Workplace Futures 2026 will look to the future – what are the practices, the people, the organisations, the innovations that are going to transform facilities management, re-invigorate the sector and make it more attractive to the next generation as well as encouraging those with established careers to move across and join us? How will we define and reinforce our messaging to exemplify the best of what we do and the value that good FM brings to every organisation? How do we improve the storytelling around our deliverables: the customer experiences, the support for wellbeing, the improved efficiencies, the enhanced productivities that flow when the facilities strategy is in harmony with a client’s business strategy and practices?
Facilities management has been on a journey for 40+ years. Workplace Futures 2026 will take a look at where we’ve come from, where we are currently positioned and - most importantly - where we need to ultimately arrive, exploring all the factors that we need to put in place to ensure that we get there successfully.
Addressing the big issues for today – and tomorrow
This conference comes at a time of even more change, and thus even more uncertainty, than usual for FM: numerous ‘chronic’ issues are pressing, technology is developing at an increasingly rapid pace, and traditional business models (including financial models) are being questioned.
This is a period of challenge that spans numerous big issues, encompassing:
- Is the future human-centric or technology-led? What is the role of artificial intelligence, and how far will AI go in shaping FM?
- As the current generation of leaders exit the business, where are the generations of tomorrow? Are we investing enough in mentoring, training and qualifications?
- Is the workplace working? Are our buildings and the workplaces within them providing what workers need?
- Sustainability, EDI, ESG – how effective are we really at setting goals, defining action plans and measuring progress?
- Data – is efficient gathering, management and analysis the key to the future? Are we getting our strategies right?
- Margins, profitability and external investment – in a big, diverse and highly competitive market, questions will be asked about financial sustainability: is the traditional FM business model sustainable for all?
