Thomson FM support ground-breaking new career initiative

Pupils at Alder Grange High School, Rawtenstall, were today given the opportunity to step into the shoes of a Facilities Manager, as part of a new collaborative initiative launched by the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) and Class of Your Own (COYO) and supported by Thomson FM.

Thomson FM Consultant, Mark Whittaker, who is also Regional Chair of IWFM and Alison Watson, MBE, CEO of COYO, jointly delivered a new ‘FM Workshop Day’ at the school, aimed at raising the profile and understanding of facilities management and encourage pupils to consider it as a career path.

The workshop was the first pilot session, before a wider national roll-out this year by COYO and IWFM and proved a great success. Pupils spent part of the day observing and noting the aspects of facilities management delivery within the school and to highlight areas of improvement.

Mark, who is a FM Solutions Consultant for Thomson FM commented, “I believe it is crucial that as a profession we initiate the conversations with children about a career in FM at secondary school age. It was brilliant that the first school to participate is only a mile from our office and to be able to share details of the some of our exciting UK and global projects, to hopefully ignite a passion to pursue a career in the profession.”

Mark will return to the school on 15th May, as a follow up and to promote World FM Day.