Careers

In a nutshell

It's the responsibility of facilities managers to make sure that a building and its services fulfil the needs of the organisation using it. Once construction is completed, facilities managers are employed to take care of all the different issues required to make a building work. This allows people using the property to continue living and working in it.

In depth

Their work involves:

• planning how the inside of a building should be organised
• taking charge of renovations and office moves
• maintaining buildings and ensuring everything is in good working order
• ensuring all IT systems function effectively (eg phones, computers, faxes, photocopiers)
• managing a building's security
• organising the cleaning and general upkeep of a building
• negotiating the best possible deals for all of the above.

The people

Facilities managers know lots about how buildings are constructed and what occupiers need them to do. They should be able to work well with a wide variety of people, including the building occupiers and those who come to carry out work on it.

Qualifications required

Many facilities managers have a relevant undergraduate or postgraduate degree. To do a postgraduate course, most universities specify a first degree (such as engineering or surveying), so it's best to check with course providers beforehand. Graduates often wait until they have work experience in the area and then complete a part-time or distance-learning diploma or masters degree. It's likely that your course will cover quality management, space planning, legal studies, IT and property management. Some courses are recognised by the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM).

Getting professional

As a student on a facilities management course you can become a student member of the British Institute of Facilities Management by applying online.