News

BIFM welcomes access to the professions report

21-07-09 14:6 BIFM

The BIFM welcomes the conclusions of the final report from the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions, chaired by Alan Milburn.

The panel was established by the Prime Minister to advise on how Britain can make a professional career genuinely open to as wide a pool of talent as

possible.

The report, ‘Unleashing Aspiration’, says: “The default setting in too many professions is still to recruit from too narrow a part of the social spectrum. All this has to change. We believe that if the professions are to keep pace with change in society and successfully expand they need to do much more to recruit from a wider pool of talent and to banish any vestiges of a closed-shop mentality.”

It concludes: “By widening the funnel through which the professions recruit, our proposals will help to reverse growing social exclusivity. In the process,

we believe that they will help to lay the foundations for a second great wave of social mobility in our country.”

Earlier this year the Institute gave evidence to the panel directly, as well as through the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Professional Association Research Network (PARN).

In its response the BIFM made specific points about access to the facilities management profession through higher education and the Institute’s own qualifications:

FM is not a closed profession and there are no barriers to entry
BIFM’s membership structure encourages entry to those with an interest in FM through the Associate Route and progression through a vocational pathway to Member grade
The new FM qualifications being introduced from 2010 at levels 4/5/6 are vocationally related and designed to be more flexible and accessible.
Candidates can self study or attend courses designed for those in full time work
The new ILM level 3 is designed to attract new entrants into FM or those coming from related areas such as cleaning, catering, security - this should improve the diversity of entrants and offer real opportunities for career change and progression
Courses in FM at postgraduate level are available in a variety of modes, mostly part time, flexible and designed for those in full time work - there are entry routes for those without undergraduate degrees if they have sufficient workplace experience and can satsify university entrance requirements
As an Ofqual Awarding Body, BIFM is committed to a policy of equality and diversity, ensuring that assessment is fair and offers equal opportunities for all candidates.

BIFM CEO Ian Fielder said: “The Institute is already working on several of the recommendations contained in the Milburn report, including working with the Sector Skills Councils to establish clear progression routes from vocational training into the profession.

Click on the link below to download the report summary.