With fears of an ageing workforce and impending skills gap gripping the sector, The Building Futures Group has launched a national campaign with the aim of attracting young people to the cleaning and facilities management (FM) sectors.
This drive has the intention of inspiring more people to consider cleaning and facilities management as a long-term career option, showcasing the career progression opportunities and attractive salaries available.
Often referred to as the ‘secret sector’, worth at least £70bn per year to the economy, the campaign serves to highlight the detrimental effect the entire economy could experience without such vital services.
Sarah Bentley, CEO of The Building Futures Group, explains: “Facilities management is a much-overlooked career option. Many people simply don’t understand what it entails. Good facilities managers are absolutely central to successful organisations, running the buildings and services they encompass.”
Ms Bentley added that cleaning has a reputation for being a low paid, low skilled job with few prospects. The ‘Secret Jobs’ campaign wants to dispel this myth and highlight how these booming sectors could be the answer to filling some of the estimated six million job vacancies expected to emerge across the UK in the next 10 years due to skills shortages.
She said: “The Building Futures Group is passionate about raising awareness of the fruitful career opportunities available in our sector and we are dedicated to reducing the number of people not in employment. That’s why we are working in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions to raise awareness of our industries and the many opportunities they offer.”
The initiative will see The Building Futures Group partner with Youth Employment UK to publish a bespoke careers guide designed for young people by young people which can be downloaded from The Building Futures Group website. Additionally, all 12,000 Job Centre Plus establishments across the UK will receive a special guide for their work coaches. The work coaches guide will highlight how their clients can benefit from careers at every level in facilities management and cleaning.
Steve Davies, Chair of The Building Futures Group, and MD Support Services for 14forty said: “With an ageing management and leadership, the FM industry needs to attract young people into our industry. Our industry offers excellent opportunities to all young people from entry level to graduate. Today’s young people will be tomorrow’s leaders, and FM companies invest in their people to help them develop and reach their potential. Young people can take advantage of these opportunities and have a long and fulfilling career in one of the most diverse and exciting industries in the UK.”
