Workplace Futures 2012: New Needs. New Solutions?
Where will FM be in five years’ time?
Will the same big multi-service providers still be dominating the landscape, with numerous small and specialist suppliers vying for the contract leftovers? Will we still be discussing the pros and cons of bundled vs integrated vs TFM, confused by the fact that we don’t have firm definitions for any of those terms? Will we still be frustrated by a lack of understanding in the wider world about what we actually do?
And what about the bigger picture: are we really prepared for uncertainty? When this conference tackled the future of FM five year’s ago, we asked experts in property, the workplace, building services and the environment for their best insights and advice. The presentations and associated discussions were excellent, producing plenty of useful information for FM practitioners. But no one anticipated the coming economic storm that would rock both business and government, changing things for FMs in fundamental ways.
Looking back over the intervening years, much has changed; yet in some areas, it is surprising how little has changed. Big issues remain with us: sustainability and the need to be greener, cost pressures and the need to be more efficient, competition and the need to be sharper, professional development and the need to raise FM’s profile.
FM is a business discipline and a vast service industry. It is a simple service delivery requirement and a mission-critical support operation. Given that vast range, what does the future hold – more of the same? Or something quite different? Is FM ready to face up to the big challenges and define its own future?
We’ll be looking for answers to questions like that in February. We hope you'll plan to join us.
