Level recruitment

It is without argument that facilities management (FM) is now a profession in its own right. Business now recognises the value added by effective and diligent FM, both from an operational and a fiscal point of view. I have worked as an FM recruiter for over 10 years and the industry that I was first introduced to is unrecognisable from the one that I now know. Back in the ‘old days’ I recall facilities managers hailing from engineering disciplines or a form of office management; the function was an anonymous one and not a career role such as a surveyor. It occurred to me that although the industry was an embryonic one and one that was sure to develop, it clearly lacked a profile with the very people the function supported.

I began my recruitment career mainly recruiting in-house facilities managers (FMs) and my clients ranged from the UK’s major plcs through to smaller enterprises. The main challenge I faced was the obvious lack of FMs and engaging assignments with the required level of technical appreciation! Armed with my copy of FM for Dummies and spending the majority of my time in the company of FMs, I quickly came to understand the dynamics of the function and how to separate FMs in terms of level and ability. I noted that people from professions related to FM had begun to cross into the industry. People from soft services backgrounds, construction, estates management and technical disciplines began to show up on the radar and it was obvious that elements of their skill sets were transferable.

This provided me with greater scope to fulfil my client’s needs while also achieving the satisfaction of providing people with a total career change, something we rarely get to do as recruiters.

Towards the late ’90s it became apparent that the industry was gaining both in profile and acclaim. New challenges and debate faced the industry. Outsourcing was on the increase – yet there was still a loud voice to be heard for the in-house community. The BIFM had added credence to the profession. Businesses started to be guided by their FMs, as opposed to forcing corporate opinion upon them, and even my boss understood what the role was. This development impacted on the recruitment industry. Yes, we operated in a niche industry unlikely to be troubled by the recruitment industry’s major brands, but nevertheless if the bar had risen, we had to keep with the pace.

I am sure the majority of you as FMs have experienced at some point a recruiter either as a job seeker or as a recruiting client. I would also suggest that your opinions will vary in the quality of your experience. I have accrued 10 successful and personally satisfying years within this industry. FM recruitment is a passion as much as it is a job to me – yet it also is a source of confusion. I have noted that some organisations engage recruiters who provide a cheaper service and a lack of technical appreciation. It baffles me that such risks can be taken when recruiting such a critical hire. There are a number of recruiters in the industry who retain an abundance of both technical and industry knowledge, yet occasionally we are overlooked for the promise of cheaper provision and by the lure of contrived sales rhetoric.

Whether it is you as an FM seeking a move or a business seeking an FM, the impact of engaging a technically competent recruiter can not be overstated. Whenever any of us seek any form of service, we ultimately seek an understanding of our requirements and efficient provision of that service. The Facilities Management division of TPP has existed for only 16 months, yet we have already gained reputation for our accuracy and standards of service. We deem each FM professional as a future client of our business and each client as a partner. We are going beyond the customary confines of an agency service and as we develop, will seek our influences from the industry, not the sales book.

It is my belief that there is still a space unoccupied for a prevailing and wholly trusted FM recruitment business. I have joined TPP for this very reason, as I believe we retain both the technical expertise and ethics that will marry the standards set by today’s facilities management industry.

Steve O’Donoghue is a Senior Consultant and manager at TPP Facilities. To speak to him about your recruitment needs call 020 7198 6120 or email steve.odonoghue@tpp.co.uk