An RICS North East Facilities Management (FM) Group has launched to establish a network of local FM professionals who can tackle the challenges facing the sector and share best practice to ensure local firms are operating to the best of their ability.
FM professionals are found in all industry sectors and are responsible for ensuring a company’s environment encourages productivity, is safe and pleasing to clients and customers. They also make sure a firm’s building and services are working as efficiently as possible, reducing its operational costs and lowering carbon emissions where possible.
Alex Slack, senior surveyor at Sanderson Weatherall in Newcastle is heading up the group as chairman and is keen to strengthen the committee.
He said: “Markets across all sectors are changing rapidly and companies must prepare and adapt their working environment and services to keep-up with a new generation of emerging customers and staff. Our group will help to ensure FM professionals can increase their knowledge and skill set to best serve the increasing needs of their clients or employer.”
Alex adds: “There are so many people working in facilities management under different guises, yet the sector in the North East is somewhat underrepresented. We’re looking for additional committee members who can help us change this and support the delivery of our programme of events – which we’re currently organising – including networking activities and topical seminars.”
Most facilities managers come from an experience-led background not a qualification-led one and the RICS North East FM Group hopes to also raise awareness of gaining chartered RICS status.
Alex adds: “There aren’t a lot of fully qualified professionals who specialise in the facilities management field. The first step in changing this is to get people talking and sharing best practice. Our group will help to inform those working in the sector of the career and business advantages that are available through becoming a member of RICS.”
If you are interested in being a committee member or would like to register your interest for details on the RICS North East Facilities Management Group’s future events, contact Angela Jepson at RICS: t (0)191 221 1515 or e: ajepson@rics.org