The 11th annual Sustainability Survey conducted by the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) is now open.
As the longest running of its kind in the UK, the survey, supported by BIFM’s Sustainability Special Interest Group (SIG), and sponsored by British Gas, acts as a barometer of how FM professionals and the businesses they represent are engaging with the sustainability agenda by identifying key trends and influences.
BIFM says the results provide insight into the way the FM profession is tackling the increasing demand for sustainable business by exploring who is leading the sustainability programme within an organisation and how it is being measured and reported, as well as the latest developments, such as new legislation.
The survey comprises a series of questions on the role of sustainability within facilities management and how it is being embedded into day-to-day practices, the changes it creates and the potential opportunities it offers the profession. Areas covered this year include social value, energy and digitalisation.
BIFM’s research and information manager Peter Brogan said: “With so much of the sustainability agenda sitting within the FM function, facilities management professionals are uniquely placed to offer highly valuable insights into current sustainability practices and future needs taking place in workplaces across the UK economy.
“Now with more than 10 years’ of data and analysis to draw on, the Sustainability Survey offers the chance to see how approaches to environmental, sustainable and corporate social responsibilities have changed over the years, leading to greater knowledge and understanding of not only how attitudes have evolved but levels of innovation, use of systems and processes and the barriers that exist to development of sustainable best practice.
“By providing an insider’s view as to what constitutes successful engagement with the sustainability agenda, FM practitioners operating at all levels can help us build a picture of the opportunities and challenges that FMs from all disciplines face in helping to make their organisations more sustainable.”
Greg Davies, from the Sustainability SIG, said: “Over the 10 years of the BIFM Sustainability Survey we have seen significant developments in both the subject area as well as the industry itself.
“The notion now that sustainability is purely concerned with environmental issues is as outdated as saying FM is just about cleaning or mechanical and electrical (M&E). While aspects such as waste and energy remain enduring features, community, training, wellbeing, social value, recruitment, productivity, technology and health and safety have also shaped findings and thinking.
“Investing the time to participate in this year’s survey continues to add to our current understanding and help identify further opportunities for FM.”
Dylan Crompton, Head of Corporate Sales at British Gas Business, said: “There are fundamental changes happening within the FM industry, driven by the rise of big data, digitalisation and social value. We wanted to get involved with this survey to understand how the industry is coping and what more we could do as a major energy supplier to support the industry through this transition. We look forward to seeing the results.”
The survey is open to all FM professionals in any organisation and those operating in the FM industry including full and single line service providers, suppliers and consultants.
You can take the survey here. The deadline for responses is Monday 31 July 2017. The results are due to be published in October 2017.
