Progressing Your Career in Sustainable Facilities Management: Information Evening Highlights

Facilities management (FM) is evolving, with sustainability, digital innovation, and emerging technologies creating new priorities and opportunities across the sector.

At the recent Portobello Centre for Sustainable Facilities Management Information Evening, FM professionals considering further study explored how education and professional development can support the next stage of their careers.

The Centre’s programmes are designed for those:

• Starting a career in facilities management
• Building on professional experience
• Progressing into senior FM leadership

The session explored the career progression pathway from IWFM qualifications to degree and postgraduate study, alongside flexible online programme delivery and learning that connects directly to day-to-day FM practice.

Couldn’t join us live? Here are the key takeaways from the evening.

Meet the Panel

The Microsoft Teams webinar was led by:

• Gerry Kelly, Programme Lead for Facilities Management
• Niall Downey, FM Career Pathway Consultant
• Tadgh Harnedy, Facilities Manager at Aramex and Portobello Institute graduate

What Is the Portobello Centre for Sustainable Facilities Management?

The Portobello Centre for Sustainable Facilities Management builds on Portobello Institute’s almost 20 years of FM programme delivery and more than 45 years in education.

Long-established education expertise is combined with industry insight and employer partnerships to create a dedicated platform for sustainable FM, career progression, and workforce development.

As its name suggests, sustainability is central to the Centre’s approach, reflecting the increasingly strategic role FM plays in how organisations operate, manage resources, and plan for the future.

Flexible, industry-aligned programmes are designed around working professionals, recognising existing experience and connecting learning directly to the workplace.

As Gerry explained during the evening, professional practice runs throughout the learning experience. He encouraged attendees to keep asking: “What is the industry doing and where is the industry going?”

How Are the Programmes Awarded and Delivered?

The Portobello Centre for Sustainable Facilities Management’s Certificate and Diploma qualifications are accredited by the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM).

Meanwhile, the BSc, postgraduate, and MSc programmes are awarded by University of Essex and recognised for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) by Engineers Ireland.

All facilities management programmes are delivered online, giving working professionals the flexibility to study from Ireland or internationally.

Lectures are scheduled around the demands of professional life, with teaching delivered online through scheduled weekend sessions.

Where Could Your Facilities Management Studies Begin?

A central theme of the Information Evening was the breadth of the progression pathway, with entry points designed for people across the facilities management profession.

That includes those taking their first steps into FM, as well as experienced professionals looking to deepen their expertise or move into more senior roles.

Portobello’s FM students can enter at a level that reflects the qualifications and professional experience they already bring.

Early-career Professionals

For tradespeople moving into facilities management, or those at an early stage of their careers, the IWFM Level 4 Certificate in Facilities Management develops practical FM knowledge and skills across service delivery, compliance, and day-to-day operational performance.

Those with an established operational background may be ready to begin with the IWFM Level 5 Diploma in Facilities Management, strengthening leadership, operational strategy, project management, and risk management skills to take on broader responsibilities.

Experienced FM Professionals

The BSc (Hons) Workplace and Facilities Management is designed for FM professionals who want to deepen their expertise and move into more senior roles, developing strategic leadership, operational, and business management skills.

IWFM qualifications can also provide routes into degree study. The IWFM Level 4 Certificate can provide advanced entry to the BSc, allowing students to progress directly into Year 2 of the honours degree, while the IWFM Level 5 Diploma can lead to the one-year BSc (Hons) Workplace and Facilities Management Top-up – both subject to entry requirements.

Senior and Aspiring FM Leaders

For senior and aspiring FM leaders, the progression pathway continues through the Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, and MSc in Strategic Facilities Leadership, with each stage developing greater strategic leadership, decision-making, and organisational influence.

Your Existing Experience Matters

Whether your background is in engineering, construction, building services, trades, asset management, operational management, or FM, existing experience helps determine where your studies begin.

As Gerry explained: “We want to develop the experience you bring with you.”

That means previous qualifications, professional learning, and workplace experience can all be considered when determining the most appropriate entry point.

This came to life during the live Q&A when attendees shared backgrounds ranging from building surveying and mechanical and civil engineering to plumbing, gas installation, and long-term facilities management experience.

Rather than giving everyone the same answer, Gerry and Niall recommended reviewing each person’s CV, qualifications, and experience to identify the programme that would offer genuine new learning.

“We don’t want you to go backwards to go forwards,” Niall said.

What Makes Learning at Portobello Different?

For Gerry, one of the most important distinctions is the relationship between academic learning and professional practice.

The emphasis is on making study relevant to the realities of working in FM, so learning is continually informed by real professional experience.

“Your workplace becomes part of the learning,” said Gerry. “You’re bringing your experience to the programme, but you’re also taking new learning back to your workplace and seeing it implemented first-hand.”

That can mean considering international best practice, examining how other organisations approach similar challenges, debating ideas with student peers, and applying strategic thinking to real FM problems.

Students are also learning alongside professionals from different sectors, organisations, and countries. Niall highlighted the network that develops as a result.

“You’re sharing a virtual classroom and building a network,” he explained. “You’re going to learn from people across the industry, from different backgrounds, and see how other organisations do things differently.”

What Is It Like Returning to Education?

For many people returning to education, one of the biggest concerns is whether they will be able to manage study alongside work and other responsibilities.

Tadgh Harnedy understands that feeling. Now Facilities Manager at Aramex, he progressed through Portobello’s FM pathway.

Tadgh began his studies with the IWFM Level 5 Diploma in Facilities Management before progressing to the BSc (Hons) Workplace and Facilities Management and later the MSc in Workplace and Facilities Management (now MSc Strategic Facilities Leadership).

He told attendees that he had not been in formal education for decades before deciding to return.

“I came to this late in life,” Tadgh explained. “It renewed a vigour to learn, to develop. I started off Level 5, worked my way up to the degree and on to the master’s. I don’t think I’ve finished learning yet.”

Tadgh spoke about the value of learning alongside people with different perspectives and discovering new interests through study.

“You meet people from all walks of life who have different perspectives to you,” he said. “It enabled me to learn new ways and grow passions for things I didn’t think I’d have passions for.”

You can read Tadgh’s career story here.

Tadgh’s comments were reinforced by current Portobello student Derek Sweetman, who had joined the Information Evening as an attendee before Gerry invited him to share his own experience.

Derek has completed the IWFM Level 4 Certificate in Facilities Management and IWFM Level 5 Diploma in Facilities Management and is preparing to progress to degree study.

“My experience so far, I’ve done the Level 4, I’ve done the Level 5, and I’m looking forward to completing the degree,” he said.

“The support is good. The college will look after you,” Derek added. “There’s a lot of effort for yourself once you have your mind set on doing this.”

How Flexible Is Facilities Management Study?

Flexibility is particularly important when students are balancing education with established careers, family life, and other commitments.

Portobello’s facilities management programmes are delivered online, giving students the opportunity to study from Ireland or internationally.

For the IWFM Level 4 programme, classes typically take place on one Saturday per month over five months.

Degree and postgraduate classes are also delivered on scheduled Saturdays, rather than requiring students to attend every weekend. Breaks in the timetable provide time for independent study and assessment work.

The online delivery model also helps create an international learning environment. During the Information Evening itself, FM professionals joined from Ireland, the UAE, and Ghana, reflecting the international mix Gerry described across Portobello’s FM programmes.

Where Could Facilities Management Take You?

One message Gerry encouraged attendees to remember was to avoid thinking about facilities management as a single job.

FM now spans areas including sustainability, corporate social responsibility, energy, waste management, property and assets, workplace management, contracts, compliance, and organisational strategy.

“Stop just saying facilities management,” Gerry advised. “Look at all of the different sectors within facilities management.”

For those moving into FM from technical careers, experience in engineering, construction, mechanical systems, trades, or building services can provide a strong foundation. Further study can help build the strategic, leadership, and management knowledge needed to move into broader roles and responsibilities.

As Gerry explained, the goal is to help students become more confident, strategic, and evidence-informed FM professionals – not simply to leave with a qualification.

Your Questions from the Information Evening Answered

Do I need to start at IWFM Level 4?

Not necessarily. Your previous qualifications and professional experience will be considered when identifying the most appropriate starting point. If you already have a relevant degree and significant FM experience, you may be suitable for advanced undergraduate or postgraduate study.

Are flexible payment options available?

Yes. Flexible payment arrangements are available across the FM programmes, with deposit and instalment options available depending on the programme.

Can my employer fund my studies?

Potentially. Tadgh shared that his own employer supported him during his studies, while Gerry noted that many FM students are employer-sponsored.

Skillnet funding may also be available from time to time for selected programmes and eligible private-sector employers in the Republic of Ireland.

Are there exams for the IWFM programmes?

No. The IWFM Level 4 Certificate in Facilities Management and IWFM Level 5 Diploma in Facilities Management use continuous assessment rather than final exams.

Students complete assignments throughout the programme and receive ongoing feedback from tutors. Tadgh explained that this helped him understand what was expected and build confidence with academic work as he progressed.

Gerry added that assessments are reviewed internally before being submitted to IWFM for ratification. If further work is needed, students receive clear feedback on the areas to amend before resubmitting.

For those returning to education after a long break, this allows confidence to build over time without everything resting on one final examination.

When are the next programmes starting?

At the time of the Information Evening, the upcoming enrolment dates shared were:

• 14 September for the IWFM programmes
• 3 October for the BSc (Hons) Workplace and Facilities Management
• 10 October for MSc Strategic Facilities Leadership

Ready to Explore Your Next Step in Facilities Management?

Your starting point with the Portobello Centre for Sustainable Facilities Management will depend on your qualifications, experience, career goals, and the impact you want to make.

Book a call with FM Career Pathway Consultant Niall Downey to discuss your background and identify the most appropriate programme for your professional development.