61% per cent of Middle East's FM professionals confident that their workforce will increase in next 12 months

UAE, May 16, 2015 – A white paper, commissioned by the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), in association with FM EXPO, the largest facilities management event in the Middle East, and ifm.net, the news and information service, shows a positive outlook within the facilities management market in terms of expectations for growth in business turnover and opportunity for future training and qualifications.

Key findings in ‘The Middle East FM Business Confidence Monitor’ white paper indicate confidence among FM employees of a pay rise and expansion in workforce. Almost 51 per cent were confident of an increase in salary in the next 12 months, whilst 61 per cent believe that their workforce will increase during the same period. The study also revealed key opportunities for alert organisations, including introduction of training and professional qualifications. This will enable FM companies to meet the demand for professional workforce and at the same time help to address business challenges of recruiting and training staff.

Gareth Tancred, CEO, British Institute of Facilities Management, said: “The story emerging from this report is a positive one for the FM industry in the region; it’s a picture that we have seen in the UK version of this study. What is clear though is that there is going to be an increasing demand for talent to take advantage of the many opportunities and it will be the organisations that take a long term, strategic approach to the recruitment and development of their FM talent that will reap the rewards.”

“The report shows a high confidence in the region’s FM services where 41 per cent were positive about the current FM business environment and 57 per cent believed that their FM budget will increase in the next one year.  This highlights how important FM EXPO, taking place this week, will be in bringing the industry together to talk about how to capitalise on this growing industry ” said Jaafar Shubber, Senior Project Manager, FM EXPO.

The complete Facilities Management Business Confidence Monitor 2015 white paper will be released on the opening day of FM EXPO, which will run from May 18 to 20, 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and will be distributed for free to visitors at the BIFM stand, Sheikh Rashid F171.