11 June 2025 9.30am – 3.30pm Community Bristol

Overview

Join the IWFM South West Region in Bristol for an insightful exploration of the people side of the workplace and facilities management (WFM) industry supported by the IWFM Veterans in FM Network, People Development SIG and Rising FMs. At this SkillShare event, we’ll delve into critical issues such as the ongoing skills shortage, HR challenges, and recruitment trends.

Through expert-led discussions and peer-to-peer learning, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the diverse skill sets needed for the future of WFM. You'll also have the opportunity to expand your knowledge, share best practices, and network with professionals navigating similar workforce challenges.

Key topics include:

  • Addressing the current skills shortage in WFM
  • Developing talent and supporting professional growth
  • Understanding your role – responsibilities, qualifications, and salary insights

 

What’s included with your ticket

  • Charity raffle entry – Each £5 ticket includes complimentary entry into our charity raffle, with a chance to win a variety of exciting prizes. (Proceeds will be split between IWFM’s Chair’s charity Mind and Freewheelers EVS Southwest Blood Bike Charity).
  • Networking opportunities – Connect with fellow attendees during breakfast, lunch, and throughout the exhibition sessions.
  • Food & refreshments – Enjoy a light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments provided during the day.
  • Exhibition access – Engage with local experts in our exhibition area and gain valuable insights, services, and best practices
  • Free parking - There is free onsite parking available.

 

Agenda

09:30 – Arrival breakfast
10:00 – IWFM Welcome, Introductions and House keeping - Steve Poole (IWFM)
10:10 – An introduction to the venue - Craig Connell (Imperial Brands)
10:30 – People in WFM, looking in - Frankie Cook (Boden Group)
11:10 – Break
11:30 – A rising star in WFM - Ella Gladwin (Thermatic Group)
12:15 – Lunch; Exhibition and networking
12:45 – (Opportunity to view the Imperial Brands refurbished office complex)
13:15 – Let’s talk people in WFM (Ask the panel) Experts - Mark Sutcliffe, Adam Phillips, Ella Gladwin, Frankie Cook
14:15 – Break
14:30 – The best of WFM - Mark Sutcliffe (CEO, Lorne Stuart)
15:15 – Raffle & closing remarks
15:30 – Close

 

Sponsors

Pareto

As a leading facilities management company covering the whole of the UK, we are proud of our social-led approach. We place great emphasis on building strong relationships with our clients and partners.

 

Speakers

Craig Connell

Head of Facilities, Imperial Brands

I left school in 1987, aged 16, to start my Mechanical Engineering Apprenticeship at Rolls Royce – Bristol. After completing this I wanting to experience different engineering environments, so I moved on machining, fitting, maintenance and R&D rolls at Adams Ricardo, Concept Engineering, DGR Plastic, Bristol Bending and Magna Interior Systems.

In 1998 I started working at Imperial Tobacco. I started in R&D before moving into Facilities, then becoming Facilities Manager and later Head of Facilities & Property. I have now been with Imperial for 27 years !! I think I’m settled now….

Frankie Cook

Client Solutions Manager, Boden Group

Frankie plays a key role at Boden Group dedicated to your success: our Client Solutions Manager. This individual acts as your primary point of contact, ensuring a seamless experience and maximizing the value you get from our solutions.

Our Client Solutions Managers are experts in building strong client relationships and streamlining processes to make working with us as efficient as possible. They conduct regular quarterly reviews to assess your current usage, demonstrate how our solutions are benefiting you, and proactively identify opportunities for more cost-effective strategies and future growth. Their goal is to ensure your current solution consistently aligns with your evolving business needs.

Ella Gladwin

Degree Apprenticeship & Rising Star IWFM

Ella is a self-motivated, determined, and hardworking individual with a strong sense of ambition. Her professional and volunteer experiences demonstrate her leadership capabilities and commitment to personal growth. She successfully funded her Gap Year travels to North and South America, Asia, Europe and Australia, showcasing her resourcefulness and tenacity.

She is an aspiring entrepreneur, currently developing her foundational knowledge in the workplace and facilities management industry. She is a degree apprentice working full time in a FM service delivery company and studying a Business Chartered Management degree part time. She is also Secretary of the IWFM Rising FMs Network, where she volunteers with likeminded individuals to bridge the gap between younger generations and the aging workforce, promoting FM as a career of choice.

Adam Phillips

Director, Pareto FM

Adam has over 25 years’ experience in engineering and Facilities Management, beginning his career as an apprentice in the Royal Air Force and moving into FM in 2007. Adam has held various senior roles across in the FM sector, working on projects with many iconic buildings and customers. He is currently Sales Director for Pareto FM which has built its success on being a people-centric and socially responsible business. Adam is a very active volunteer for IWFM, having held the Home Counties region chair role from 2017-2022 and is currently treasurer of the IWFM Veterans Network.

Mark Sutcliffe

CEO of Facilities Services, Lorne Stewart Group

Mark has responsibility for leading the Facilities Management (FM) services team delivering to a wide range of clients across Local Government, Rail, Education and health sectors as well as commercial, manufacturing and leisure clients within the private sector. 

Mark served as a Warfare Officer in the Royal Navy from 1992 – 2001. During his Naval Career, he served in numerous ship appointments on aircraft carriers, frigates and minehunters and saw active operations in the Adriatic and Sierra Leone. After leaving the Royal Navy, Mark joined the FM industry where he provided FM and property operations across traditional contracts and PFIs, in both public and private sectors. Mark has had a varied career in FM and held many different positions, including working in operations for several service providers (large and small), and within business development. Mark has also worked in a client-side leadership role.  

Since leaving the military, Mark has been passionate about supporting the armed forces family including assisting veterans and military partners into work as well as supporting military charities such as Combat Stress. He firmly believes that FM is a great career for veterans and wants to make the FM market more accessible to veterans. Mark previously held the role of Head of the KBR Armed Forces Network, which saw success being awarded a Gold Covenant Award. He is now taking Lorne Stewart along the Armed Forces Covenant journey, having just signed the AFC and already been awarded Bronze Employer Recognition Status. 

Mark lives in West Sussex with his wife Claire and two children.