The UK workplace continues to evolve at pace. Hybrid working, fluctuating occupancy, mixed-use developments and the reactivation of underused buildings are reshaping how facilities are managed: and in 2026, health and safety sits at the centre of that challenge. For both in-house and outsourced FM teams, the issue is no longer a lack of regulation or guidance, but how responsibilities are interpreted, shared and executed in increasingly complex environments…
Variable occupancy, variable risk
One of the most significant health and safety challenges right now is unpredictable building use. Offices designed for full occupancy may sit half empty for much of the week, then experience sharp peaks on anchor days. This creates risks around fire safety, evacuation planning, lone working, and emergency response.
In-house FM teams often benefit from deep site knowledge and close alignment with organisational culture, allowing faster adaptation to changing patterns. However, they can struggle with resourcing and specialist capability across large or diverse estates.
Outsourced providers, by contrast, bring scalability and technical expertise, but success depends on how well risk ownership is defined. Where responsibilities are poorly articulated, hybrid working can expose gaps, particularly in fire warden coverage, permit-to-work controls and incident response.
Mixed-use and shared spaces
The growth of mixed-use buildings presents further complexity. Offices now share space with retail, residential or public services, each with different risk profiles and regulatory requirements.
Best practice in 2026 sees clear demarcation of H&S accountability, regardless of delivery model. In-house teams need strong coordination mechanisms with landlords and managing agents, while outsourced providers must ensure site-specific risk assessments rather than relying on generic templates.
Air quality, comfort and safety
Post-pandemic, air quality has moved firmly into the H&S mainstream. Monitoring ventilation, managing temperature and ensuring indoor environmental quality are now core FM responsibilities.
In-house teams often have greater influence over capital investment and long-term asset strategy, enabling planned upgrades. Outsourced models tend to excel where service-level agreements explicitly link performance to measurable air quality and comfort outcomes.
Governance, not just compliance
Across both models, governance is the differentiator. Effective H&S management depends on clear ownership, robust data and regular communication between clients, FM teams and service partners.
Leading organisations are moving away from static risk registers towards dynamic assessments that reflect real-time building use. Regular joint reviews, rather than annual audits alone, ensure that risks are identified and addressed before incidents occur.
Designing safety into flexibility
Whether delivered in-house or outsourced, health and safety must now be designed for flexibility. Buildings will continue to change faster than policies. FM leaders who succeed will be those who create systems that adapt with clarity, accountability and collaboration at their core.
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