IFMA Foundation Announces Big-Picture Plan for Global Workforce Initiative
C&W Services steps in as first charter member
The IFMA Foundation today announced major progress on its Global Workforce Initiative, a truly multi-industry effort to fill a growing talent gap in facilities services. C&W Services became the first charter member to make a five-year commitment to fund the initiative.
“The IFMA Foundation is pleased to partner with C&W Services for this critical effort to ensure the continued sustainability of the facility management and facility services  (FM) profession,” said IFMA Foundation Executive Director Jeff Tafel, CAE. “Every day, more organizations are coming to the realization that there is a serious labor shortage on the horizon within the industry and that without decisive action this shortage will have serious ramifications for the future of their organizations and the economy. As the first charter member of the IFMA Foundation Global Workforce Initiative, C&W Services is making a critical investment in its own future, the future of productive workplaces and the future of those who run them.”
The Global Workforce Initiative seeks to fill the growing facility management and facilities services workforce talent gap as more than half of today’s practitioners are expected to retire in the next five to 15 years. Working in partnership with impacted industries around the world, the IFMA Foundation is leading the charge to make facility management and facility services a career of choice. By working with educators at all levels and increasing the number of accredited FM degree programs around the world, the Global Workforce Initiative is helping to create a clear career pathway to an exciting and fulfilling career in FM. More information can be found at: http://foundation.ifma.org/global-workforce-initiative.
C&W Services is a leading provider of janitorial and maintenance services, self-performing these and other facilities services to more than 600 clients across North America. The firm has a 65-year history, and was renamed C&W Services in September 2015 following the merger of Cushman & Wakefield and DTZ.
“C&W Services has 14,000 employees focused on maintaining safe and effective environments in our clients’ facilities every day. Even with this deep bench of skilled employees, we recognize the critical importance of continuing to enhance the profile of facility management and facility services as an important career,” said Paul Bedborough, President of C&W Services. “Facilities staff are behind the scenes keeping the world’s workplaces, plants, schools, malls and public venues operating at peak performance. We’re honored to be part of an industry initiative to bring this important sector to the forefront as a career choice, and to celebrate the people – across all the trades – who keep facilities running smoothly every day.”
Established in 1990 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and separate entity from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), the IFMA Foundation works for the public good to promote priority research and educational opportunities for the advancement of facility management. The IFMA Foundation is supported by the generosity of the FM community including IFMA members, chapters, councils, corporate sponsors and private contributors who share the belief that education and research improve the FM profession. To learn more about the IFMA Foundation, visit http://foundation.ifma.org.
