Facilitate in focus

News

What we've reported on

The acquisition of EMCOR UK by OCS is one of the bigger M&A stories of the sector this year. It called to mind what IWFM chair Andrew Hulbert wrote in Facilitate about the sector undergoing a “transformative phase marked by M&A activity and strategic consolidation”.

We will be closely following developments surrounding this deal, assessing its impact on the sector and what this means for outsourcing more broadly. 

As is often the case, data was a key talking point, with Maria-Christina Eskioglou, senior audit manager at the National Audit Office (NAO), sharing insight into recent work and the government estate’s maintenance backlog standing at £49 billion.

The challenge, Eskioglou, pointed out while speaking at the National Facilities Management in the Public Sector Conference and Exhibition 2025, was “incomplete and out-of-date data” – which resulted in diminished understanding of what an estate looks like and the issues that plague it. 

Special mention goes to Mike Liddle, a key player in the development of facilities management both in the UK and internationally, who recently died.

You can read these stories and the very latest news here.

What we're working on

Of course, as noted in our previous update, the IWFM Impact Awards are mere days away, with 2025 being the 25th anniversary of the prestigious industry event. We will be reporting on the event. 

We are also mulling over a few big themes such as the RIBA Plan of Works, Master Planning and career progression senior FMs. 

If you read one Facilitate piece…

Given how important the conversation is around skills development and plugging the gap, we were excited to cover news of HMP Leyhill and Gov Facility Services Limited’s employment initiative that is supporting rehabilitation for serving prisoners. 

Now nine months into operation, the scheme allows selected prisoners to work on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) in fully paid trade positions with GFSL, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to the prison’s maintenance and improvement. There are currently two prisoners employed full-time as a painter & decorator and a mechanical engineer. 

https://www.facilitatemagazine.com/2025/09/23/second-chances-successful-new-employment-scheme-hmp-l… 

Where we could use your help

We will forever be indebted to those frequent and familiar voices that appear on our website and in our magazine, but we are always on the lookout for new perspectives. So if you have something to say, disagree with or just want to be heard on a topic that matters to you, please get in touch. 

You can get in touch with the team at any time via [email protected] – we're happy to talk.