbon neutral, the UK has now put forward a series of funding options to assist in the effort to reach this pledged target of 2050. Included in this is the £213 million investment in seven of the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) research councils which will allow them to provide sustainable energy infrastructure upgrades, research carbon neutral technologies and regenerate older spaces. There is also £170 million of funding for the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, which is looking for carbon neutral technologies and infrastructure solutions that will create a large scale reduction of carbon emissions in a way that can be reproduced efficiently across the UK, and the world.
If you’re looking to brighten up your home office while also enjoying a boost to your mood and productivity, adding some greenery to the mix is a great place to start. Jenny in the 300 North team has been something of a plant connoisseur for a while now, and working from home has given her the perfect opportunity to bring that passion into her new work environment.
THE 300 NORTH WAY
At 300North we specialise in Facilities Management, Construction and Property Recruitment. We pride ourselves on being able to deliver quality candidates to companies across the industry regardless of the challenges we all collectively face. This year has been particularly challenging, but we have continued to support the needs of the market and have maintained our people focused approach to recruiting. The FM sector has had a vital role to play during the pandemic and thus a continued need to recruit both temporary and permanent staff. We have seen a noticeable increase in clients looking for short term temporary staff to cover employees having to isolate for two weeks, particularly across the healthcare sector; and given it’s currently a busy time for FM post a second national lockdown and with businesses and workplaces continuing to reopen, this has led to some tight turnarounds for our team who have risen to the challenge!
In the current climate, where advice and guidelines change on a weekly basis and every other sentence begins with the phrase “in these uncertain times”, it’s more difficult than ever to anticipate and adapt to the changes that many of us will be experiencing in our professional lives. For some, this means something as simple as a reorganised office or a temperature check upon arrival. For others, it could mean redundancy.
The Best Ways to Cope
FM is already paving the way for UK recovery in the jobs market, with vacancies in workplace relocation, workplace management, security and sustainability opening across the sector. Cleaning alone has seen a 14% increase in job postings. This flexibility in FM and the willingness to train new workers from outside of the sector means that they are set to remain at the forefront of the UK’s economic recovery.
In the current market, FM companies can work to employ talented new workers with a diverse range of skills gained from previous employment. Transferrable skills such as strategic planning, project management, leadership and adaptability are all vital in FM, and could be gained in a range of other roles. FM can also be a great starting point for young people coming out of education, and a drive to recruit the best of those would be beneficial to the sector in the short and long term.
