BIFM boosts commitment to raising FM professional standards with creation of new directorship

London, 16 February 2015: BIFM, the professional body for facilities management, has promoted Linda Hausmanis to a newly created role of Director of Education. The new position arises from BIFM’s on-going commitment to raising professional standards in the facilities management industry as well as providing a strong framework of training and education for all practitioners.

In her new post Linda will continue to develop the institute’s world-class education programme for the facilities management profession. Linda has over fifteen years’ experience in professional qualifications management. Prior to taking up the Director of Education position at BIFM, Linda was Head of Professional Standards and Education at BIFM and has been at the organisation for nearly eight years. Linda has been pivotal to BIFM delivering on its Education Strategy which was ratified by the BIFM Board in September 2006. Linda will now spearhead the creation of a new Educational Strategy taking the institute through to 2020.

Linda said, “Education is a vital part of any profession and the facilities management industry is no different. It gives practitioners the knowledge and skills they need to fulfil their roles to the best of their ability, while at the same time building capability within teams which enable organisations to embrace future business opportunities. But beyond that, education nurtures creative and innovative thinkers who can drive change in the industry”.

“My underlying belief has always been that the industry knows what it wants from education programmes; this has been a cornerstone of the development of our educational offering. Part of my role will be to meet with and gather insight from businesses and stakeholders to continually evolve BIFM’s educational proposition in response to changing industry requirements across a global landscape”.

“Our next steps will be to work with employers and HEI’s to see the creation of full time degrees in facilities management that will offer an academic pathway for school-leavers alongside further development of apprenticeship pathways that will have equal standing and profile as the academic route into industry.”

BIFM’s professional development offering is accessible to everyone pursuing a career in facilities management, from school leavers to senior directors. This means providing the practical opportunities for individual practitioners to equip themselves with the knowledge and competencies required to deliver in their role, whilst seeking to cultivate and nurture innovative thinkers in the profession who are leading the way in delivering world-class services.

BIFM launched its professional development programme in 2010 with six qualifications and two learning centres. Since then, the organisation has seen its education offering grow rapidly. It now has 20 qualifications, some of which provide routes into apprenticeships and even master’s degrees and MBAs in facilities management, delivered by 30 centres, taken by people in more than 30 countries across the world. This work has seen the creation of clear career development pathways for all practitioners in the facilities management profession who are looking for a progressive and rewarding role in this dynamic and growing discipline.