IWFM celebrates World FM Day 2025, highlighting sector resilience and growth 

News

 

To all the workplace and facilities management (WFM) community, I would like to wish you a happy and productive World FM Day 2025. 

This year's theme is 'Resilience in action: thriving in a world of change' and it is not an overstatement to describe WFM professionals as the vanguard of resilience: champions of sustainability, drivers of digital transformation, pioneers of workplace productivity and much more. The Times recognised the sector's value earlier this month and they are not alone; we at IWFM are here to promote it. 

Our recently released Market Outlook shows clear evidence of sector growth and a concentration of positive market trends: 

• 42% of respondents reported an increase in workspace investment and 33% increased their area of space managed. 

• A majority reported an increase in budgets, higher than levels reported in 2024. 

• Respondents heeded the call to invest in areas that drive productivity with technology, carbon reduction solutions and skills and training all seeing an increase in investment. 

These findings demonstrate the strategic importance of workplace and facilities management in today's business environment. As organisations navigate complex challenges, from sustainability mandates to evolving workplace expectations, WFM professionals continue to deliver innovative solutions that drive business resilience. 

Every year at the IWFM Impact Awards we showcase the brilliance and resilient wonder of individuals, teams and organizations in the workplace and facilities management profession. This year will be especially significant as we gather in London in October for the 25th anniversary of the IWFM Impact Awards. 

It is with immense pleasure that I announce the 2024 IWFM Impact Awards entry 'Legal and General Investment Management (LGIM) and its partners' has won the silver award at the Global FM Award of Excellence 2025. Their initiative, Hidden Workers, focuses on improving working conditions and benefits for often-overlooked security, maintenance, and cleaning staff. 

Supporting all individuals to embrace resilience 

As part of our commitment to advancing the profession, we offer several key resources: 

• Our bitesize Tech Survival Guide provides WFM professionals with actionable insights to enhance their capabilities and better shape strategies 

• New insight into asset management is forthcoming 

• Our Sustainability Survey will be launching within the next couple of months 

The Deborah Rowland Scholarship gives fledgling professionals the support they need to progress and become tomorrow's leaders. Mentoring, volunteering, and networking build bonds between professionals across WFM, allowing not only the circulation and development of knowledge, but cultivating an atmosphere where the sector can thrive. 

For organisations of all sizes, we collaborate with leading brands to unlock the organisational value of the WFM function, regardless of team size or ambition. 

Our mission is to empower and enable workplace and facilities management professionals to expand their potential and have rewarding, impactful careers. We are a business enabler. Together, we optimize the profession's impact, helping our members build resilience in a dynamic and constantly changing environment. Embrace resilience, explore the opportunities with us, and let us build an even stronger and more innovative future. 

Linda Hausmanis
IWFM CEO