Ian Tidwell

SBFM, a soft FM services provider in the UK and Ireland, is partnering with employment groups Ingeus, Shaw Trust and Reed to deliver a recruitment support scheme to help the long-term unemployed into sustainable jobs. Ian Tidwell, learning and social impact manager at SBFM, spoke to Facilitate about the scheme.

in facilities management, it allows SBFM to access a wider, untapped talent pool and mitigate the challenges in filling soft services roles, particularly for frontline cleaning operatives. We hope this, in turn, will help to narrow the recruitment gap in the industry.

How will this new partnership equip long-term unemployed with skills for the FM market exactly?

industry. It also enables them to decide if it is the right industry for them before they make the commitment.

Will they be trained in specific disciplines/trades?

Every participant in the programme completes the NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Cleaning Principles, which provides a great introduction to the skills and knowledge needed when starting a career in the cleaning industry. This qualification provides learners with a range of knowledge in both generic and specialist cleaning principles, from dealing with routine and non-routine waste, cleaning of interiors and washrooms, and working with others, amongst other important skills. Once employed, SBFM colleagues benefit from on-the-job training to build expertise in critical areas that form the foundation of the FM roles they perform, and support career development.

How

did the idea for the initiative come about? Was it a direct response to the skills shortages in FM?

By partnering with organisations like Ingeus, Shaw Trust and Reed in Partnership to help the long-term unemployed into sustainable employment, we have an opportunity to give back to the wider community and that was a major driving force behind the launch of the initiative. It affords us the opportunity to provide a much-needed resource –sustainable, long-term employment – to people who need it most.

While the initiative was not introduced as a direct response to the skills shortage