DIARY

Events, activities and publications for your attention

Key Event

6 JULY

IWFM North Region Charity Ball 2023

Join fellow workplace and facilities management professionals for a night of networking and celebration at the black-tie Charity Ball. There will be champagne, a three-course meal, live music, entertainment, charity raffle and a DJ playing until 2am. tinyurl.com/Fac23001

INDUSTRY-WIDE

25-27 APRIL 2023 – BIRMINGHAM

The Workplace Event

Enhancing employee experience and workplace performance. tinyurl.com/Fac22041

25-27 APRIL 2023 – BIRMINGHAM

The Health & Safety Event

Share best practices and explore the latest innovations and trends. tinyurl.com/Fac23004

16-18 MAY 2023 – LONDON

Facilities Show

Fuelling the FM supply chain to shape a smarter, more agile and sustainable future workplace. tinyurl.com/Fac22078

Iwfm Events

21 MARCH– LONDON

IWFM London Region AGM and Question Time

The AGM is followed by the annual Question Time event. Pose questions and discuss pressing issues such as cost of living, skills shortages and technology. tinyurl.com/Fac23008

28 MARCH– LONDON

IWFM Rising FMs SIG AGM plus Sustainable Circularity talk

The AGM is followed by a presentation by host organisation Kinnarps about how it has achieved sustainable circularity. tinyurl.com/Fac23002

24-25 APRIL– SWITZERLAND

IWFM International SIG study trip to Switzerland

Beginning in Basel and finishing in Geneva, the group, hosted by Roche, will learn about sustainable Swiss workplaces and FM practices. tinyurl.com/Fac23003

17 MAY– LONDON

IWFM Rising FMs networking event

Network with peers and strengthen the Rising FMs community by sharing experiences, ideas and knowledge with fellow likeminded professionals. tinyurl.com/Fac23005

16 OCTOBER– LONDON

IWFM Impact Awards 2023

More than a ‘ceremony’ – awardwinners and finalists inspire the profession and the industries it services. Past winners showcase the profession's impressive legacy and give evidence of its continued evolution. tinyurl.com/Fac23007

Iwfm Webinar Series

IWFM’s webinar series covers a variety of topics with expert guests. Listings may be subject to change. Visit tinyurl.com/IWFM-webinars

22 MARCH– 12PM

FM’s sustainability landscape in 2023

29 MARCH– 12PM

‘Digitisation in the workplace’ with Planon

19 APRIL – 12PM

Scope 3 emissions

3 MAY – 12PM

FM market trends: the challenges and opportunities

IWFM FACE-TO-FACE TRAINING

17-18 APRIL – LONDON

FM strategy - 2 days

Evaluate and improve your business strategy's impact. tinyurl.com/Fac22015

19-20 APRIL – LONDON

Managing building services - 2 days

Reduce risk and better manage your building services. tinyurl.com/Fac22023

22-23 MAY – LONDON

Operational space planning - 2 days

Design your space to improve the customer experience. tinyurl.com/Fac22018

22-23 MAY – LONDON

FM strategic sourcing: ISO 41012 - 2 days

Use strategic sourcing to reduce costs and improve outcomes. tinyurl.com/Fac22025

24-25 MAY – LONDON

Managing building services - 2 days

Reduce risk and better manage your building services. tinyurl.com/Fac22023

5-6 JUNE

Contract management: commercial models - 2 days

Got a failing contract? Learn how to put it back on track. tinyurl.com/Fac22020

7-8 JUNE – LONDON

FM strategy - 2 days

Evaluate and improve your business strategy's impact. tinyurl.com/Fac22015

19-21 JUNE – LONDON

Effective FM professional - 3 days

Find out how to create and sustain effective operations. tinyurl.com/Fac22014

26-27 JUNE – LONDON

Effective property management - 2 days

Develop a strategy to maintain your property portfolio. tinyurl.com/Fac22017

Iwfm Live Virtual Training

24-25 APRIL

Effective property management - 2 days

Manage and maintain your property portfolio with an effective property strategy. tinyurl.com/Fac22017

8-9 MAY

Contract management: commercial models - 2 days

Got a failing contract? Learn how to put it back on track. tinyurl.com/Fac22020

10-11 MAY

Managing building services - 2 days

Reduce risk and improve how you manage your building services. tinyurl.com/Fac22023

16-18 MAY

Introduction to FM - 3 days

Everything you need to know to start your new career. tinyurl.com/Fac22028

26-28 JUNE

IOSH managing safely - 3 days

Practical guidance to ensure that your team is working safely. tinyurl.com/Fac22032

28-29 JUNE

FM strategy - 2 days

Evaluate and improve your business strategy's impact. tinyurl.com/Fac22015

Iwfm Online Training

ONLINE

Introduction to FM

Everything you need to know to start your new career. tinyurl.com/Fac22028

ONLINE

Effective FM professional

Find out how to create and sustain effective operations. tinyurl.com/Fac22014

What do you do? I’m the workplace lead for Wise in London. I look after hard and soft services from a strategic standpoint

What attracted you to FM, and how did you get into the industry? I started as a temp after leaving the hospitality industry and realised the positive influence an FM can have on a workplace. The variety of ways you influence people’s day-to-day lives in a positive way has kept me here.

How long have you been in your current role? I’ve been with Wise 11 months, but have been in the industry for over a decade.

Do you see yourself predominantly as a task or a people manager?

Definitely both! Seeing colleagues grow and pushing them to always do better is a hugely important part of what I do. At Wise, we are always looking for ways to innovate and make people’s experience as incredible as it can be, so process plays a huge part in that.

Would you describe your role as predominantly operational or strategic? My role is predominantly strategic, I support a team who do an amazing job with our operations.

How many people are there in your FM team, and to whom does the FM team ultimately report?

I support a team of four in our London office, but our wider team of 30 roll up into our people tribe.

My top perk at work is… My colleagues. Right across the business I have the privilege of working with some amazing people who push each other to be better every day. Their drive is incredible.

What has been your biggest career challenge to date? Transitioning from an operational role to a more strategic role. Letting go was tough!

If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be? The visibility of what FM teams do. Wise has been amazing at showing appreciation for the things we do.

Any interesting tales to tell?

I once worked at a big tech company who had ‘magic toilets’ with built-in bidets and remotes. Someone once swapped the remotes in two cubicles…

If I wasn’t in facilities management, I’d probably be… Looking for ways to help people become the best they can be or a chocolate taster.

Which “FM/Workplace myth” would you most like to put an end to? People who produce amazing work do make amazing leaders. This is very much not always the case and they are very different skill sets.

What single piece of advice would you give to a young facilities/ workplace manager starting out? Never stop learning! Once you have learned the workplace, learn asset management, once you have learned that move on to procurement. There are so many sides to FM and workplace to be explored. Also, join the IWFM!

What was the weirdest day you’ve had in the office? There have been a few, but the worst was when our space planner and moves project manager had slept in the office on the day of a big move but didn’t wake up for the move itself.

Early bird or night owl? Could be either/or on any given day, but nine hours’ sleep is always the aim.

What FM job in the world would you love more than anything? I want to be on the cutting edge of FM and workplace. Luckily, it’s something we are working towards at Wise.

And where would FM be an absolute nightmare? Any stadium role. Working evenings and weekends is what drove me away from hospitality.

Your life outside FM mostly involves… Spending time with friends and family but my passion is football. I am an FA qualified coach. Hopefully, one day I’ll get a chance to put it to good use again.

What do you do? I oversee the workplace strategy, operations and projects in 21 countries.

What attracted you to FM, and how did you get into the industry? I fell into FM in the mid-2000s, started as an office manager in recruitment and property companies, then made the move to FM working for large construction companies like Carillion and Amey when FM outsourcing became popular. Last year I jumped the fence and went in-house, which I have really enjoyed.

How long have you been in your current role? I joined EQT one year ago.

Do you see yourself predominantly as a task or a people manager? A bit of both. Tasks bring structure where needed, but without good people no structure can be sustainable. Richard Branson once said “look after your people and they will look after your business”.

Would you describe your role as predominantly operational or strategic? It’s predominantly strategic and as my company is growing my operational team is also expanding, which is allowing me more time to strategise!

How many people are there in your FM team, and to whom does the FM team ultimately report? We have a team of 60 people delivering workplace operations and projects plus a lot of consultants and we ultimately report to our COO.

My top perk at work is… Travel! I am fortunate to have a global role which takes me to some amazing cities all over the world. Next stop – Sydney and Hong Kong in March.