Deborah Rowland Scholarship 2025 Launches

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05 March 2025

A scholarship to help FM professionals progress is looking for new recipients for 2025.

The scholarship is the brainchild of Deborah Rowland, Director of Public Affairs at Sodexo  UK and former IWFM Facilities Manager of the Year. Deborah has been diagnosed with an advanced cancer and started the initiative in 2024 with a donation of her own money. 

The scheme is open to those who have been limited by financial constraints, allowing them to compete in FM at a higher level and receive funding to study for and obtain an appropriate IWFM regulated qualification. 

Of the scheme’s 2024 launch Rowland said: “I was astounded by the support given by the WFM community and from my employer, Sodexo.  

“We were able to award two winners - TJ Robinson, an armed forces veteran looking to enter the world of WFM, and Paige Watts, who is at the beginning of her WFM career. Both have since begun their work towards IWFM qualifications with the support of their mentor, Liz Kentish.  

“Addressing the widest possible audience of potential recipients is key. Getting information about this opportunity to the people that need it the most is the important part.  

“This year we can widen the net. We have more time and more scholarships to award. We need to get the message out far and wide to those not necessarily part of the WFM community but who wish to be. I need help to spread the news to colleges, carers, SMEs, VCSEs, veterans, ex-offenders, care leavers etc.” 
 
“Thank you again to everyone involved, I am looking forward to the applications for 2025. It is truly the best legacy someone can have.” 

For 2025,  the scheme is supported by support from Xenon Group. Director Chris Morris said, “We’re thrilled to support the scholarship with a contribution of two regulated qualifications and four annual subscriptions to XenZone – our new online training portal. We look forward to seeing how the entries and assessments progress, and to welcoming our first two scholars onto the programme later this year!”  

Applications close on Monday 30 June and you can read about eligibility criteria and how to apply here.

Click here to donate to the scholarship.

Picture: a photograph of Deborah. Image Credit: Sodexo

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 05 March 2025

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