Delivering For People And The Planet: How FM Is At The Heart Of A More Sustainable Future
The world of work is in turbulence. Organisations in the UK, and worldwide, are faced with numerous challenges — post‑pandemic employee engagement and retention, the urgent need to achieve Net Zero and navigating an increasingly challenging economy. Liz Benison, CEO of ISS UK and Ireland, explores ways that FM is poised to help businesses survive — and thrive.
As world leaders convened at COP27 last month with a theme of ‘delivering for people and the planet’, one couldn’t help but feel anxious — following a year of extreme weather events, record greenhouse gas concentrations and a growing energy crisis, it’s apparent that urgent action has never been needed more.
Today, the needs of people and planet are inherently linked, and I’ve found myself reflecting on the interesting parallels between COP27’s ambitions and those of the FM industry. It seems to me that we both play a critical role in delivering that urgently needed action to protect our planet and, ultimately, deliver a more equitable, purposeful future for the people who live on it.
In many ways, I’m proud of the way FM has, for some time, been delivering this change in the world of work and built environments. Still, we all know there is much work to do — and I believe this is a perfect opportunity for our industry to lead the charge.
Designing Data-Led Facilities And Services
For years, FMs and outsourcers alike have been collecting workplace data, but many have struggled to really harness its full potential. Recently, however, I’ve been seeing some exciting examples of how this wealth of data can be put to use in a way that helps us deliver more sustainable buildings and more supportive and engaging workplaces for people.
Consider, for example, carbon-intensive factors like energy and food consumption in the workplace. From BMS information to simple occupancy data, FMs have a unique understanding of how these change — not just from day to day, but often from hour to hour. In a post-pandemic world, applying these insights effectively to better resource and utilise our workplaces can mean big improvements in reducing energy, avoiding food waste and, critically, reducing our carbon footprints.
Delivering Careers Of Purpose
At the same time, occupancy data can provide a blueprint for designing smarter facilities that puts users and user experience at its heart. For example, in the context of an ongoing global war for talent, I see an opportunity to use the workplace as an employer branding tool — a critical resource to help differentiate your business to attract and retain top talent. Investing in hybrid-friendly workspaces, technology and infrastructure that truly support your workforce will yield numerous benefits, including improved employee engagement, access to wider and more diverse talent pools, and a more cohesive organisational culture.
Furthermore, the issue of the post-pandemic return to the workplace continues to confound employers: can we really afford to ‘mandate’ return? But also, how sustainable is the current model? For a start, FMs should be examining data to understand current building usage, but they also need to engage with actual building users to learn what specific facilities and services would make it better — what kinds of spaces will help them work, collaborate and learn more effectively? Answering these questions for your own workforce will help you set an evidence-based ‘return to workplace’ strategy that appeals to both employees and employers.
It’s safe to say we have our work cut out for us; the challenges are significant, but I’m convinced that FM is at the heart of its solutions. The effectiveness of our response, however, will rely on our ability as an industry — in-house, outsourcers and suppliers — to work together and truly deliver for people and the planet.
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