Overview
What is a Facility Manager?
Facility Managers are professionals who are responsible for the management of services and processes that support business operations. As a broad area, this can include the buildings and grounds, as well as services that support the working environment, such as maintenance, cleaning, security and space management.
Professionals that work in facility management may be referred to by similar titles, such as Facility Administrator, Facility Supervisor, Maintenance Manager or even Building Manager.
How much do Facility Managers earn?
The average salary of a Facility Manager is usually between: £25,000 – £65,000
Skills
What’s required for the role?
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- The ability to multi-task
- Interpersonal skills
- IT skills and digital literacy
- A practical, logical and methodical mindset
- Procurement and negotiation skills
- Project management
- Written and verbal communication
- Technical skills and knowledge of buildings
- Leadership and effective people management
- Data literacy
- Analytical skills
- Strong organisation skills
Details
What does a Facility Manager do?
In this diverse role you will have a broad range of responsibilities, including:
What is the work environment like?
As a facility management professional, you’re likely to be based on business premises, with intermittent travel occasionally being required.
Work in this discipline can be pressurised when operating within deadlines or budgets and, depending on your employer, you may be asked to work weekends.
All types of businesses employ Facility Managers, including property and construction firms and facility management specialists.
Opportunities
Is facility management a good career?
Facility management experience is in high demand. According to research, the average age of a facility management professional is 49 and, within the next 10 years, half will have retired.
For younger generations entering the job market or existing professionals looking for a career change, facility management can be a stable and secure long-term career path. It’s also a globally-recognised field, meaning that opportunities for employment exist not just across the UK but throughout the world.
Facility management is a field undergoing growth and transformation. The emergence of smart buildings into the mainstream has brought significant technological innovation and investment to the sector, with facilities professionals playing a key role in making this a reality.
What’s more, a facility management role can have a significant impact on sustainability and compliance, With operational carbon from buildings being a major contributor to global emissions. To address this, you may be tasked with developing innovative systems and thoughtful procurement to promote effective and sustainable management of your employer’s facilities.
Become a facility manager
Who can become a Facility Manager?
If you’re interested in facility management, nothing is stopping you from launching a career in this area. At UCEM, thousands of students from various backgrounds have obtained the academic qualifications and practical experience necessary to begin their journeys in the sector. Find out about their experiences below:
How to become a Facility Manager
Entry into the facility management profession is diverse – people may come from a range of different backgrounds. No particular degree or professional qualification is required, but relevant areas can include business studies and hospitality, as well as property and construction subjects.
Specific pathways, qualifications and facility management degree apprenticeships are offered by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Institute of Leadership and Management and the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).
Along with obtaining degrees, online CPD courses in relevant subjects can strengthen your employment credentials, such as:
