Facilities Management Awards 2026 Best People Development Sponsored by Portobello Institute: FLEXÉIR’S Elevate Programme

As a leading provider of Facilities Management qualifications in Ireland for over a decade, Portobello Institute is proud to support the recognition of personal and professional development across the sector through the Facilities Management Awards 2026.

Returning on 11th March at the Royal Convention Centre Dublin, the awards bring together leaders from Ireland’s facilities and property management industry to celebrate excellence, innovation and achievement. Since 2014, the event has recognised high-performing teams and organisations, with winners selected by a panel of senior industry leaders and academics.

Portobello Institute is delighted to sponsor the People Development in Facilities Management Award, which recognises organisations demonstrating an outstanding commitment to investing in their people and building strong, future-focused teams.

The shortlisted finalists in this award category are:

• Flexeir Facilities Services with 'Elevate'
• Apleona Ireland with 'Academy for Growth and Centre of Excellence'
• ISS Facilities Services Ireland with 'Placemaker's Pathway'
• Mitie Facilities Management Ltd. with 'The Menopause Awareness Programme'
• Sodexo Ireland with 'Promote from Within'

You can read more about all of the shortlisted projects here.

Supporting professional growth and wellbeing is central to the long-term success of the FM sector, and initiatives that prioritise people create more inclusive, resilient workplaces.

At Portobello Institute, we are proud to support professionals at every stage of their career through internationally recognised qualifications in Workplace and Facilities Management, from IWFM Level 4 and IWFM Level 5 Diploma through to BSc (Hons) Workplace & Facilities Management, Postgraduate Certificate and MSc Workplace & Facilities Management programmes awarded by London Metropolitan University.

These programmes enable FM professionals to deepen their expertise, progress into leadership roles and drive innovation across the industry.

Portobello Institute at the FM Awards in 2022.

As part of this year’s awards conversations, we spoke with FLEXÉIR about their Elevate programme, a people-first initiative designed to create structured career pathways, strengthen employee engagement and support long-term workforce development.

In this interview, the team shares how Elevate was developed, the impact it has had across the organisation, and why investing in people remains central to their future growth.

What prompted the development of FLEXÉIR Elevate, and what were you aiming to change or improve within the organisation?

The development of FLEXÉIR Elevate was prompted by a significant internal challenge: in 2024, the company recorded a staff turnover rate of 27.6%. Exit interviews identified that a lack of career  development opportunities was the primary reason employees were leaving.

Also, only 56% of new hires were staying beyond six months, and the cost of recruitment had become increasingly high, totalling nearly €22,000 in a nine-month period (Jan-Sep). The goal was to shift away from measuring success solely by numbers and instead focus on a "people first" philosophy, aiming to improve retention, reduce recruitment costs, and build a highly skilled workforce through internal investment.

How did you design the career mapping and progression pathways to ensure they 
were practical and meaningful for employees?

The pathways were designed to be both structured and inclusive:

• Training Committee: A diverse committee consisting of the Managing Director, HR Manager, 2 x office staff, and a mobile technician meets quarterly to align development with both individual needs and operational goals.

• Integration with Appraisals: Career aspirations are discussed during annual appraisals via "Flexeval," where a dedicated survey allows staff to express interest in further education.

• Regular Touchpoints: Progression is a standard agenda item in monthly one-to-one meetings and is discussed during monthly "toolbox talks" for mobile technicians.

• Accessible Tools: Employees have access to GoodHabitz, a training platform with a wide range of courses, supported by a comprehensive training calendar to help them focus their growth.

What role has leadership played in embedding Elevate across the business?

Leadership has been central to the initiative's success. The programme received full backing from the board, which provided dedicated resources for its implementation. A key leadership figure is Managing Director, Anthony Walsh, whose own journey from a mobile technician to MD serves as the strategic blueprint for the programme. This "succession planning" was a strategic turning point for the company, demonstrating the power of internal development and sparking the vision to embed leadership planning across the entire organisation.

What measurable impact has the initiative had on retention, engagement or internal progression since its introduction?

The impact has been substantial across several metrics:

• Retention: Staff turnover decreased by 33% compared to the same period in 2024.

• Internal Progression: Promotions rose to 12.5% in 2025, more than doubling the 5% recorded in 2024.

• Engagement: Currently, 55% of employees are actively engaged in upskilling or structured career pathways, with a goal of reaching 85% by the end of 2026.

• Financial Impact: Recruitment spending was reduced by 39%, and reliance on specialized subcontractors fell by 8% as more work is now delivered in-house.

Beyond the metrics, what positive cultural shifts have you observed as a result of introducing clearer progression pathways?

The organisation has successfully begun to embed a culture of continuous learning. According to a recent survey, 88% of staff now believe FLEXÉIR values training and professional development, and 82% feel the company would actively support their career growth. There is also evidence of improved client feedback, as building stronger internal relationships has led to more consistent and responsive service.

What are you most proud of in terms of the impact Elevate has had on your people?

We take the most pride in empowering people to grow in ways that reflect their individual goals. This is evidenced by success stories such as:

• Ciara Carrig, who was initially hired as an Accounts Administrator and has progressed to Lead Finance Assistant. Fully funded by FLEXÉIR, she completed a Diploma in Accounting and is now pursuing her CIMA qualifications. Ciara is on a high-potential career path, preparing to become a qualified accountant in 2 years and a future member of senior management.

• Rafal Rapala, who rose from a General Operative to a Working Supervisor and is on track for further trade qualifications.

• Sadbh Malone, who progressed from an Accounts/HR Administrator to Facilities Coordinator, is currently on a structured career pathway to become a Facilities Manager by 2028. Her development is supported by mentorship, hands-on experience, and FLEXÉIR’s full sponsorship of her BSc (Hons) in Facilities and Workplace Management at London Metropolitan University.

How does Elevate position FLEXÉIR for long-term growth and workforce stability?

Elevate positions the company for stability by building a "resilient and capable workforce" ready for future strategic goals. By creating a robust leadership pipeline and reducing the need to source expensive external talent, the company is reinvesting savings from recruitment back into continuous employee growth. The 2026 vision projects that nearly the entire workforce will be on a development path, ensuring long-term operational capability and workforce stability.

Finally, what does being shortlisted for this award mean to your team?

Being shortlisted for this award genuinely means a great deal to our team. We’ve entered a new chapter with our rebrand to FLEXÉIR, and this recognition reinforces our belief that we should be defined not by our size, but by our purpose. Being named a finalist for ‘Best People Development’ validates our core conviction that investing in our people drives excellence and sparks innovation. It also stands as a powerful acknowledgement of the strategic shift our leadership has championed — and the positive impact it’s already having across the organisation.

A Powerful People Development Programme

FLEXÉIR Elevate demonstrates how a clear commitment to people development can transform both organisational culture and long-term business performance.

By creating structured career pathways, supporting continuous learning, and empowering employees to grow within the organisation, FLEXÉIR has built a stronger, more engaged workforce while reducing reliance on external recruitment.

The programme highlights the powerful impact of investing in internal talent and fostering a culture where professional growth is actively supported.

As the facilities management sector continues to evolve, initiatives like Elevate show how organisations can strengthen resilience, retain skilled professionals, and create meaningful opportunities for their people to build lasting careers.

Portobello Institute is proud to sponsor the Best People Development Award at the Facilities Management Awards 2026 acknowledging and positively promoting work initiatives like FLEXÉIR's.

Follow us on LinkedIn for updates on the Facilities Management Awards 2026 and more. Visit our Facilities Management faculty for course information.