Low-value facilities management often comprises long-term maintenance and property management work. These companies predominantly employ candidates with relatively few formal qualifications. These employers prefer candidates with 'common sense', a property background and perhaps an HNC.
At the other end of the scale are facilities management companies that provide clients with a more profitable high-level strategic facilities management consultancy. They require candidates able to challenge existing methodology and provide strategic solutions.
The candidates in most demand are those with good technical, quantative and management skills. They must be comfortable undertaking feasibility studies, life cycle costing, analysing companies' current property and facilities portfolios and reporting to senior management. The type of candidates facilities consultancies require to carry out such strategic work generally fall into three categories:
1 Candidates with quantity or building surveying qualifications (preferably MRICS or MCIOB) and some experience within the facilities management market
2 Candidates who have achieved BIFM's own professional qualification
3 Candidates with a relevant postgraduate qualification, either an MBA or an MSc in facilities management, obtained through one of the seven courses accredited by BIFM.
Financial Rewards
According to the 2001 salary survey produced by Macdonald & Company in conjunction with the RICS, the average salary for a facilities manager is £34,400 pa, including bonus. (Visit www.macdonald.co.uk).
This corresponds with placements made by Macdonald & Company over the past 12 months, where the majority of candidates placed in low level facilities management/maintenance positions have been paid salaries less than £30,000. Those placed in strategic facilities management positions have regularly received salaries in excess of £40,000.
Indeed, more junior candidates who have obtained an MSc in facilities management but who have limited practical experience can get £28,000 to £35,000.
The type of work and fee rates achieved by facilities companies will depend on the skill levels of those employed within the profession.
Source
The Facilities Business
Postscript
Ian Wilson is head of technical recruitment at Macdonald & Company and a member of BIFM and RICS.