The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

IWFM Outlook Survey Reveals Challenges in FM Sector

IWFM Outlook Survey Reveals Challenges in FM Sector
20 April 2022
 

The IWFM’s Market Outlook Survey 2022 finds challenges of supply chain squeezes, creeping inflation and a skills shortage of frontline workers.

Each year, this survey of IWFM members provides insights into the challenges and performance of the workplace and facilities management sector. The aim is for the results to help the membership body to build a picture of how the major factors affect the profession in the UK.

 

IWFM’s Findings

 

As might be expected, the overall findings for 2022 reflect the broader economic picture of rising energy prices and post-Brexit skilled frontline worker shortages. Other insights show that:

 

  • Six in ten respondents expect an improved outlook for 2022. This figure remained consistent with last year’s survey, with fewer expecting it to worsen - the optimism linked largely to expectations of a reactivated sector as workers return to offices.
  • There is a continuation from last year in organisations’ changing workplace strategies to cover remote, home and flexible working. These changing requirements were indicated as “a negative impact”.
  • The factors most strongly identified as having a positive impact on the market over the last twelve months were changes in the use of technology and data and in workplace strategies, including remote or hybrid working.
  • Awareness and focus on equity, diversity and inclusion issues have increased, but it is also clear that barriers remain that hinder progress in this area, particularly unconscious bias and lack of support, mentors and role models.

 

Peter Brogan, IWFM’s Head of Research and Insight, commented: “Those able to harness the potential of new and emerging technologies and successfully apply data capture and analysis techniques to optimise technology use will be at the forefront of sector growth. Working from the encouraging insight from this year’s survey, we will continue to develop tools to support the sector to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the evolving workplace.”

You can read the full Market Outlook Survey 2022 report here.

Picture: a photograph of a set of paper reports showing graphs. A hand holding a pen can also be seen. Image Credit: Pexels

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 20 April 2022

Share



Related Articles

Insights from RICS UK Facilities Management Survey

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has published its latest quarterly FM survey, which collects data from facilities managers, service providers and FM...

 Read Full Article
IWFM Report Shows 58% of FMs Believe the Market Will Improve Within a Year

The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management has released its Market Outlook 2021 report, revealing that most FM professionals believe the market will...

 Read Full Article
IWFM Predicts Three Megatrends for the Future of FM

To honour its 30th anniversary, IWFM has published their predictions for how the FM sector will evolve in a new report.   Watch the...

 Read Full Article
ABM Launches Sixth Year of Junior Engineering Engagement Programme 

Facilities provider ABM is again engaging with 11-12-year-olds to promote the world of engineering and facilities management. The Junior Engineering Engagement...

 Read Full Article
IWFM Signs Armed Forces Covenant

The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management has announced that it is now a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. This news comes after IWFM established the...

 Read Full Article
New Apprentices Have Dropped Since Introduction of Apprenticeship Levy 

CIPD research shows that the number of apprentices starting in SMEs has dropped by 49 per cent, since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy in 2017. There were...

 Read Full Article
2023 IWFM Impact Awards Winners Announced

Over 920 attendees gathered at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London to celebrate the 2023 IWFM Impact Awards. 86 finalists, including organisations, initiatives and...

 Read Full Article
Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors Plans Closer Ties With IWFM

The Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors and the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management are planning to establish a formal relationship. The...

 Read Full Article
Cleaning Costs Will Rise by 28% Over Next Five Years

The Building Cost Information Service predicts that cleaning costs will rise 28 per cent between now and 2028. The building and construction data analyst also says...

 Read Full Article
British Cleaning Council Anticipates 2024 Apprenticeship Approval

As the final proposals for a cleaning and hygiene apprenticeship are considered, the British Cleaning Council remains hopeful that the course can be launched in January...

 Read Full Article