Press Release
Release date: 2 May 2013
Facilities management industry bodies plan to unite in
one representative body
The British Institute of Facilities Management, Asset Skills, the Facilities
Management Association and the Cleaning and Support Services Association have
agreed to the concept of forming one single and united body to represent facilities
management and support services.
As the facilities management and support services profession and industry have
matured and evolved, so too must the bodies representing and leading them. This
proposed merger recognises the growing demand for a stronger, unified and
collective voice that represents and promotes what is a fundamental component of
our economy and day to day businesses.
A steering group has been established to progress the proposed merger which
brings together:

The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), the professional body
for facilities management

Asset Skills, the skills body representing facilities management, property,
housing, cleaning and parking

The Facilities Management Association (FMA), the trade association for the
facilities management sector

The Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA), the trade
association for the cleaning and support services industry.
The group will address how these and other organisations could come together into
this single body to meet the needs of the industry and the professionals that work
within it. It will bring together the resources, expertise and services of the constituent
parties to deliver what will be a strengthened and enhanced offering with greater
representative influence and increased prestige for individuals within the industry.
This proposal will be put forward to each constituent party’s membership for
agreement and ratification.
Gareth Tancred, Chief Executive Officer of BIFM, said: “This is an excellent
opportunity for BIFM and its members. In the last year we have seen a marked rise
in global demand for our services. We recognise that merger and acquisition activity
is a way to achieve our strategic development objectives to ensure we meet the
needs of our individual and corporate members. The intention of these discussions is
to form an organisation that is more influential and with increased delivery capability,
to reflect the growing scope of facilities management and support services.”
Sarah Bentley, Chief Executive Officer of Asset Skills, said: “Asset Skills is delighted
to be part of what will become the leading representative body for the facilities
management and cleaning industries in a move that builds on our current
relationship with the CSSA and will also provide a strong base for our skills
development work with the housing, property and parking sectors.”
Chris Hoar, Chief Executive Officer of the FMA, said: “The UK FM industry is the
most mature in the world, and the FMA acts on behalf of members' interests to
develop the policies and plans that will shape the future of FM. Given this market
maturity, it’s an obvious next step to consider consolidation. The FMA is therefore
looking forward to working collaboratively with the BIFM, Asset Skills and the CSSA
to arrive at a common goal that will benefit the industry and the individual and
corporate members of each representative body.”
Peter Goodliffe, Chair of the CSSA, said: “CSSA welcomes the opportunity to
explore closer working relationships with BIFM and FMA and sees this development
as a logical step forward in coordinating the activities of membership bodies across
the sector which builds on our recent decision to explore the potential for merger with
Asset Skills.”
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Press contacts
For media enquiries please contact:

BIFM: Judith Cutts on 07825 146 273 or email judith.cutts@bifm.org.uk.

Asset Skills: Jess Watson on 07827 947519 or email jwatson@assetskills.org.

FMA: Chris Hoar on 07974 357042 or email chris.hoar@fmassociation.org.uk

CSSA: Steven Proudfoot on 0207 920 9632 or email
lcasey@cleaningassoc.org.
About the British Institute of Facilities Management
The British Institute of Facilities Management is Europe’s largest professional body
for facilities management (FM). Founded in 1993, the Institute represents and
promotes the interest of members and the wider facilities management community.
The Institute delivers a range of services and benefits, including professional
membership, knowledge resources, qualifications, continuing professional
development, training and networking for over 13,000 individual and corporate
members.
Our strategy is to increase participation and collaboration, promote professional
standards, support career development and build an effective relationship with
stakeholders, including Government.
The Institute is inclusive, working across related disciplines and forming alliances
with like-minded professional bodies. BIFM’s members are responsible for many of
the services that support business and other organisations, including business
continuity, health & safety, space planning, energy management, maintenance and
catering.
For more information visit www.bifm.org.uk or telephone 0845 058 1356.
About Asset Skills
Asset Skills is the employer-led skills body for facilities management, housing,
property, planning, cleaning and parking. We ensure apprenticeships and training
are meeting the needs of people and businesses in these industries. Our work is
shaped by leading employers across the UK and includes:

The UK Academy network – a one-stop-shop for employers to access training
and skills support.

Apprenticeships and occupational standards development.

Project management and delivery – we deliver workforce development
programmes.

Green Deal Skills – we work to ensure the right skills are in place to deliver
the Green Deal.

Insight – we deliver insight and intelligence.
For more information, visit www.assetskills.org or call 0845 678 2 888.
About the Facilities Management Association
The Facilities Management Association (the FMA) is the UK’s leading representative
trade body for employers in the FM sector engaged in delivering non-core services to
a broad range of public and private organisations. The FMA's goal is to
support member companies in their pursuit of ever increasing standards of service
and value on behalf of their clients and to assist them in improving their trading
positions through innovation and thought leadership.
Visit our website - http://www.fmassociation.org.uk/
Follow the FMA on Twitter @FMAssociation
About the Cleaning and Support Services Association
The CSSA is a membership association for the cleaning and support services sector.
It is the customers' guide to quality and reliability in the UK cleaning and support
services market. Its dedication to training, marketing and the representation of its
members' interests has already made it one of the most respected trade
organisations in the country.
Many companies would like to contract out their support services, but are unsure of
how to go about it. Look out for the CSSA logo on a contractor's letterhead and
business correspondence. It is your warranty that a contractor is ethical, professional
and provides good value for money. CSSA membership means that an organisation
has been independently vetted and is required to adhere to its Code of Practice. Set
up by the leading companies in the industry to monitor standards and ensure proper
representation, the CSSA exists for the mutual benefit of the industry and its
customers.