Celebrate World FM Day with breakfast

29 July 2009

The BIFM is to host a breakfast at Google's London headquarters to celebrate the first World FM Day on Friday 28th August.

World FM Day is a Global FM initiative. This breakfast event, along with others being held around the world, will celebrate facilities management and the contribution it makes to organisations. Its purpose is to draw attention to the aims, objectives and progress of the FM profession around the globe, highlight the valuable contributions sound FM has made and is making to sustainable global communities, productive, safe, healthy and secure work environments, and give worldwide coverage to the ideals of FM within the profession, industry,governments and the general public.

Events are planned in Australia, Brazil , Austria, France, Hungary, Switzerland, UK, South Africa and USA To find out more visit the events page at Facebook and become a friend with Globalfm, or contact globalfm@kelleneurope.com.

Commenting on at the launch of World FM Day, Global FM chairman, Steve Gladwin said, "I am pleased to see the first-ever World FM day taking shape, with our members organizing local events. World FM day is a great example of how Global FM is advancing facility management around the globe. Each local event will enable our members to demonstrate the objectives and progress of facility management and how critical it is as a strategic business discipline. Moreover, we will be able to showcase the ideals of facility management, not only within the profession and industry, but also to governments and the general public."

The BIFM event at the Google HQ near Victoria Station, London, is one of the UK's most interesting workplaces. The World FM Day BIFM Breakfast starts at 8.30am on Friday 28th August, finishing by 11am. The dress code is strictly informal.

After a welcome from Google's FM team and the World FM Day video, Lionel Prodgers, will present 'The History of FM in 5 minutes'. Lionel created one of the first FM companies in 1984 and has been involved in several major FM business deals. He was BIFM chairman from 1997 to 1999, chairman of EuroFM from 2000 to 2005 and a board director of IFMA from 2006 until 2008. He is now an independent international consultant, working for blue-chip companies. He has had a three-year secondment to Siemens as managing director of Siemens FM. In the Middle East, his clients include the Kuwait state petroleum company, KPC. The biggest challenge for FMs, he says, is understanding that buildings as assets are now only a part of their responsibility. Businesses have social responsibilities and FMs must ensure these are met and that takes them way outside the confines of the building.

Philip Tidd, MD of leading workplace consultants DEGW, will be talking about 'Work culture and workplaces around the world'. Before heading the firm's UK operations, Philip spent 10 years driving the growth of DEGW’s business across Europe, establishing new offices in the Netherlands and Germany in particular, whilst servicing a number of DEGW’s pan-European key client relationships. His work with many corporate clients in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Scandinavia has given him highly valuable experience on how to implement global workplace strategies on a pan-European basis. He has also advised city municipalities and developers on city strategies for mixed-use and industrial rehabilitation programmes.

The BIFM event will also be video-linking with another World FM Day event overseas. There will be the opportunity to take a 10 minute tour of the Google offices after the meeting. Limited places are available, so to secure your place at this special event, or to take part in the tour, please email
jessica.beaven@bifm.org.uk