How an FM Course Can Prepare You for a Facilities Management Career

Facilities Management and Education are paths that run alongside each other but don’t emanate from the same place. Most students in education go from school into college and then into the workforce.

Most Facilities Management professionals go to school as well but they don’t necessarily complete their leaving cert nor do they go straight into college.

Facilities Management Work Experience

Education in Facilities Management often comes after the student has already entered the workforce.

Portobello Institute’s Facilities Management department is full of students who started out their careers as cleaners, in a trade, working in security or in entry-level positions across different industries. They turned to education as a form of moving up in their careers.

That is why Portobello designed their courses with every level of Facilities Management professional in mind. We have the IWFM 3, a course for students who have no experience in education or in facilities management. The five other courses that follow the IWFM 3 lead gradually up to the MSc Facilities and Workplace Management which is what the top FM professionals study.

By offering different delivery modes for each course, Portobello also enables working professionals to fit their education into their schedules without making drastic changes.

Degree-level education is for those who have already established themselves in their FM careers or in FM education. Our IWFM certificates are the courses that can prepare you for a Facilities Management career when you are starting out.

Here is a breakdown of what each IWFM course can do for you:

IWFM Level 3

This qualification is ideal for those seeking an introduction to facilities management with no previous experience required.

Upon completion of this course you will be able to understand the different functions of facilities management and how they cross over, understand how to address complex problems and gain confidence to undertake responsibility for facilities management tasks.

Not only will this certificate enable you to start your facilities management career it will also enable career progression while improving your earning potential. It moves you from a place of not knowing what professional standards are to be able to effectively work to them as second nature.

Some of the modules on this course include Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in Facilities Management, Customer and Stakeholder Relations in FM Operations and Specification and Procurement of Facilities Supplies and Services.

IWFM Level 4

This qualification is ideal for professionals working at an operational management level, responsible for managing day-to-day operations that are either in-house or outsourced. It is also suitable for those aspiring to work in such a role.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to understand facilities management as a broad function, understand how to address complex, non-routine problems and develop skills required to effectively manage a team.

An IWFM diploma is a nationally and internationally recognised qualification in the field of facilities management. This will enhance your credibility and continue to push you up the ladder of career progression.

Some of the modules on this course include Managing Health and Safety in Own Area of FM, Risk Management in FM, Financial Management, People Management for FMs and FM Strategy. Critically, this course also includes a module on Property and Asset Management, which is a critical area for those FMs hoping to progress to the top of the industry.

The IWFM 4 diploma can also be used as Advanced Entry onto the BSc degree in Facilities Management. This means studying the IWFM 4 allows you to skip the first year of the BSc degree, which means you can earn a degree in two years.

IWFM Level 5

This qualification is designed for specialist facilities managers and those working at middle or senior management level who are responsible for specialised and complex functions. It is also suitable for those aspiring to work in such a role.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to learn how to manage major projects with capital spend, understand how to address complex problems and develop skills required to manage multi-site operations.

The IWFM Level 5 Diploma in Facilities Management is equivalent to a Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

Some of the modules you will study on this course are Organisation and Facilities Management Strategy, Financial Management in FM, Risk Management in FM, Exemptions and Development and Trends in FM.

IWFM is the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management. It is the professional body for workplace and facilities professionals globally. IWFM empowers and enables professionals to reach their full potential and have a rewarding, impactful career.

Portobello Institute is the only college in Ireland that offers degrees in Facilities Management.

We provide a step-by-step path for you to follow to become one of the highest-paid, most prominent facilities management professionals in your industry.

If you want to find out where you fit in our courses or get started on your journey through education in Facilities Management today, you can contact our Admissions Team.

Brandon McLean is handling our facilities management enquiries. You can contact him directly on 01-892-0035 or by email at brandon.mclean@portobelloinstitute.com. Virtual meetings with Brandon can be scheduled automatically through this link.