Facilitate in Focus 

News

What we've reported on 
 
A busy few days with members’ attention understandably pulled from one thing – such as outsourcer Mitie’s 10 per cent revenue bump, for example, or Compass Group’s boosted profit – to the claim that poorly designed workplaces are costing the economy billions. 

Another illuminating read was our piece on South Cambridgeshire Council and how it's really pushing forward with its four day week, whether national politicians like it or not. 
 
Get all these stories and our very latest news here. 
 
What we're working on 
 
Right now we’re all about following up our recently published July / August edition with its focus on developing WFM’s next generation. Check out Michelle Brightly’s sterling work in this area here – it’s quite something. 
 
Also, here’s former Rising FMs chair Samantha Raishbrook with a deep dive into the early days of the IWFM network now chaired by the energetic Elliot Valentine (of whom more next time). 
We've also begun work on features linked to the government's industrial strategy and the career trajectories of senior WFMs, about which you can expect to read more in the coming weeks. And right now, Martin Read is with Mark Whittaker and Andrew Hulbert to discuss what the change of chair means for IWFM. 
 
If you read one Facilitate piece… 
 
Just the one? OK, OK, we'll go with waste crime - the illegal handling, disposal, or transportation of waste, often by organised criminal networks. It's a crime with hugely negative effects on communities, the environment and the economy – and this piece explains how artificial intelligence might just help tackle it. 
 
Where we could use your help 
 
The publication of the shortlist for this year’s IWFM Impact Awards reminds us that we’re celebrating and analysing 25 years of the awards in our upcoming September / October edition. Of critical interest – and we can’t emphasise this enough – is this: who hosted the 2002 event? 

We know the first awards MC in 2001 was comedian Rory McGrath, while 2003 saw impressionist Alistair McGowan take the reins. We also know all the other hosts since. Yet the name of whoever helmed the gig in 2002 has proved frustratingly elusive. Can anyone remember? 

In all seriousness (although just to say we really do want that missing host’s name) we’re looking to speak to anyone whose career trajectory was influenced by their success in whichever way through the IWFM Awards in any of the years since they were introduced at the turn of the century. What did you introduce as a result of what you learned? 

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