IFMA-RICS Collaboration Unveils Career Map To Unlock Career Prospects In Facility Management Around The World

Opportunity for a Career in FM is Already Tracking 1.5x Higher in Southern California than National 10-Yr Projection and Expected to Grow

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IFMA-RICS Collaboration

Oct 06, 2016, 10:20 ET

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A career map will be unveiled at the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) World Workplace Conference and Expo as a priority joint output of the landmark global collaboration with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). By standardizing training courses, qualification requirements and certification levels internationally, the scope and potential of a career in facility management (FM) is greater than ever before.

Facility management professionals come together to create a unified identity through the IFMA-RICS Collaboration at World Workplace in San Diego, CA.

A 2016 industry study reports that FM employment growth in the Southern California market is forecasted at 14%, more than 1.5x the national 10-year projection.^1,2With the guidance and credibility of the first-ever career map for professional recognition in FM, the careers of professionals in the industry are expected to advance further and faster across multiple global markets.

There are currently more than 25 million FM professionals in the world, representing US$1.12 trillion annually. Their role is to connect people, place, process and technology so that the buildings in their care operate at optimal levels. For decades, FM professionals have been restrictively classified as tactical support due in large part to the lack of global uniformity in how the FM industry defined and measured itself.

The new IFMA-RICS career map delivers unprecedented clarity and internationally recognized authority on the required skills, training and experience necessary for all professional stages and goals. It is one of many resources coming out of the collaboration designed to accelerate career development and build recognition for FM professionals as strategic leaders in the built environment.

"Shared global FM standards open a stronger, more marketable pathway for FM leaders," said Tony Keane, president and CEO of IFMA. "By eliminating fragmentation, we are building a stronger, more impactful international FM community, unified by a common professional language, even when its constituents speak different languages."

"A unified FM industry, for example, means more opportunity to make sure smart buildings operate correctly, green technology actually works and innovative designs are useable," said Sean Tompkins, RICS chief executive. "The career map sets a course for FM professionals to internationally align on objectives, critical metrics and best practices which ultimately deepens their expertise and value to the built environment."

The IFMA-RICS collaboration, launched in April this year, is making ground-breaking strides in driving professional recognition in the FM sector. To learn more about the career map and how it is energizing careers in FM, visit http://define.fm.

About IFMA

IFMA is the world's largest and most widely recognized international association for facility management professionals, supporting 24,000 members in 104 countries. This diverse membership participates in focused component groups equipped to address their unique situations by region (133 chapters), industry (14 councils) and areas of interest (six communities). Together they manage more than 78 billion square feet of property and annually purchase more than US$526 billion in products and services. Formed in 1980, IFMA certifies professionals in facility management, conducts research, provides educational programs, content and resources, and produces World Workplace, the world's largest series of facility management conferences and expositions. To join and follow IFMA's social media outlets online, visit the association's LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr pages. For more information, visit the IFMA press room or www.ifma.org.

About RICS

RICS is a global professional body. We accredit 125,000 professionals in 148 countries, promoting and enforcing the highest professional qualification and standards in the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. Our name promises the consistent delivery of standards – bringing confidence to the markets we serve. The work of our professionals creates a safer world: we are proud of our profession's reputation and we guard it fiercely. (See Global Media Contacts)

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ricssurveyors, Twitter: twitter.com/ricsnews, Linked In: www.linkedin.com/company/rics.