Facilities Services Operative
Careers Explorer:
Providing facilities services support to customers and facilities management departments.
Overview
A Facilities Services Operative is a multi-skilled and varied role that can be undertaken in several environments.
These include working possibly in an office, residential developments, commercial properties, hospitals, schools or retail centres and industrial locations.
This may include services such as security, supporting hard Facilities Management functions, such as maintenance and engineering, and soft Facilities Management, for example; cleaning, catering, front-of-house logistics, post-room services and portering.
This is an outward-facing role where liaison with customers is a key priority and forms a major part of the role.
In this role, you’ll increasingly work with technical experts and other related roles, such as security personnel, cleaners, catering and front-of-house staff. You may work alone in a small enterprise or in teams of up anything from 30 to 500 people in a large-scale operation, depending on the size of the contract.
Top 5 Tasks
- Ensuring that a building runs smoothly
- Work to customer and client’s needs
- Take care of the working environment you’re working in through a range of skills
- Using office systems like IT and equipment
- Making sure the building meets health and safety standards
Salary
Typically, those starting out in facilities management will earn around £20,000, with those trained with experience earning in the region of £25,000 – £40,000.
Senior, chartered or master facilities managers can earn in the region of £40,000- £60,000. Salaries typically range depending on location and employer.
Am I Suited?
- Problem solver
- Hands-on
- Attention to detail
- Self-motivator
- Adaptable
Many Construction Managers and other construction professionals started their careers as apprentices.
Qualifications
There are no specific entry requirements, but GCSEs at 4 (C) or above are useful to have, especially in English and maths.
Good work ethic will get your far in this Facilities Management industry. You may be able to start as a building caretaker or a management assistant and work your way up. You’ll be encouraged to work towards qualifications like a Level 3 Diploma in Facilities Management.
However, you could do a foundation degree or degree in facilities management or building services management.
You may be able to take an advanced apprenticeship as a facilities supervisor or a higher apprenticeship as a Facilities Manager.
