Facilitate in focus

News

What we’ve reported on

For anyone who thought the new year would see change in FM business behaviour, the amount of supply side activity in the form of acquisitions and contract announcements would appear to suggest otherwise. The evidence thus far is that 2026 is to be just as busy with outsourced supplier evolution as 2025 was, and all this before the legislative changes of April kick in.

January has already been a very busy month already for new job announcements across the spectrum and our reporting has reflected that. We’re inclined to see this as a sign of positivity within the sector.

What we’re working on

The Employment Rights Act 2025 looks set to have ramifications throughout 2026 and into 2027, such is the staged introduction of its changes. This is an unquestionably challenging situation for many employers and we’re talking to FM business leaders about how the sector is likely to be impacted in particular.

We’re also looking at the introduction into the corporate real estate market of ever more facilities being adapted as a result of now seemingly permanent shifts in occupier behaviour. This includes temporary ‘meanwhile’ uses - we’re looking at what this change in facility status means for its management.

We’re also working on piece about the way outsourcers are setting up partnerships with an ever widening array of third party specialists and asking whether these have the potential to change how the wider business world sees the facilities business.

If you read one Facilitate piece…

Last week we posted our essay from SBFM’s Jaideep Matharu to social media. It’s about the hidden struggles faced by early-stage FMs – and how the sector can do better. If we continue to fail supervisory and first-time managers with limited and ineffectual support as they try to find their way, can we really complain that the sector fails to attract enough talent. Here’s the piece - let us know your views:

https://www.facilitatemagazine.com/content/news/comment/2026/01/06/what-makes-good-leader

Where we could use your help

Our mission in 2026 - well, one of them at least - is to try to move some of the sector’s most intractable arguments forward. Expect that to include everything from sustainable business management to sustainable profit margins and all of the people issues in between.

As ever, if you’d like to point us towards a topic you think deserves more attention, we’ll happily listen to your suggestions - drop us a line at [email protected]