FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Market Outlook Report 2026 reflects a sector operating in a more complex and uncertain environment. Drawing on insights from more than 400 UK respondents, this year’s report, Headwinds and Hard Choices: a call for insight and agility, offers a brand new assessment of the conditions shaping the workplace and facilities management profession.
While FM remains central to organisational performance, market sentiment has shifted, with organisations approaching the year ahead more cautiously. Sponsored by HSBC UK, the report provides detailed analysis of these trends alongside practical guidance to support organisations in responding effectively.
The report highlights sustained financial pressure across the sector, with rising costs and constrained budgets continuing to influence decision-making. In response, organisations are reassessing priorities and adopting a more targeted approach to investment, focusing on areas that deliver clear value.
Workforce challenges remain a key theme, with skills availability and capability development continuing to shape performance. At the same time, technology retains its role as a major driver of efficiency and innovation, although levels of adoption vary across organisations.
External factors, including economic conditions and policy change, are also playing an increasing role in shaping how organisations operate and respond. Against this backdrop, IWFM’s findings point to agility as a critical capability for navigating change and identifying opportunity.
Jenny Thomas, Director, Communication and Insight at IWFM, said: “One of the clearest messages from this year’s research is that awareness of the wider policy environment and responsiveness are becoming just as important as capability.
“We see too many organisations that recognise the challenges ahead but are not yet translating that understanding into action. In a more uncertain environment, success will increasingly depend on how quickly organisations can interpret change, assess its impact and adjust their approach. Those that stay informed and actively engage with what is shifting around them will be better placed to sustain performance and identify the opportunities that do exist.”
Robert Brand, Sector Head, Business Services, HSBC UK, adds: “At a time when organisations are balancing competing priorities, this year’s findings reflect a sector that is both resilient and under increasing pressure. Workplace and facilities management continues to play a vital role in supporting organisational performance, but the environment in which it operates is becoming more complex and more demanding.
The report is available here – free to IWFM members and £75 to non-members.
FM teams are having to manage more sites, contracts and client expectations with the same number of people. AI isn’t replacing those people: it’s absorbing the coordination overhead that was stealing their time.
On Tuesday 16 June at 11:00am, askporter and FMJ will be holding a webinar which brings together FM leaders who are already using this tech, to discuss what is changing, what is not, and how the future looks for teams that get this right.
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