World FM Day

As people from all over the world begin to leave their homes and return to build environments to work, learn, worship and play, we are witnessing an astonishing phenomenon for with facility management. With renewed importance being placed above people's health and safety along with building sustainability and resilience, today's facility manager is at the center of the conversation.

What is World FM Day?

World FM Day aims to raise the importance of global profile of the facilities management profession.

From the largest office towers to industrial sites, from sports facilities to residential buildings, the FM profession touches nearly everyone, everywhere in some way. In 2010, FM Global celebrated World FM Day to recognize this and promote the important work of FM and industry globally.

World FM Day is a time when FM professionals take some time to reflect on their past accomplishments while many embrace the opportunity to connect with other FMs to celebrate.

This is also the day the Global FM Awards are announced.

World FM Day is a day to share our experiences, promote our profession and most importantly celebrate our successes.

History of World FM Day

The purpose of World FM Day is to recognize and celebrate the important work that workplace and facility managers and the industry as a whole contribute to business around the world. It aims to raise the profile of the facility profession wherever those who practice it affect the health, safety, productivity and welfare of those using the built environment.

World FM Day was observed on August 28, 2009. It was observed on the fourth Thursday in June from 2010 to 2013. It was observed on the first full Wednesday of June from 2014 to 2015. It was observed on July 13, 2016. It has been observed on Wednesday of the second full week in May since 2017.

The past 12 months have seen extraordinary changes around the world - facilities management (FM) teams and professionals have been called on like never before, with an unforeseen need for resilience, compliance, flexibility and adaptability.

The FM industry is incredibly proud of all that has been achieved. Facilities management professionals have enabled businesses, governments and societies to function as efficiently and effectively as possible in situations. FM teams have played an important role in providing ready-made built environments, in keeping different sectors operational, and in facilitating digital platforms to ensure safety for all residents. Professions and industries have grown in stature due to their vital contribution to enabling essential services to stay afloat in a frequently closed world.

This new recognition and respect for facility management enables the industry to stay ahead of the pandemic. As we adjust to life after COVID-19, we remain proud of what the industry has achieved and are determined to rise to new challenges.

World FM Day 2021 is an opportunity to tell the world about these achievements and what the industry intends to bring as we face the health and environmental challenges ahead.

World FM Day is a day to share our experiences, promote our profession and most importantly celebrate our successes.

How to celebrate World FM Day

EuroFM looks forward to celebrating World FM Day together with students, educators and those interested in careers in FM who will make an important contribution to FM going “above the pandemic”.

Because of how the future of FM is shaped, we encourage students to engage with invited speakers to discuss career developments in FM and emerging FM trends in South Africa. In addition, we question whether universities are doing enough to prepare our students for the unpredictable world the pandemic has presented and where FM has risen to the challenge.